Mangroves: A Vital Part of the Environment

Mangroves are halophyte plants that are physiologically amended to survive in habitat containing high concentration of salt in the soil water even though salt is not a physical requirement for growth; hence they are facultative halophytes (Dictionary, 2015). Mangroves at Nudgee Beach have developed three special mechanisms to manage the excess salt levels in their environment due to the disability of enzymes function at high salt concentration. Each species of mangroves are able to either: exclude (prevent salt entering), extrude (take salt out) or accumulate large amounts sodium chloride, enabling them to survive in their ecosystem (University of Sydney, 2015). Some species of mangrove have more than one of the above characteristics. The process

Mangroves are woody trees and shrubs with a thick, exposed network of roots that grow down from the branches and into the water and sediment. All mangroves are found on the intertidal zones between ocean and the land. When the sediment accumulate little wave occurs, the saline depend on the frequency. Some of the indirect impacts are the sediment runoff and also including chemical runoff, global warming is one of main effects of the mangrove ecosystem. In Tannum there are various types of mangroves. Such as the river and grey mangroves located at south tree and wild cattle in both Tannum sands and Boyne Island along the Boyne River. Leaves are around 7cm long gland that secret salt, the

Mangrove Forest is another type of ecosystem in South Texas. Mangrove Forests are found along the coast in salty waters and the general abiotic conditions are high salinity flooded soils, low wave energy, high temperatures, and muddy soils. Black Mangrove and Buttonwood are the dominant plant species in South Texas Mangrove Forest ecosystem. Buttonwood is adapted to this ecosystem because it resides inland where there is less salty conditions. Black Mangrove is adapted to sandy salty clay soil and requires protection from wave action and they are sensitive to cold weather. Some common animal species that live in Mangrove Forests are many species of fish, crabs, mollusks, and birds. Mangrove forests provide a habitat, shelter, and nursery to these species that reside in this ecosystem. Mangrove forest serve as a coastal protection from severe storms and hurricanes also help remove pollutants and erosion. The economic importance of Mangrove forest is that they support fisheries, water purification, tourism, and coastal protection. Human activities pose a threat to Mangrove Forests because of the removal of some mangroves, boat waves, oil spills, dredging, draining, and diking.

Zonation is the distribution of animals and plants into specific zones according to abiotic factors and characterised by its dominant species [15]. Mangrove zonation is the distinguishable categorisation of a mangrove ecosystem that extends from shore to inland regions. Definitive spatial variation of mangrove species has been recognised amongst different ecosystems worldwide and is accredited as being influenced by abiotic and environmental factors [16]. In Eastern Australia, the majority of mangrove forests may be divided into landward, middle and seaward zones, based off of their placement in relation to tidal position. The following points represent the typical physiognomies characterised by mangroves in their corresponding zones:

* The efforts of “Terrigal Lagoon Bushcare” have been largely successful in keeping the lagoons around Terrigal ecosystems. Their actions have helped the native plants compete with the introduced species.

Mangroves are trees and shrubs forming forests on the coastal wetlands, typically growing between saltmarsh and seagrass beds. Sydney Olympic park is the main habitat for the grey Mangrove and the planted river

Oyster reefs, giant populations of oysters, provide habitats for many other types of organisms such as worms, snails, sea squirts, sponges, small crabs, and fishes.

The plants range from dangerous to harmless, from boring to interesting. The plants are very interesting to many people. Here are some of the plants, their information, and what they do. The corals turn into exterior skeletons and over thousands of years, exterior skeletons form thick, ring shaped coral reefs. Also, they colonize the water around the volcanoes. The mangrove forests are home to many animals like heron egrets, and frigate birds. The mangrove trees are one of the toughest trees in the world. The reef is home to lots of animals, and the animals are sea fans, sea worms, and sea sponges. Tawny sharks also hide in the coral caves during the day. The plants make the island lush. From corals to trees to reefs. The mangrove trees are very large, and are home to many animals. The plants make the island very beautiful and colorful. If these plants didn’t exist, then Aldabra would be dull, and not colorful.

There are many organisms living, thriving and surviving off of the mangrove forests. Mangroves are always being affected by natural and unnatural factors that create significant threats to this precious ecosystem (Mangrove Watch, 2016). The natural factors can occur seasonally, annually and periodically, with severe events including cyclones and anything else that affects all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living)

The plants that live in the coral reefs are turtle grass, algae, zooxanthellae, and mangroves. The turtle grasses adaptation in it is relessent to storms. Algae has an adaptation of being attached to the sea bottom. Zooxanthellae is known for making its own light.mangroves are good at their reproduction. These are some of the plants that live in the coral reef biome.

The majority of untouched island is covered by jungle-like surroundings known as the mangrove, its inhabitants being deadly scorpions and snakes, roofed by the leaves under which poisonous skull-spiders shelter. The vast green mangrove covering the island surrounds a small quiet town where the few inhabitants of this unique part of the world will

Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé first published in 1989, offers a fitting representation of French Caribbean history and culture. The novel stands out for its celebration of diversity and the concept of root identity throughout French Caribbean society. Condé’s novel reflects on the people living in Guadeloupe and the complex system that colonialism has created in the Caribbean. Also, it links the créolité movement from its counterpart Negritude and demonstrates how it shapes the identity of individuals living in the French Caribbean. The population of Rivière au Sel exemplifies the mixture of Guadeloupian people and how they interact with each other in a small community. Countless waves of immigrates to the Caribbean have brought African, East Indian, Europeans, Asians and other racial groups to live in close proximity to each other in Guadeloupe. In Praise of Creoleness, it explains the emergences of créolité and how it is a metaphor for a unique Caribbean identity completely separated from other movement in the Caribbean.

Seagrasses are essential primary producers that provide habitat and refuge to fauna. Anthropogenic influences have caused global loss of seagrasses and a major contributor is eutrophication, which increases phytoplankton and algal populations, reduces light availability, and causes daily hypoxic conditions. Eutrophication is commonly linked to declines in temperate conditions and is more difficult to link to tropical systems since decreases are typically related to physical damage and diminishing light conditions from runoff. Climate change, herbivore declines, disease and overfishing, along with anthropogenic impacts from coastal development, run-off, eutrophication, and aquaculture have caused declines in coral reefs and mangrove systems. These three systems are interconnected and when one system is impacted, secondary impacts are observed in the other systems; coastal ecosystems will be adversely effected and decline. Additional research, conservation, and ways to reduce anthropogenic impacts have been discussed. Restoration is used to reverse habitat loss, although success is varied. Coastal systems and the biological and ecosystem services they provide, may take decades to establish. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are instituted to protect systems from further degradation, restore communities and allow them to flourish naturally. However, local residents are affected by MPAs and may become displaced, have restriction placed on their livelihood, or elimination of their

Another abiotic factor that helps the formations of different zones would be the tidal movement (aerial exposure) effecting the sea life shore community. The tidal zones we found at Siren’s Rocks are the sublittoral zone, low tide, mid tide, high tide and supralittoral zone. These are all on the data recorded by us at the rocky shore we researched.

Wetlands play a major role in the ecosystem as the provides habitats for animals as well as purify water and our wetland at Reddam House acts as a purification for water that passes it as well as a habitat for many birds and insects.