Mangroves in Australia
The mangrove communities of Australia are some of the most highly adaptive plant communities in the world. These plants live in an environment that is often engulfed with seawater. This environment is considered an arid environment due to the lack of fresh water. The plants of the mangrove community must develop several adaptations to deal with the environment. The environment these plants often inhabit is referred to as an intertidal zone. The intertidal zone is the transition between the salty ocean to the fresh water of the interior of the continent or island. To deal with the salty environment, mangrove plants have developed modified roots. In some species, the roots filter the incoming seawater.
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These organisms, in turn, replenish nutrients back to the environment, which feed other animals. It is apparent that the mangroves are the base of the food chain in this environment.
Introduction
The term mangrove doesn’t refer to a single plant species, but to a variety of them that share a similarity to one another. There are 54 recognized species that belong to 16 different families. A mangrove is considered to be woody trees or shrubs that flourish in mangals (Hogarth 1999). A mangal is referred to as an environment such as intertidal zones, muddy areas at river mouths, and other areas usually inundated (covered) with water. Silt deposits in these areas make it a suitable environment. Mangroves are considered to inhabit a harsh environment compared to other plants. Their roots are located in salty, waterlogged, and oxygen lacking soils. These areas are influenced by tidal action, so the water levels are fluctuating between high and low tides constantly (Talbot, Steene 1990). The mangroves are the most widely distributed environments in Australia. They are mostly tropical but have been found to survive in air temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celsius. Mangrove distribution is most closely correlated with sea temperature than air temperature (Hogarth 1999). Mangroves range from the Gascoyne River and Banbury in Western Australia, across the whole northern coast, down the east coast to
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
One of those relationships, food webs, has an important function of transferring energy and keeping the biological lifecycle going by the various lifeforms feeding off one another. The concept of energy transfer that goes on in food chains in ecosystems keeps organisms living by the energy the body needs being provided when they eat other organisms, as supported by the studies of “food chains, food webs, and trophic levels.” It is important that we continue to observe ecosystems like the Everglades Hardwood Hammock in order to help preserve them. (Arms,
Organisations such as the NICA make sure that the green land is healthy and maintained as well as the Health of the mangroves. Mangroves are a very important part of Lake Doonella as they feed many animals and filter the water so the it's clear and clean for the animals living there. (Noosa Integrated Catchment Association, n.d)
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.
Surrounding the Great Barrier Reef are the aboriginal inhabitants and Torres Strait Islanders. Their connection goes back for 60,000 years. There are 70 tribes across the Great Barrier Reef relying on the reef but are experiencing major problems, pollution and mining.
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:
Ecosystem is an important part of the environment and to protect the Australian native ecosystem many management plans are made to preserve it. Where the disruption occurred in the environment by human activities is not only the factor of worry, but also the exotic plants which are trying to take over the native species are a matter of concern too. The steps taken by humans to get rid of their own waste from the environment as well as the weeds, come under management plans. On the excursion to Buckley’s Hole, Godwin Beach, Red Beach and Melaleuca Wetland, it was observed that these areas come under the Buckley’s Hole Management Plan. Where the abiotic and biotic factors interact with each other and help in sustainability of better environment.
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
Mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems are vital to the biological productivity and food webs of coastal waters and provide critical nursery areas for many fish and crustaceans, including commercially and recreationally important species. Land inundation may not have a direct impact on Australians but it will definitely put a strain on the Australian economy since the GBR is a huge tourist attraction and is worth $6.9 billion annually. Although the life of the Great Barrier Reef has major impact on Australians, we are still contributing to climate change by polluting water with oils spills and toxins, dumping waste like plastic bags and bottles on the ground which end up flying to the seas, agriculture because of pesticides and chemicals being brought into the country, outdated fishing methods and resources and coastal
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.
This type of mangrove prefers to be further back from the sea and only have a few high tides in a year. As it is hard to get oxygen to the roots because the mud has almost no capacity to hold oxygen orange mangroves have developed knee roots. Knee roots grow above the surface and then down into the ground. The grey mangrove (Avicennia Marina) occurs in soft muds and sandy soils. They are a pioneer species and often grow along the sea line forming mud banks. Grey mangroves grow a snorkel or pencil root which pokes up out of the mud to get oxygen these roots are also very strong. The red mangrove (Rhizophora styles) prefers soft well drained muddy soils. It likes the water to only be shallow covering it. The red mangroves solved the solution of getting oxygen and stability by supporting itself out of the ground with stilt roots. The casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia incana) have adapted to grow in wet soils, dry climates and swampy areas. They attract a lot of native birds, the leaves on these trees are actually branchlettes and the leaves are very small on the edges of this branchlettes, the branchlettes fall under the tree forming a thick blanket stopping weeds from growing. The roots of the casuarina take the nitrogen from the air and puts it in the
The Burnett River, which was such an important part in the habitation of the district,was named after J.C Burnett who explored the region in 1847. What J.C. Burnett probably didn’t realise back then was that the river was 435 km long and opens out into the Coral Sea. Factories are being built on the banks of this beautiful river and are not contributing to its safety or to its health. Mangroves are being cleared for development even though they are important for the river’s survival. There are 80 types of mangroves and in total 39 species can be located in Queensland which means almost half of the species in the world can be found in the one state. It takes mangroves 10-15 years to reach full maturity ,but it doesn’t take too long to kill them.The mangroves help Bundaberg and the other regions on its banks.
The importance of wetlands to the global ecosystem are becoming clearer after every study. Wetlands are found all over the Earth and protect against flooding, erosion of beaches, and contaminated water. Moreover, wetlands are the home to complex,
In their environment, Mangroves are prone to living in areas along the coastline, in warm, salty waters. Because Mangroves grow in this habitat, they must adapt to their surroundings by working together with their roots, cells and leaves to remove all of the unnecessary salt and excess water. (Duke, 2007) The most common areas near the coastline where mangroves can be found is where the compostition of the soil is rocky and wet clay/silt.