Mangroves
lie perpetually in the limbo between the sea and fresh water. They thrive in an
environment that would kill and ordinary plant within hours. They are the
epitome of tough, through and through. Yet, within what seems to be an
extremely harsh environment, there is a delicate balance of life, and the
diversity of this habitat knows no bounds. However, mangroves are under grave
threat from human activity, and if we do not act now to protect them, than we
will lose an incredibly useful and beautiful asset.
What
are mangroves?
The
term “mangroves” applies to a small number of plants-from the smallest shrubs
to the biggest trees-that are able to withstand the anoxic and extremely saline
conditions of the river-ocean boundary. “Mangrove forests” or “mangrove swamps”
applies to large congregations of these plants. Due to the harsh conditions
that they must tolerate, the number of species that fall into this category is
small; only around 100 species are present in this group.
Mangrove
forests grow in the brackish waters of river-ocean boundaries, but may also be
found along coasts. Their roots spread far and wide and help to stabilize the
soil. They are mostly found in Asia, but are also found in North America and as
far south as New Zealand. Mangroves provide important economical benefits to
local communities, and have been depended on by people for thousands of years.
Mangroves share a symbiotic relationship with another important habitat-coral
reefs. The reefs prevent the coastal land where the mangroves grow from eroding
away, and the mangroves trap silt and toxins that would smother and kill the
coral.
Unique
Adaptations
It
is obvious that no ordinary plant can tolerate the conditions that mangroves
have to on a daily basis. Therefore, the plants of the mangrove forest have evolved
many special adaptations to help them survive.
One
of these adaptations is the presence of pneumatophores in the plant’s root
system. Pneumatophores act as snorkels, and take in nitrogen, oxygen and other
gases that the plant needs to survive. The reason why it needs this is due to
the fact that the mud that the plants grow in is waterlogged most of the time,
and because of this the plant cannot get the gases it needs. Having
pneumatophores solves this problem and allows the plant to receive the necessary
gases from the air. Another adaptation is the use of salt glands. Like the name
suggest, these filter out excess salt from the water that the mangrove absorbs,
and prevents it from getting into the tree. Due to the nature of their job,
they are often seen covered in salt crystals.
In
order to reproduce effectively, mangrove seeds germinate when attached to the
parent tree. They then drop off, and float on the water until they find a
suitable habitat to grow in. When they find their new home, they change their
density and plant themselves in the soil. The amazing thing is that they can
survive complete desiccation and revert back to normal if their ideal habitat
doesn’t support them anymore.
What
life can be found there?
The
animals, birds and insects that call the mangroves their home are a large and
diverse group. Most of the wildlife there is the larvae and young of any fish,
insects, reptiles and crustaceans. The quiet habitat offered by the twisting
maze of the mangrove’s roots is a perfect place to grow up in. Largely free of
the threat of predators, and with ample food and hiding places, the young
offspring of countless species live in the mangroves until they reach
adulthood. Then, they venture out to open ocean or swampy land to live out the
rest of their lives.
This
is not to say that all residents of the mangroves are temporary. Tarpon, snook,
snappers, jacks and trout all live permanently in the submerged tangle of roots
typical of a mangrove forest. Sea turtles, horseshoe crabs and flamingos can be
found in the shallows. Egrets, cormorants, proboscis monkeys and ospreys
are just some of the inhabitants of the canopy. Crocodiles, mudskippers and
swamp wallabies are all found in the swamps and mudflats.
The
most common creatures in the mangroves are insects. Hundreds of species can be
found anywhere in the mangrove forests, from the inundated roots to the muddy
swamps. Mangroves are not a breeding ground for mosquitos. This is an
urban legend. Mangroves do, however, house many other insects, such as mangrove
spiders, stinging caterpillars, bees, praying mantises, crickets and leaf
miners.
What
are the uses of mangroves?
People
have been depending on mangroves for thousands of years. They are a versatile
resource that fits almost any role. Much of what we harvested from mangroves
centuries ago is still being harvested today. For example, commercial
exploitation of mangroves for charcoal has been going on in Malaysia since the
1800’s.
