Mangrove Swamp

Mangrove is now less seen in Singapore and they have been slowly extinct and maybe they will be gone forever. So, now, we shall try to keep the mangrove in good condition and protect our natural environment.

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Welcome to our IPW mangrove swamp blog by hai sing catholic school students. We would like a comment from you because we can know what good or bad points we had done and if it is a bad comment about us, we will try to change and show the best of us.

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about us

Name- Chan Wee Hong Alvin
Role- Leader
Age- 14
Class- 2E1
Hobbies- Playing computer games and swimming
Email- frozen-arctic@hotmail.com

Name- Thio Chong Jing Cyrus
Role- Co-Researcher and secretary
Age- 13
Class- 2E4
Hobbies- Playing computer games and soccer
Email- cyrusthio@hotmail.com

Name- Chuan Jia Xuan Jeremy
Role- Co Researcher and Assistant leader
Age-14
Class-2E1
Hobbies- Basketball and playing computer games
Email- jcjiaxuan@hotmail.com

Name- Ng Shiuan Jun
Role- Main Researcher
Age- 13
Class- 2E1
Hobbies- Gaming and reading of science books
Email- chaos_killerz@hotmail.com

Name-Quek Hui Juan Emily
Role- Treasurer and Co-researcher
Age- 13
Class- 2E1
Hobbies- Going out with friends and reading
Email- emily_qhj@hotmail.com

[ Jun 6, 2008 ]

14:05

RESEARCH ON MODERN MANGROVE(1)

Introduction

Over the years, many mangrove in Singapore has been cleared away to build houses for the large population. And also, mangroves have been neglected and hence the

populations of mangrove swamps are starting to decline
due to the advancements and growth of technology in the urban environment and other reasons such as over cutting

(exploitation) thus leading to downfall of mangrove populations. Therefore, as Singaporeans we must play a part in conserving its present population. Hence, in this section of our research, we are going to provide information about the mangroves that are still present in Singapore.

Characteristics of Mangrove
All living things have certain characteristics to survive and adapt to changes around them and as for Mangroves, they also have certain features with specific functions and

adaptations to help them survive. Firstly, mangroves have different types of roots to suittheir conditions of living and help them breathe well and carry out the process of exchanging of gases enabling them to adapt better in their present conditions. As shown in the diagram there is different roots such as aerial roots, pencil roots, stilt roots, cable roots, knee roots and the prop roots. As for salinity problems that were faced by the mangroves, certain species of mangrove such as the buttonwoods utilize salt excretion as a salt balancing mechanism. They are able to take in high salinity pore watersand after that excrete salts using specialized salt glands which can absorb oxygen for the mangrove’s activities.

The World’s Perception about mangroves

To many, mangroves are muddy places which are very filthy, with many insects and pests residing swarming the place. However, that is in fact a wrong perception as the mangrove swamps are actually a vital part of the river ecosystem and is home to many different species of creatures. Without the mangroves, there will be an imbalance in the salinity of our waters which can result in a severe change in the climate of our planet which some scientists believe was the cause for the First Ice Age.

What are Mangroves?
There are in fact several definitions to the word ‘mangroves’.

1. It is most commonly used for referring to the entire swamp. That is how the term ‘mangrove swamp’ comes about.
2. It refers to all the plants living in the swamp.
3. It refers to the plants living in the swamp which specifically belongs to the mangrove family also known as Rhizophoraceae.
The first definition is most commonly used globally. The mangroves are a place where the freshwater river meets the sea and thus there is a fusion, causing an increase in the salinity level. Over time, these species of plants have been able to adapt to such conditions and have flourished, with every individual plant being a habitat for many species of creatures residing in them and depending on each other, thus forming a large ecosystem of its own.

Where are they?

Mangroves are usually found in the deltas located at the river mouth where the river meets the sea. These areas are usually places where the depositions are fine and are high in nutrients which are able to promote healthy growth of the plant. Most importantly, they must be strategically located at a place which is protected from the effects of destructive waves which can wash away the sediments. That is why mangroves are usually found in between spits and tombolos. Mangroves are most commonly found in the sub-tropical region where there is a relative high amount of salinity in the water.

