Colonisation and

Succession in a mangrove
Swamp
 Colonisation
• Occurs when the pioneer species occupy
an area or newly formed land previously
unoccupied by living organisms.
• They have specialised characteristics to
adapt to the area.
 Succesion
• Continual series of changes in the
structure and species composition of a
community from initial colonisation of an
area by pioneer species until a stable
complex community is reached.
• Can be devided into 2
– Primary succession
– Secondary succession
 Primary succession
• Occurs when pioneer species occupy an
area previously unoccupied by living
organisms such as a new land by
deposition of mud.
 Secondary succession
• Occurs when an existing biotic community
is disrupted and a new community
develops at the area.
• The disruption may cause by flooding,
human activities.
• Occurs more rapidly than primary
succesion. May take place if the soil is
already present and there are surviving
species.
 What is mangrove?
• Tropical tree or shrub growing in shore-
mud with many tangled roots above
ground (Pocket Oxford Dictionary)
• Mangrove plants are found along the
muddy coastal areas and estuaries in
tropical and subtropical regions.
• why there?
– The regions are sheltered from direct strong
winds, strong waves and water current.
• Silt and clay particles carried by river water will
be deposited as mud at the river mouth.
• When mud bank sufficiently thick and the newly
formed land is exposed to the air at low tide, the
COLONISATION by pioneer species begins.
• The first pioneer plant to grow on soft exposed
saline mud bank along the coastal facing the
sea are halophythes ( Avicennia spp)
• In the river estuaries, the dominant pioneer
species is Sonneratia spp
 One characteristics helping the
development of colonisation
• The Avicennia spp have roots that grows
vertically upwards (pneumatophores).
• The roots contain aerenchyma tissue =
facilitate oxygen transport to parts
submerged in water.
• the roots trap silt particles, fallen leaves
and tree branches.
• As the ground level is raised, the area is
covered less frequently by high tides.
• Provided shade to soil, more nutrients
around the area.
• Pioneer species gradually disappears and
replaced by the successors.
Colonisation around mangrove
area
White mangrove, pokok api-api =
Avicennia sp. Family/Genus:
Avicenniaceae - Avicennia
Note the presence of Salt Gland on the petiole of the Avicennia sp.
• Family/Genus: Sonneratiaceae -
Sonneratia
• Common Names
pedada, red-brown mangrove, perepat,
perepat laut,
The red mangrove is usually found along the shore. The water around the base of
the trees is often stained brown, a side effect of the tannin contained in the green,
waxy leaves which fall into the water gradually throughout the year.
• Current Name: Bruguiera sp
• Family/Genus: Rhizoporaceae – Bruguiera
• Common Names
black mangrove, bakau, prasak, byu,
pototan, mangoro, tumu, lenggadai, berus,
tanjang, bakauan, bakau putih.
• Tree up to 20 m tall with buttresses and
kneed pneumatophores; bark grey,
smooth; leaves opposite, blades light
green, thin, elliptic; stipules pale yellow or
greenish.
Types of mangrove trees’ roots
 Questions

• Name 2 plants act as pioneer plants?

• What is the use of pnuemataphor?
EXTENSION