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Mangrove Communities: Current Threats & Looking Toward the Future

I. Introduction: What are Mangroves & Where Are They Found?

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that have adapted to life in a saltwater
environment

There are about 80

different species of mangrove
trees. All of these trees grow in
areas with low-oxygen soil,
where slow-moving waters
allow fine sediments to
accumulate.

Many mangrove forests can be recognized by their dense tangle of prop roots that make
the trees appear to be standing on stilts above the water. This tangle of roots allows the trees to
handle the daily rise and fall of tides, which means that most mangroves get flooded at least
twice per day. The roots also slow the movement of tidal waters, causing sediments to settle
out of the water and build up the muddy bottom.
Source: https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/plants/mangroves.html

Where Are Mangroves Found?

A map of mangrove species around the world. (Deltares, 2014)

Source: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/mangroves

Q: Looking at the map above, where do mangrove species thrive? Why do you think that is the
case?
 II. Roles & Benefits of Mangroves in the Environment

Mangroves are among the most productive and biologically complex ecosystems on
Earth. They cover between roughly 53,000 and 77,000 square miles (138,000 and 200,000
square km) globally, acting as a bridge connecting the land and sea. Though most will be less
than a couple miles thick along the coastline, in some areas of the world they are massive
aquatic forests.

Mangrove forests are important feeding grounds for thousands of species and support a
diverse food web. Some organisms will eat the leaves directly, especially crabs and insects,
while other decomposers wait for the mangrove leaves to fall to the ground and consume the
decaying material. Microbes and fungi among the mangrove roots use the decaying material as
fuel and in return, they recycle nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and iron for the
mangroves.

Coastline Protectors

Mangrove forests offer benefits, especially to people who live close to the shore. When
cyclonic storms like typhoons and hurricanes make landfall, they create a strong storm surge
that can cause serious flooding. Mangroves naturally absorb influxes of water on a daily basis
and are able to cope with the extra flooding during a storm. But the recent mangrove
deforestation to make way for development and shrimp farms has created hazardous conditions
for people living close to shore. In the 1950s, coastal villages in the Indo-Pacific had an average
of 5 miles of mangrove forest between themselves and the ocean. Today, villages sit at the
water’s edge.
Source: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/mangroves

Q: What would happen if mangroves were no longer located in front of the coast?
Another study released the data chart presented below, which shows estimates of the effects of
mangroves on avoided flooding, people and property.

Source: Menéndez, P., Losada, I. J., Torres-Ortega, S., Narayan, S., & Beck, M. W. (2020). The Global Flood Protection Benefits of
Mangroves. Nature Research Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-11
Q: What connections can you make between the presence of mangroves and the projected
impacts?

It’s a worrisome situation considering one study found that a mangrove forest can cut the death
toll of a coastal storm by about two-thirds. The same study also found that as mangrove width
decreased, the death toll from coastal storms increased.

III. Why Do Mangroves Matter to Me?

Do you eat seafood? Do you love shrimp? Well even if you don’t, in order to produce
enough shrimp to meet the demand that people have for this food source, shrimp farms are
established to produce shrimp in mass quantities. Farmed shrimp accounts for 55 percent of the
shrimp produced globally. Most shrimp aquaculture occurs in China, followed by Thailand,
Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador and Bangladesh, and it has generated substantial
income in these developing countries.
Source: https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/farmed-shrimp

Q: Refer back to the map in the previous section. How is the map of where mangroves are
found related to shrimp farming? What implications may this have?
 Mangroves are prime environments for shrimp farming. Shrimp farming is an industry
that has been around for several decades. Look at the data below. The value of shrimp has not
been the same over time. Shrimp used to be VERY expensive and now it has become more
affordable.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248908889_The_impact_of_shrimp_farming_on_mangrove_ecosystems

Q: How has shrimp production changed since 1950? Explain in terms of value of shrimp versus
production in farms.

Q: Which region accounts for the highest production? How does this relate to mangroves?
Pollution
In tropical climates where most farmed shrimp is produced, it takes approximately three
to six months to raise market-sized shrimp, with many farmers growing two to three crops per
year. A steady stream of organic waste, chemicals and antibiotics from shrimp farms can pollute
groundwater or coastal estuaries. Salt from the ponds can also seep into the groundwater and
onto agricultural land. This has had lasting effects, changing the hydrology that provides the
foundation of wetland ecosystems.

Destruction of Habitats
In some cases, ecologically-sensitive habitat (such as mangroves) has been cleared to
create ponds for shrimp production. Also, some aquifers that supply water to farms have been
contaminated with salt water. Some forms of shrimp farming have had a devastating effect on
mangroves around the world. These mangroves are vital for wildlife and coastal fisheries, and
serve as buffers to the effects of storms. Their loss has destabilized entire coastal zones, with
negative effects on coastal communities.
Salt flats, mudflats, estuaries, tidal basins and coastal marshes can also be affected by
shrimp farming. These areas represent essential hunting, nesting, breeding and migratory
homes to millions of coastal inhabitants, including fish, invertebrates, and migratory birds.
Source: https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/farmed-shrimp

Q: Human population continues to increase and thus, more food will be needed to supply
nutrition for these people. How may the increased production of shrimp in farms impact
mangroves?

Q: How may these impacted mangroves communities affect humans? Relate this back to
section II of the case study.

Q: Are our practices with shrimp farming sustainable in its current state? Explain.

Q: What types of changes must humans make to lessen the impact on the mangrove ecosystem
and themselves? Explain how these changes would lessen the impact.