Team Members

Names and roles:

Marko(Team Leader)

Daniel(Wiki-Writer)

Asyraf(wiki-writer)

Daryl(Researcher)

Yusuf(Researcher)

Overview

Mangrove swamps can be found only in places like, Africa, coastal zones of north, south, Central America and Asia.

What are mangroves?

Mangroves  are highly adapted plants found in tropical intertidal forest communities or the ecosystem itself.Various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S.The word is used in at least three senses:  most broadly to refer to the habitat and entire plant assemblage or mangal, for which the terms mangrove forest biome, mangrove swamp and mangrove forest are also used, to refer to all trees and large shrubs in the mangrove swamp, and narrowly to refer to the mangrove family of plants. The climate is usually hot and wet. Mangrove grow along sheltered, protected from strong winds and waves.

Of the recognized 110 mangrove species,about 54 species in 20 genera from 16 families constitute the "true mangroves", species that occur almost exclusively in mangrove habitats. Many of these species found similar solutions to the tropical conditions of variable salinity, tidal range (inundation), anaerobic soils and intense sunlight.             

Physical Factors

Light

• Through out the year there will be sunshine and rain. So, sunlight is not a problem in the mangrove swamps.

Temperature

•Temperature also plays a major role in distribution of mangroves. Typically, mangroves occur in areas where temperatures do not drop below 19°C.  Mangroves are damaged under conditions where temperatures change frequently more than 10°C within short periods of time, or when they are subject to freezing conditions for a few hours.

• mixture of salt water and fresh water(brackish water) . Water is milky due to mud.
• Air (quality of air in the ecosystem)

•Draining mangrove  swamps  for  farming or building marinas can cause the soil to turn acidic (with a pH as low as 2.0).This kills any plants that are growing there, and the animals that  depend on them .We call these dried out acidic soils  actual Acid Sulfate Soils. The acid can leak into creeks and inlets, killing fish and aquatic plants.

Classification of Living Organisms                                   

     1.Producers

           = The Mangroves                                                                                                               

      2.  Primary Consumers

          =Tree Climbing Crabs, Snails & Monkeys

     3.  Secondary Consumers

           =Archer Fishes, Fishing Cat & Manatees

     4.  Tertiary Consumers

          =Water Monitor Lizards Carnivorous Birds(Pelicans, etc.)

     5.  Decomposers

          =Fungi(Mushrooms, etc.) 

More about Mangroves

      Mangroves have tall roots to absorb air when there is a high tide. The structure of the mangrove roots provide excellent shelter for the fishes living under the mangrove roots. It also prevents soil erosion by weakening the tidal waves.

       This is an infamous monitor lizard. It has saliva which contains lots of bacteria enough to kill an adult, in less than a few hours. It feeds on almost everything in its environment. It is commonly located in the murky waters of the mangroves.

Interrelationship in Ecosystem

• Predator-prey relationship

Most of the organisms in the environment have predator-prey relationship. It is a relationship whereby an animal lives by killing and eating other animals, calling them predators. Whereas an animal that is killed and eaten is called prey. The period of interaction among organisms is short. (eg. The water monitor lizard hunts for fishes in the mangrove. (this makes the water monitor lizard a predator and the fish a prey)

E.g

  Mutalisim 

•The opening of the Sea Hibiscus veins will produce a sweet juice for ants. The ants then provide protection against herbivores.

Food Web

Useful Links

Plagiarism is a strongly discouraged. 

      *Mangroves @ wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangroves) 

      *Mangroves @ globio.org (http://www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=39) 

        http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/index.htm