Overview of the Importance of Mangroves

and Seagrass Ecosystems

Prepared by
 Seagrasses “The Rain Forest of the Sea”

Mangroves, the backbone of

Tropical coastlines

So why then would you Destroy the

AMAZON??
 Outline

What are Mangroves and Seagrass

Importance of Mangroves
Importance of Seagrass
Symbiotic Relationship of Mangroves, Seagrass
and Coral Reefs
Threats to Mangroves and Seagrass
 What are Mangroves and Seagrass?
Mangroves are predominantly tropical plants with an elaborate root system that
inhabit intertidal (between land and sea) zones of sheltered tropical shores,
islands, and estuaries. There are 69 species found worldwide

Four species are found in Jamaica; they are Red, Black, White and
Buttonwood Mangroves

Seagrass are underwater flowering plants growing in shallow

coastal waters.
Three species are commonly found growing in Jamaican waters Thalassia sp,
Syringodium sp. and Halodule sp. with Thalassia being the most dominant

Mangrove forests and seagrasses are some of the world's most

threatened tropical
ecosystems
 Importance of Mangroves
Mangrove Forests serve many purposes
including:
Basis of marine food chain
Species Habitat
Nursery Ground
Wave buffering
Flood Control
Sediment Filtering and Water quality
improvement
Carbon fixation
 Basis of marine food chain
Nothing is wasted in a mangrove forest.
 Species Habitat

Mangroves provide habitats and feeding grounds for more than 220
fish species, 24 reptile and amphibian species, 18 mammal species
and 200 bird species. Some of which include:
Economically Important fish (grunt, parrotfish, snapper, snook, tarpon,
barracuda, mackerel)
Marine and terrestrial birds (brown pelican, frigate bird, great blue heron,
green heron, royal tern, ibis, mangrove cuckoo, white crown pigeon, Jamaican
wood pecker, west Indian whistling duck {endangered}
Reptiles (crocodiles, lizards, snakes)
Crustaceans (lobster, shrimps, crabs)
Amphibians, Mollusks (oysters), seahorses
Various species of algae and sponges
Invertebrates (mangrove jellyfish, starfish,
sea squirts*)
 Nursery Ground
Some reef fish require mangrove forest to complete their life cycle:
Adult fish migrate to mangrove forest to spawn (lay eggs or larvae)
Juvenile fish depend of mangrove roots to serve as a refuge from large predators.
When they grow larger (less susceptible to predators) they move to more open
habitat such as seagrass and coral reefs e.g. grunt, parrotfish, snapper, barracuda
They then return to mangrove forests to spawn.

It is estimated that 75% of

game fish and 90% of
commercial fish rely on
mangrove forests at some
point in their lives.*

Recent studies have shown

that the rainbow parrotfish
(largest herbivorous fish in the Atlantic)
is so dependent on
mangroves that it became
locally absent after the forests
were removed. *
 Wave Buffering
Complex root structure and abundance are crucial to prevent
erosion by absorbing heavy wave impact and dissipate wave
energy from severe storms such as hurricanes* e.g. Font Hill - St
Elizabeth, Farhquars Beach - Clarendon, Indonesia, Thailand,
Burma.
Farhquars Beach - Clarendon 2001

Farhquars Beach - Clarendon 2004

Effects of Mangrove Removal Before (2001)
on coastline

Galin Point, Font Hill, St

Elizabeth

After 2004
 Flood Plain
Mangroves are associated with riverine systems where they act as
flood plains absorbing EXCESS water during periods of heavy
rain.
E.g.
Black River, St Elizabeth
Fresh River, Ferry, St. Catherine
Milk River, Clarendon
Duhaney River, St. Andrew

Wetland being modified in Bush Cay,

Trelawney.
 Wetland Reclamation being conducted in Parottee, Black River, St.
Elizabeth (approved subdivision)

Area flooded after rains

Reclaimed/Modified Sections of Fresh River Flood Plain

The effects of wetland

modification (north of
highway) for development is
evident along Mandela
Highway in Ferry where the
highway becomes severely
flooded during heavy rains

*Wetland coverage in Jamaica is steadily declining from 12000ha in 1980 to

9600ha in 2005
 Sediment Filtering and Improved Water Quality
Helps to retain sediments and nutrients from terrestrial areas thereby
improving water quality. Critical marine ecosystems (seagrass and
coral reefs) are protected from sedimentation and nutrients which can
cause eutrophication, toxic algal blooms, smothering and eventually
death of these habitats.
The health of these ecosystems is dependent on clear nutrient poor
water, so that sunlight is able to penetrate the water column and
sustain these habitats.

