Ecological role and services of tropical mangrove ecosystems: a reassessment

Global Ecology and Biogeography
By: , and 

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Abstract

Aim

To reassess the capacity of mangroves for ecosystem services in the light of recent data.


Location

Global mangrove ecosystems.


Methods

We review four long-standing roles of mangroves: (1) carbon dynamics – export or sink; (2) nursery role; (3) shoreline protection; (4) land-building capacity. The origins of pertinent hypotheses, current understanding and gaps in our knowledge are highlighted with reference to biogeographic, geographic and socio-economic influences.


Results

The role of mangroves as C sinks needs to be evaluated for a wide range of biogeographic regions and forest conditions. Mangrove C assimilation may be under-estimated because of flawed methodology and scanty data on key components of C dynamics. Peri-urban mangroves may be manipulated to provide local offsets for C emission. The nursery function of mangroves is not ubiquitous but varies with spatio-temporal accessibility. Connectivity and complementarity of mangroves and adjacent habitats enhance their nursery function through trophic relay and ontogenetic migrations. The effectiveness of mangroves for coastal protection depends on factors at landscape/geomorphic to community scales and local/species scales. Shifts in species due to climate change, forest degradation and loss of habitat connectivity may reduce the protective capacity of mangroves. Early views of mangroves as land builders (especially lateral expansion) were questionable. Evidence now indicates that mangroves, once established, directly influence vertical land development by enhancing sedimentation and/or by direct organic contributions to soil volume (peat formation) in some settings.


Main conclusions

Knowledge of thresholds, spatio-temporal scaling and variability due to geographic, biogeographic and socio-economic settings will improve the management of mangrove ecosystem services. Many drivers respond to global trends in climate change and local changes such as urbanization. While mangroves have traditionally been managed for subsistence, future governance models must involve partnerships between local custodians of mangroves and offsite beneficiaries of the services.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Ecological role and services of tropical mangrove ecosystems: a reassessment
Series title Global Ecology and Biogeography
DOI 10.1111/geb.12155
Volume 23
Issue 7
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher Global Ecology and Biogeography
Contributing office(s) National Wetlands Research Center
Description 18 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Global Ecology and Biogeography
First page 726
Last page 743
Country United States
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