Mangrove swamps are located in flat coastal areas where the ocean tides wash saltwater high into the mouths of rivers which are bringing nutrient-rich soil down to the coast. For mangroves to thrive, there needs to be some natural feature such as coral reefs to shelter the coast from ocean storms and monsoons. In Madagascar, they are mostly found on the more sheltered west coast along the Mozambique Channel, where they stretch along roughly 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) of coastline. The largest areas are in the estuaries of the Betsiboka River (in Bombetoka Bay near the city of Mahajanga), Besalampy, the Mahajamba and South Mahavavy river, and near Maintirano. The climate is warm all along the coast but more humid in the north.[1]
Mangrove swamps, in Madagascar and around the world, are an important habitat for wildlife. They are a vital breeding ground for many species of fish and a feeding place for migratory birds. The waters of the Madagascar mangroves are rich in fish and other animals such as waterbirds, crocodiles, green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and dugongs. Birds include the African spoonbill, great egret, sakalava rail and grey heron. Much of this wildlife is endemic to Madagascar. The many fish found in the waters include the families Mugilidae, Serranidae, Carangidae, Gerridae, Hemiramphidae, Plectorhinchinae, and Elopidae. Neighbouring coral reefs are also extremely diverse.[1]
Threats and conservationedit
Mangroves are vulnerable to clearance for timber, urban expansion, over-fishing, and erosion in the highlands. Activities such as rice growing, salt-panning and shrimp cultivation are also threats. Urban areas near the mangroves include the cities Toliara and Mahajanga. Mananara Nord National Park protects some mangrove swamps.[1]
Honey is produced in mangroves as a source of (non-destructive) income generation (which can help in preventing people from destroying the mangroves (i.e. for charcoal production). In addition, silk pods from endemic silkworm species are also collected in the Madagascar mangroves for wild silk production.[2][3]
^ abcdTognetii, S. (2004). "119 – Madagascar Mangroves". In Burgess, N.; D'Amico Hales, J.; Underwood, E.; et al. (eds.). (PDF). World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments (2nd ed.). Washington D.C.: Island Press. pp. 425–426. ISBN978-1559633642. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-01.
^Madagascar: What’s good for the forest is good for the native silk industry
^The secret life of mangroves documentary (episode 2)
External linksedit
"Madagascar Mangroves". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
March 16, 2024
madagascar, mangroves, coastal, ecoregion, mangrove, forest, biome, found, west, coast, madagascar, they, included, global, list, most, outstanding, ecoregions, mangroves, between, ifaty, belalandaecologyrealmafrotropicalbiomemangrovesbordersmadagascar, decidu. Madagascar mangroves are a coastal ecoregion in the mangrove forest biome found on the west coast of Madagascar They are included in the WWF s Global 200 list of most outstanding ecoregions Madagascar mangrovesMangroves between Ifaty and BelalandaEcologyRealmAfrotropicalBiomeMangrovesBordersMadagascar dry deciduous forests Madagascar subhumid forests Madagascar succulent woodlands Madagascar spiny forestsAnimalsgreen turtle hawksbill turtle dugongBird speciesMadagascar heron Madagascar fish eagleGeographyArea5 200 km2 2 000 sq mi CountryMadagascarElevationsea levelCoordinates17 1 S 44 12 E 17 017 S 44 200 E 17 017 44 200Geologyriver sedimentsClimate typeTropical monsoon climate Am hot semi arid climate BSh and hot desert climate BWh ConservationConservation statusvulnerableGlobal 200included Contents 1 Geography 2 Flora 3 Fauna 4 Threats and conservation 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksGeography editMangrove swamps are located in flat coastal areas where the ocean tides wash saltwater high into the mouths of rivers which are bringing nutrient rich soil down to the coast For mangroves to thrive there needs to be some natural feature such as coral reefs to shelter the coast from ocean storms and monsoons In Madagascar they are mostly found on the more sheltered west coast along the Mozambique Channel where they stretch along roughly 1 000 kilometres 620 mi of coastline The largest areas are in the estuaries of the Betsiboka River in Bombetoka Bay near the city of Mahajanga Besalampy the Mahajamba and South Mahavavy river and near Maintirano The climate is warm all along the coast but more humid in the north 1 Flora editThe mangrove trees found in Madagascar are mainly Rhizophora mucronata Black Mangrove Bruguiera gymnorhiza Ceriops tagal White Mangrove Avicennia marina Sonneratia alba and Lumnitzera racemosa Other species are Xylocarpus granatum and Heritiera littoralis 1 Fauna editMangrove swamps in Madagascar and around the world are an important habitat for wildlife They are a vital breeding ground for many species of fish and a feeding place for migratory birds The waters of the Madagascar mangroves are rich in fish and other animals such as waterbirds crocodiles green turtle Chelonia mydas hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata and dugongs Birds include the African spoonbill great egret sakalava rail and grey heron Much of this wildlife is endemic to Madagascar The many fish found in the waters include the families Mugilidae Serranidae Carangidae Gerridae Hemiramphidae Plectorhinchinae and Elopidae Neighbouring coral reefs are also extremely diverse 1 Threats and conservation editMangroves are vulnerable to clearance for timber urban expansion over fishing and erosion in the highlands Activities such as rice growing salt panning and shrimp cultivation are also threats Urban areas near the mangroves include the cities Toliara and Mahajanga Mananara Nord National Park protects some mangrove swamps 1 Honey is produced in mangroves as a source of non destructive income generation which can help in preventing people from destroying the mangroves i e for charcoal production In addition silk pods from endemic silkworm species are also collected in the Madagascar mangroves for wild silk production 2 3 See also editEcoregions of MadagascarReferences edit a b c d Tognetii S 2004 119 Madagascar Mangroves In Burgess N D Amico Hales J Underwood E et al eds Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar A Conservation Assessment PDF World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments 2nd ed Washington D C Island Press pp 425 426 ISBN 978 1559633642 Archived from the original PDF on 2016 11 01 Madagascar What s good for the forest is good for the native silk industry The secret life of mangroves documentary episode 2 External links edit Madagascar Mangroves Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Madagascar mangroves amp oldid 1124199123, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