Carbon Fixation
They absorb the green house gas Carbon Dioxide from the
atmosphere (lessening global warming)- Planting mangroves is
now being internationally recognized as one of the options for the
prevention of global warming.
Organic matter such as fallen leaves forms nutrient rich
sediments on forest floor creating a peat soil layer (fuel) and
stores organic carbon
 Salinas/Salt Ponds
Mangroves are associated with Salinas. These areas provide a
habitat for various species of crabs and wading birds (great blue
heron, egrets, green herons)
• You have not said anything about salinas
and temporary
Wading birds feed on
pools which are important
for
small fishwaterfowl/biodiversity
as well as
small crabs that live in
burrows within the
Salinas

Salinas at low and high tide behind

Mangroves stand, Paradise, Hanover
 Importance of Seagrass

Provides food and shelter for marine animals

Sediment Stabilization
Water Clarity and Nutrient Cycling

Provides food and shelter for marine animals

Primary food source for manatee and turtles (endangered), urchins and
parrotfish also feeds directly on seagrass blades
Like mangroves many commercially important fish species depend on
seagrass as a nursery and feeding ground to complete life cycle.
Species such as goliath grouper, grunt, snook, snapper, parrotfish,
barracuda and tarpon forage in seagrass beds where they spend their
juvenile stage eventually foraging unto coral reefs.
Other species that depend on seagrass include queen conch, spiny lobster,
stingrays, shrimps, various species of urchins and stony crab (mangroves
and seagrass are interdependent nursery habitats.)
Other associates organisms include sea cucumber, worms, anemones, ascidians,
seahorses.
 Sediment Stabilization
Binds shallow water sediments in coastal waters with their rhizomes and
baffles wave and currents with their leafy canopy. This traps sediments
and allow for stabilization hence sustaining beaches and counteracting
erosion.
Beach erosion in Negril has been linked to loss of seagrass beds. The
seagrass blades serves as a habitat for micro organisms (foraminifera)
that helps to produce beach sediment. This account for 47% of sand in
Negril. Loss of seagrass beds equates to loss of these micro organisms
hence a reduction in the sediment budget and a increase in erosion along
Negril Beach.

Water Clarity
Removes land based dissolved nutrients as a result of runoff from
hinterland through absorption by seagrass blades, associated
epiphytes, microalgae and root system. The removal of sediments
and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from the water column
results in high water clarity and nutrient-poor waters required for
the survival of seagrass and coral reefs.
 Effect of Sedimentation on Seagrass beds

Bloody Bay, Negril

May 2003
Bloody Bay, Negril October
2003

In the last five years alone, approval has been granted to relocate
approximately 165,919m2 (41 hectares/101acres) of seagrass here in
Jamaica. The estimated survival rate is 80% for transplanted beds,
however this figure does not account for the amounts lost during the
actual transplanting phase, anthropogenic related losses or natural
disasters
 Symbiotic Relationship of Mangroves,
Seagrass and Coral Reef

Seagrass further Protects

Mangroves filter nutrients and
sedimentation from land
based runoff hence
improving water quality
before reaching seagrass
filters nutrients and Reefs acts like a buffer to Coastline from
sedimentation before dissipate wave energy erosion and
discharge unto reefs before reaching seagrass destructive
(improved water beds and mangrove stands wave energy
quality). thereby maintaining
integrity of the coastline

**We depend on these ecosystems to sustain our way of life as they

depend on us to protect and conserve them for continued sustainability

Mangroves and Seagrass in the Caribbean strongly influence the

community structure of fish on neighbouring coral reefs.
 Threats to Mangroves and Seagrass
Mangroves and Seagrasses are affected by natural events however these
effects are exacerbated by human activity. Specific problems include:

Increased suspended matter in coastal waters

(coastal developments and degraded watersheds)
Tourism and Real-estate development
Dredge (Port and Harbour developments), reclamation, fish
and shrimps ponds e.g.. Falmouth
Thermal discharges e.g.. JPS Power Plant, Old Harbour Bay
Agriculture, Charcoal and fish pots
Beach development e.g. Negril* North coast hotels
Effluent and gully discharge
Oil Pollution
Propeller and anchor damage
Use of drag nets
Public perception and disregard
Continued destruction of Mangroves, Seagrass and
Coral Reefs to facilitate development will see a decline
in biodiversity, increase in coastal erosion and storm
impacts. It is therefore important that we protect and
conserve what is left of these threatened ecosystems to
ensure continued health and sustainability of our
coastline and marine resources.
Chalene

THANK
YOU☺
 References
Fonseca M., Kenworthy W., Thayer G. 1998. Guidelines for Conservation and Restoration of Seagrass in United
States and Adjacent Waters.
Lewis R., 2004. Ecological engineering for successful management and restoration of mangroves forest.
Myers M., Mangrove ecology of Florida and the Caribbean
O’Sullivan C.,2005. The importance of Mangroves
www.worldbank.org. Erosion is Primary Environmental Challenge In Thailand, Says New World Bank Report
www.greenpeace.org Impact of coastal development of seagrass beds
www.mangroves.org
www.biologynews.net
www.ambergriscaye.com. The Importance of Mangroves
www.panda.org Mangrove Importance
www.panda.org Up to 26 times more fish found on reefs near mangrove forests
www.flmnh.ufl.edu Importance of Seagrass
www.bvi.gov.vg
Report on a workshop held in West Indies Laboratories, St Croix, US Virgin Islands,1982
Coral Reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves: Their interaction in the coastal zones of the Caribbean.
Department of Geology and Geography, UWI 2000.Beach Sands Resource, Assessment Negril, Jamaica
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry Public Communication division,2002. Sequestration of CO2
form planted Mangroves.