INTRODUCTION TO MANGROVE ECOLOGY

OBJECTIVES 1. To study the present and distribution of benthic invertebrates (crustaceans and mollusks that live on the surface of the substrate and those that burrow within). 2. To observe the species richness of the invertebrate community. 3. To study the plant community and its adaptations for living in saline sediments.

INTRODUCTION Mangrove ecosystem is one of the most productive and biodiversity wetlands on earth. It is made up of both a community of biotic and abiotic factors. The mangrove mud is rich in nutrients. Microorganisms thrive on the debris such as fallen mangrove leaves that are washed down by the river. These in turn will feed creatures higher in the food chain. The roots and stems themselves are covered by enormous range of barnacles which form the rich mangrove community. The mangrove trees offer above-water shelter for hungry fishes that swim in with the tide. The canopy of leaves in the mangrove forest captures most of the lights. Thus they become the source food for forest and marine animals when the leaves drop into the water and decompose (major detrital food chain). Next, massive range of animals used to transit through mangroves. Although they squander most of their life elsewhere, many spend vital moments in mangroves for nesting or fuelling up for long migrations.

METHODOLOGY 1. 2 quadrats of 50 cm 50 cm are set up at both lower shore and upper shore. 2. The samples from each quadrat are placed in plastic bags and labeled.

RESULTS FLORA AND FAUNA OF MANGROVES IN SEMENTA LOWER SHORE Avicennia alba Sonneratia alba UPPER SHORE Rhizophora apiculata A. marina Bruguiera sp. Fern Acrostichum sp. Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea UPPER SHORE Telescopium telescopium C. obtusa

FLORA

FAUNA

LOWER SHORE Littorina melanostoma L. scabra

Cerithidea cingulata Thais tissoti Hermit crab Pistol prawn Alpheus Mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris Polychaete Glycera sp. Marryphyse sp. Ellobidae (snails)

Assiminiea brenicula Uca triampularis U. rosea Sesarma sp. Uca lactea annulipes

DISCUSSIONS The lower shore is colonized by Avicennia alba and Sonneratia alba. The substrate in lower shore is soft because it contains high water content and fine sediment which are mostly silt and clay. The Avicennia alba has pencil-like pneumatophores emerge above ground from long shallow underground roots to obtain oxygen because the sediment is anoxic. Besides, underneath of its leaves is white and waxy to minimize water loss through water evaporation. Next, the Sonneratia alba has thick cone-shaped pneumatophores, also to obtain oxygen because the sediment is anoxic. While the bark of young Sonneratia alba is covered with a layer of wax to prevent water loss and attack by the creatures. The widely spreading horizontal pneumatophores help to improve anchorage in the unstable mud. The upper shore is colonized by Rhizophora apiculata, A. marina, Bruguiera sp., fern Acrostichum sp., and Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea. The Rhizophora apiculata has arching stilt roots emerged from the trunk. These roots hold up the tree in soft mud and permeable to gaseous but impermeable to salts. Any salt that gets through will be stored in old leaves which they later shed. Next, the Bruguiera sp. has kneed pneumatophores comprise of sponge-like system of air chambers and tubes. These act as an air reservoir when the roots are submerged. The pneumatophores are covered with many lenticels that allow air only to enter the root. The Littorina melanostoma, L. scabra, Cerithidea cingulata, Thais tissoti, Hermit crab, Pistol prawn Alpheus, Mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris, Polychaete, Glycera sp., Marryphyse sp., Ellobidae (snails), are fauna that colonized the lower shore. While the Telescopium telescopium , C. obtusa, Assiminiea brenicula, Uca triampularis, U. rosea, Sesarma sp., and Uca lactea annulipes are fauna colonizing the upper shore. The mudskippers have anatomical and behavioral adaptations that allow them to move effectively on land and in the water. Besides, they are also able to breathe through their skin, the lining of their mouth, and throat. They dug deep burrows in soft sediments to thermo regulate.

CONCLUSIONS

The mangrove is the habitat for benthic invertebrates such as gastropods, crabs, fish, and prawns. Most gastropods live on the surface of the substrate while the crabs and prawns burrow within the sediment. The mangrove supports many species of the invertebrate community (refer to the RESULTS) and so is the plant community which has special adaptations to live in saline sediments such as roots impermeable to salts and wax covered the leaves or the barks of the tree.

REFERENCES 1. Sime Darby. (2009) About Mangrove. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.simedarby.com/environment/MANGROVE/about_mangrove/mangrove_ecos ystem.aspx 2. Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore. (2001) How Plants Cope In The Mangroves. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1043.htm

3. Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife At Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (2001) Avicennia alba. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/avicennia%20alba.htm 4. Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife At Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (2001) Mangrove Trees. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/mangrove_trees.htm 5. Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife At Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (2001) Sonneratia. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/sonneratia.htm 6. Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife At Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (2001) Rhizophora. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/rhizophora.htm 7. Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife At Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (2001) Bruguiera gymnorhiza. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/bruguiera%20gymnorhiza.htm 8. Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife At Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (2001) Bruguiera cylindrical. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/bruguiera%20cylindrica.htm 9. Ravi, V., and Rajagopal, S. (n.d.) Mudskippers. Retrieved September 4, 2010 from http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:heCwiJMwAHMJ:ocw.unu.edu/internation al-network-on-water-environment-and-health/unu-inweh-course-1mangroves/Mudskippers.pdf+Mudskipper+Boleophthalmus+pectinirostris+mangrove+ad aptation&hl=en&gl=my&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShMcksSdDZ4nfu8cOr6qdgz0ZIy7bRx IMIy8kuXMRPNfxJOq_wvfNgC5Me7fjqRdHAML1BTLaJ_BZR7UO9yExKgUxemhc

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