Red
mangrove wood has a very high calorific value, and thus can produce effective
and long lasting charcoal. Mangrove forests are also a rich habitat for exotic
fish and exploitation, for both sport and food, is one of the most popular uses
of mangroves. Village communities living in and around that the forests have
used extracts from them as herbal remedies for everything, from asthma to
cancer to rashes. The wood proves an effective material to build jetties with,
as it resists rot and attack by fungi and borers. Houses and thatches can also
made from mangrove wood. Tea and alcoholic beverages can be brewed from the
leaves of mangrove plants. When used conservatively, the forests can be used as
a natural sewage treatment plant, as they filter out toxins and organic waste.
The
economic value of mangroves mainly comes from tourism, but can also come from
fishing and the export of raw materials. Mangroves are an unusual habitat, and
as such many people will pay to visit them. When managed properly, tourism can
be an effective way to promote awareness. The revenue can also be used to
fund ecological projects, and keep the mangroves in good health. Therefore,
tourism is an effective way to mesh profit and conservations together. An added
benefit is that people will be made aware of this precious habitat, and what
can be done to protect it.
Another
economic use of mangroves is to use them sustainably as fish farms. The yield
will be small, but the income can be used to revitalize or create local “small
job” economies. In order to make sure that the forests remain protected, the
local people can be employed as rangers, further increasing the economic value
of this versatile habitat. An effective strategy is to pay local communities
for their fish, and in turn they receive education on sustainable fishing
methods, environmental awareness and how to maximize profit while minimizing
the environmental cost.
In
conclusion, mangroves are a treasure trove of potential. The economic and
environmental benefits to be gained are immense. However, any activity within
the mangroves must remain supervised. If the activity, be it tourism or fishing
or farming, is not supervised, then poachers or careless visitors could
permanently damage the forests.
What are the threats that
mangroves face?
Perhaps
the biggest threat to mangroves is the razing of them for aquaculture-farming
shrimp to feed an insatiable global appetite. Almost no one has ever heard of a
mangrove forest, so when reports come in about the destruction of this
beautiful habitat, many don’t seem to care. Some of those who are aware of
mangroves see them as an ugly blight on the coast that must be removed, or as a
breeding ground for mosquitos. Due to these inaccurate beliefs, mangrove
forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. So, what can be does to stop
this mindless destruction? The reality isn’t actually as bleak as it sounds.
More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of mangroves, and
several important steps have been taken towards the conservation of this
critically important habitat.
However, much more still remains to be done.
In
order to protect mangroves, one must understand what makes this habitat “tick”.
To live in a mangrove forest, a plant or an animal must be extraordinarily
tough in order to withstand the harsh conditions. Therefore, mangroves are
quite capable of tolerating man-made conditions that would destroy other
habitats, but only up to a certain point. The Achilles’ heel of mangroves is
chemical pollution. Mangroves located near sewage treatment plants have been
reported as biological dead zones, completely devoid of life. In conclusion, mangroves are tough, but
they will need our help to survive.
One
way of doing this is to maintain more sanitary shrimp farms. The geological
location in which mangroves thrive is perfect for shrimp farming. If you
encounter a patch of mangrove near a developed coastline, you will almost
certainly find a shrimp farm. The shrimp in these farms are left to live in
their own excrement, and as such, more and more antibiotics are required to
keep them healthy. The chemicals, combined with the excrement, are released in
a toxic, mangrove killing wave when the pond becomes little more than a noxious
soup. More farms are then begun elsewhere, repeating the process. In order to prevent this, the ponds must
be kept clean, just as you would clean an ordinary aquarium. Doing this
increases the life expectancy of the shrimp, the surrounding mangroves, and the
facility itself.
Another
way of protecting mangroves is to avoid building any chemical/sewage treatment
plants anywhere in the vicinity of a mangrove forest. Doing so would mean
instant death for whatever lived there. The chemicals that we use to dispose of
our waste and manufacture synthetic products are incredibly toxic to mangroves
and the animals within them. If you must build them, build them where they will
not cause the destruction of an entire habitat.
Probably
the most effective way of protecting mangroves is to raise awareness about
them. If people know about the threats faced by this ecosystem and have the
drive to do something about it, than that can make all the difference in the
world. Educate your neighborhood. Start an action group. Participate in mangrove related
activities. There are a million possibilities.
Conclusion
Mangroves
are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. Humanity has depended
on them for thousands of years. However, not many people realize their
importance, and as such, they are not receiving the protection that they
deserve. We must take action,
raise awareness and stop the mindless destruction of mangroves. Otherwise, we
will lose an asset that cannot be replaced and humanity’s future will be
severely impacted.
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