QUES . Discuss the ecological significance of mangroves on tropical estuaries. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2014 General Studies . 200 Words . 5 Marks
HINTS:
Mangroves are the characteristic littoral plant formation of tropical and subtropical sheltered coastlines. Mangroves are trees and bushes growing below the high water level of spring tides which exhibits remarkable capacity for salt water tolerance.
They are basically evergreen land plants growing on sheltered shores, typically on tidal flats, deltas, estuaries, bays, creeks and the barrier islands.
Ecological significance of mangroves on tropical estuaries
• Mangrove plants have (additional) special roots such as prop roots, pneumatophores which help to impede water flow and thereby enhance the deposition of sediment in areas (where it is already occurring), stabilize the coastal shores, provide breeding ground for fishes.
• Mangroves moderate monsoonal tidal floods and reduce inundation of coastal lowlands.
• It prevents coastal soil erosion.
• It protects coastal lands from tsunami, hurricanes and floods.
• Mangroves enhance natural recycling of nutrients.
• Mangrove supports numerous flora, avifauna and wild life.
• Provide a safe and favorable environment for breeding, spawning, rearing of several fishes.
• It protects coastal inland from adverse climatic elements.
• Fine, anoxic sediments deposited under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which are scavenged from the overlying seawater by colloidal particles in the sediments.
They clean our air, take in carbon dioxide, store the carbon in their roots, leaves, branches and in its surrounding silt, and release oxygen back to the atmosphere, along with a little methane gas.
However mangroves are destroyed for conversion of area for agricultural purpose, fuel and fodder. They are also damaged due to salinization, mining , oil spills, aquacultural (shrimp farming) activities , use of chemical pesticides & fertilizers, industrial purposes, etc. For example, Mangroves of Pichavaram and Vedaranyam are degraded mainly due to construction of aquaculture ponds and salt pans.
Thus, there is a need for mangrove conservation and protection, consisting of – identification of selected mangrove areas for conservation; preparation of a management plan; promotion of research; adoption of a multidisciplinary approach involving state governments, universities, research institutions and local organizations, etc.
