How can we mitigate impacts of global climate change on mangrove forests in Kenya
M'rabu, E.; Bosire, J.O.; Cannicci, S.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F. (2009). How can we mitigate impacts of global climate change on mangrove forests in Kenya, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 6 March 2009: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 41: pp. 54 In: Mees, J.; Seys, J. (Ed.) (2009). VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 6 March 2009: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 41. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. viii, 99 pp., more In: VLIZ Special Publication. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. ISSN 1377-0950, more |  |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Summary
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| Keywords | Climate change
Mangroves
ISW, Kenyan Coast [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | - M'rabu, E., more
- Bosire, J.O., more
- Cannicci, S.
- Dahdouh-Guebas, F., more
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| Abstract | Periodic episodes arising out of global climate changes seem to pose a reasonable threat to the integrity of mangrove ecosystems. Mangrove macrofauna, which are residents of mangrove areas throughout their adult life, stand to be highly affected by the periodic episodes resulting from global climate change. During the 1997-98 El-Niño event, massive sedimentation due to erosion of terrigenous sediments caused mangrove die-back in many areas along the Kenyan coast. Mwache Creek, a periurban mangrove forest in Mombasa, was the most affected resulting in mangrove death over about 200ha. Functional biodiversity in El-Niño impacted sites was compared to reference sites (i.e. natural forests) in order to assess the impact of climate change to mangrove associated biodiversity. Transects from sea to land were laid in both impacted and reference sites, and relevant physico-chemical variables were measured and mangrove biodiversity determined as an indicator of ecosystem change. Mollusc densities and diversity were found not to be significantly different between treatments (impacted vs. reference sites) whereas crab diversity was significantly higher in reference sites than impacted sites. Faunal diversity of molluscs in impacted sites was found to be sustained by invasive shrubs while crab densities and diversity was highly reduced by the mangrove die-back. |
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