Purposes of Mangroves

Once the mangrove plant has adapted to its surrounding, its enormous root system is able to reduce the speed of the currents at significant amounts which will allow the depositing of sediments onto the seabed which promotes the expansion of the mangrove over time. Also, the root system of the mangrove is able to help preserve the condition of the mangrove when the presence of imminent danger is felt, like a

hurricane. Due to the roots ability to withstand the pressure of the waves and also reducing the speed of it significantly, they are able to convert the destructive waves into constructive ways which allows deposition to take place rather than erosion.

Ensuring the continuity of the mangroves…
Due to the change in the environment, where the sea levels are rising, the mangroves have evolved and with the aid of a special mechanism, are able to help their offspring survive. Mangroves have buoyant seeds which are adapted for the dispersal in water. Unlike other plants whose seeds germinate in soil, the mangrove plants have seeds which germinate while they are still attached to the parent plant.

These seeds will be germinated when still in the fruit of the mangrove and when they have grown out of the fruit and have reached propagule (a stage where the plant is able to be dispersed), they will be dropped into the water and will be carried by the waves to a distant land which they will find suitable and settle down.
Although the journey is a treacherous one, they are adapted to deal with the harsh conditions thrown at them. They are able to photosynthesize on their own already, which means that they will have a constant food supply. Once they reach a place where they deem is suitable for them to grow, they will alter the density of the propagule which will allow it to float vertically rather than horizontally, which increases the chance of it to get anchored to the soil.

Shrinking mangroves?
The size of mangrove forests is diminishing due to the plants being cut down to make way for shrimp farming. This sentence is supported by the United Nations reports on wildlife conservation.

Types of Mangroves
There are a wide variety of mangrove species. A few of the mangrove species are already extinct due to the ever-changing climate of the Earth. But there are around four common species of mangrove. They are the Red Mangrove, Black Mangrove, White Mangrove and the Buttonwood Mangrove. These species are classified based on their functions and characteristics.

-Red Mangrove
The red mangrove is one of the most common mangrove species found in the mangrove

ecological community. It is also known as Rhizophora mangle. This type of mangrove plant uses tall and arching roots known as prop roots to help diffuse gases in and out of the plant to obtain a constant supply of air. As usual these roots also provide support and stability for the mangrove. To increase the amount of soil around itself, the plant also uses their prop roots to trap mud and silt the flows of the tides. Because of their high salt tolerance, red mangroves are more commonly found near the sea or water bodies compared to other species of mangroves. The wood of the red mangroves are used mostly as charcoal, fuel, etc. The red mangrove is well-known for its large quantity of tannins which are found in the bark.

-Black Mangrove

The black mangrove is also known as the Avicennia Germinans and the reason for its name is because of its dark brown which looks near to black branches. The branches of the black mangrove are much stronger, harder and heavier compared to other mangroves. The tannin in their bark isn’t much in quantity compared to the red mangrove but the tannins are commonly used in leather production. Amazingly black mangroves bloom white flowers that produce extremely high-quality nectar. Black mangroves use numerous pencil-like breathing tubes known as pneumatophores, which grow vertically from the mud to just above the highest water level tide.

-White Mangrove
The white mangrove is also known as the Laguncularia Racemosa. A white mangrove can be

easily identified from other mangroves through their roots and leaves systems. The white mangrove leaves are rounded at the base and the tip are smooth underneath. Each leaf has at least two glands called nectarines that excrete sugar at its base. Depending on the habitat conditions and the climatic changes, the white mangrove can evolve to get either pneumataphores or prop roots. Pneumatophores are thought to function as the trees means of obtaining oxygen for the roots during flooded conditions and prop roots are tall arching roots originating from trunks and branches. White mangroves are able to thrive well or better in fertile land.

-Buttonwood Mangrove
The buttonwood mangrove is also known as the Conocarpus Erectus. This mangrove is a shrubby type of plant and produces a type of picturesque appearance when exposed to the bright sunlight and the constant breeze of the wind, thus creating a peaceful and also beautiful

addition to the seashore landscape. The name of this mangrove refers to the red-brown and cone-like fruits. Buttonwoods usually have low branches and have e many multi trunks. The buttonwood mangrove wood is usually used for firewood, cabinets, and making charcoal. It is very strong wood and great for smoking meats and fish because it burns slowly and releases generous quantities of heat. Buttonwood is tough and long lasting in the landscape thus it is mostly used in creating beautiful seaside landscapes. It can withstand the rigors of urban settings and makes a durable street or parking lot tree. It is almost as strong and durable as the black mangrove.