The effect of coastline changes on mangrove community structure, Portuguese Island, Mozambique
Hatton, J.C.; Couto, A.L. (1992). The effect of coastline changes on mangrove community structure, Portuguese Island, Mozambique, in: Jaccarini, V. et al. The ecology of mangrove and related ecosystems: Proceedings of the international symposium held at Mombasa, Kenya, 24-30 September 1990. Developments in Hydrobiology, 80: pp. 49-57. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3288-8_6 In: Jaccarini, V.; Martens, E.E. (Ed.) (1992). The ecology of mangrove and related ecosystems: Proceedings of the international symposium held at Mombasa, Kenya, 24-30 September 1990. Reprinted from Hydrobiologia, vol. 247. Developments in Hydrobiology, 80. Springer Science+Business Media: Dordrecht. ISBN 978-0-7923-2049-4; e-ISBN 978-94-017-3288-8. XII, 266 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3288-8, more In: Dumont, H.J. (Ed.) Developments in Hydrobiology. Kluwer Academic/Springer: The Hague; London; Boston; Dordrecht. ISSN 0167-8418, more |
Abstract | Changes in coastline configuration and sand movements on Portuguese lsland, a small island lying close to Inhaca island 35 km east of Maputo, Mozambique have resulted in large areas of the island being eroded away and consequent restricted tidal recharge of the mangrove. Measurements made during 1989 show that flooding of the mangrove occurred on only three occasions. Percentage mortality of the dominant species, Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C. B. Robinson, is high. However, at the time of the study, the co-dominant, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam., showed no signs of stress. Halophytic conditions are indicated by an invasive spread of salt-tolerant herbs. All species of crustaceans and molluscs have disappeared from the mangrove. Although mortality of C. tagal is high, the regeneration status of this species is also high, comparable to that in a regularly recharged mangrove on Inhaca lsland. lt is suggested that C. tagal propagules were shed under conditions when seedling establishment was favorable i.e. flooding. These seedlings may represent the last cohort which may also suffer stress and death unless tidal recharge is re-established. |
|