Jhurben Aquino Quizon BSF1
Mangrove Forest: Coastal Guardian Ecosystem
Mangroves are a group of trees that thrive in tropical and subtropical coastal areas
characterized by high salinity and temperature. They live in muddy, saline, and waterlogged soils
and often at altitudes close to sea level.
Mangroves have two classifications namely true mangroves and associate mangroves. The
former favors high salinity while the latter thrives on a specific amount of salinity and is
sometimes situated in upland regions.
There are 5 common mangroves in the Philippines, which are Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera,
Sonneratia, and Nypa. Since Mangroves lie between the transitional area of freshwater and
saltwater, each species has a preferred zone in which it can grow and survive. Species zonation
is influenced by its biotic and abiotic factors that dictate the survivability and growth of
mangrove species. Avicennia and Sonneratia, for example, thrive in mudflats (abiotic) as they
shed their bark (skin), rendering barnacles (biotic) unable to stick to them. Rhizophora species,
on the other hand, would not be able to live in that environment for a prolonged time.
The mangrove ecosystem comprises a vast and diverse biotic component that shows ecological
relationships. Decomposers, including algae, benefit from mangroves as they consume fallen
leaves, which in turn, they recycle nutrients for the mangroves, revealing a mutualistic
connection. Mistletoes also live in a mangrove ecosystem; they grow on the bark of mangroves
and absorb nutrients from the tree, benefiting themselves while harming the mangroves,
showing a parasitism relationship. Fishes, mainly juvenile fishes, are abundant in mangroves,
hence mangroves are called as nursery of fisheries. These fish compete with other aquatic
species like crabs for food and shelter. All of these interactions are equally important in
achieving a balanced ecosystem through nutrient cycling, population control, and promotion of
diverse species.
In relation to communities, these coastal trees are excellent defense front-liners against storm
surges, tidal waves, and erosion. More importantly, their soils are great carbon sinks due to
their massive carbon sequestration ability of 3-4x more than land forests.
Despite the crucial role of these mangroves, they face critical problems of degradation and
overexploitation. One human intervention that adversely affects these natural defenses is land
conversion for urban development. Mangrove ecosystems are converted into resorts and
buildings, leading to habitat loss for numerous species. Conversely, positive human activities
include community-driven reforestation programs initiated by DENR in collaboration with LGUs,
Mangrove Forest: Coastal Guardian Ecosystem
Mangroves are a group of trees that thrive in tropical and subtropical coastal areas
characterized by high salinity and temperature. They live in muddy, saline, and waterlogged soils
and often at altitudes close to sea level.
Mangroves have two classifications namely true mangroves and associate mangroves. The
former favors high salinity while the latter thrives on a specific amount of salinity and is
sometimes situated in upland regions.
There are 5 common mangroves in the Philippines, which are Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera,
Sonneratia, and Nypa. Since Mangroves lie between the transitional area of freshwater and
saltwater, each species has a preferred zone in which it can grow and survive. Species zonation
is influenced by its biotic and abiotic factors that dictate the survivability and growth of
mangrove species. Avicennia and Sonneratia, for example, thrive in mudflats (abiotic) as they
shed their bark (skin), rendering barnacles (biotic) unable to stick to them. Rhizophora species,
on the other hand, would not be able to live in that environment for a prolonged time.
The mangrove ecosystem comprises a vast and diverse biotic component that shows ecological
relationships. Decomposers, including algae, benefit from mangroves as they consume fallen
leaves, which in turn, they recycle nutrients for the mangroves, revealing a mutualistic
connection. Mistletoes also live in a mangrove ecosystem; they grow on the bark of mangroves
and absorb nutrients from the tree, benefiting themselves while harming the mangroves,
showing a parasitism relationship. Fishes, mainly juvenile fishes, are abundant in mangroves,
hence mangroves are called as nursery of fisheries. These fish compete with other aquatic
species like crabs for food and shelter. All of these interactions are equally important in
achieving a balanced ecosystem through nutrient cycling, population control, and promotion of
diverse species.
In relation to communities, these coastal trees are excellent defense front-liners against storm
surges, tidal waves, and erosion. More importantly, their soils are great carbon sinks due to
their massive carbon sequestration ability of 3-4x more than land forests.
Despite the crucial role of these mangroves, they face critical problems of degradation and
overexploitation. One human intervention that adversely affects these natural defenses is land
conversion for urban development. Mangrove ecosystems are converted into resorts and
buildings, leading to habitat loss for numerous species. Conversely, positive human activities
include community-driven reforestation programs initiated by DENR in collaboration with LGUs,
