Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Practical 11- Study of mangrove habitat and organisms

Experiment No. 11

Date: Date & Time of Visit:

Place of Visit: Name of the Teacher:
Name of the Class:
Mangroves are salt-tolerant aquatic ecosystems found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical inter-tidal regions. They are trees or shrubs, common in shallow and muddy salt water or brackish waters, along quiet shorelines and in estuaries. Mangroves are absent on sandy beaches and rocky shores. This eco-system is highly fragile, subjected to physiological and morphological stresses, salinity effect, aeration and wave action. Mangroves are also called as mangal, mangrove forest biome, mangrove swamp, mangrove forest etc. Mangroves protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge (especially during hurricanes), and tsunamis. The mangroves' massive root systems are efficient at dissipating wave energy.
Of the recognized 110 mangrove species, only about 54 species in 20 genera from 16 families constitute the "true mangroves". Important mangrove species are Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, B. parviflora, Avicennia officinalis, A. marina, Ceriops tagal, Heritiera littoralis, Sonneratia caseolaris, S. alba, Exoecaria agallocha, Xylocarpus granatum, Aegiceras corniculatum, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Nypa fruticans etc.
Adaptations of mangroves
Mangroves have Pnuematophores (aerial roots), allow mangroves to absorb gases directly from the atmosphere and other nutrients such as iron from soil. The roots also contain wide aerenchyma to facilitate transport gas within the plant. Mangroves exclude salt by having significantly impermeable roots which are acting as an ultra filtration mechanism to exclude sodium salts from the plant. Red mangroves can also store salt in cell vacuoles and can secrete salts directly through salt glands. Because of the limited fresh water available in salty intertidal soils, mangroves limit the amount of water lose through their leaves. They can restrict the opening of their stomata. Mangroves have evolved a special mechanism to help their offspring survive. Mangrove seeds germinate in soil .The mangrove roots offers host for many include algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, and bryozoans. Shrimps and mud lobsters use the muddy bottoms as their home. Mangrove crabs mulch the mangrove leaves, adding nutritients to the mangal muds for other bottom feeders.

Morphometry of Mangroves
Water Spread Area -
Water Depth -
Water Width -
Characteristics of water
Physical: Temperature---------- Colour / Odour----------- Turbidity---------------
Chemical: pH--------- Do-------------------- Salinity---------------------------
Mangroves Communities:Mangrove Plants – Rhizophora, Avecennia, Sonnerata, Ceriops etc.
- Plankton, Benthic , Organisms, Fishes, Birds
Species diversity and association:
Inference: