The Maranhão mangroves (in Portuguese: Reentrâncias Maranhenses) is a mangroveecoregion of northern Brazil. It supports half of the shorebird population of the country. The combination of flat land, heavy rainfall and high tides causes the mangroves to extend up to 40 kilometres (25 mi) inland, where they are interspersed with other rainforest species.
The ecoregion covers and area of 11,300 square kilometers (4,400 sq mi) on the Atlantic coast of Maranhão state.[1] The ecoregion is part of the 31,855 square kilometres (12,299 sq mi) Guianan-Amazon Mangroves global ecoregion, which also contains the Guianan mangroves, Amapá mangroves and Pará mangroves ecoregions.[2] The land is flat and tides may be as high as 8 metres (26 ft) in same places, so salt water may reach inland along the many estuaries and rivers for as far as 40 kilometres (25 mi).[1]
The ecoregion may be divided into eastern and western parts. The western part extends from the Pará boundary along the coast of western Maranhão state to the Baía de São Marcos. Here the coastline is made up of hundreds of islands and mudflats, made up of fine silt deposited by the Amazon River. The eastern part extends from the Baía de São Marcos along the eastern coast of Maranhão to the mouth of the Parnaíba River. Here the coast is dominated by extensive sand dunes, interspersed with pockets of mangroves in bays and river mouths.[1]
Climateedit
The ecoregion has a hot and humid.climate. Mean annual temperature is 26 °C (79 °F). Annual rainfall averages 2,500 millimetres (98 in) and may be as high as 4,000 millimetres (160 in).[1]
Floraedit
The ecoregion holds about 36% of all mangroves in Brazil. In the western part the mangroves cover the mudflats and islands along the coast and extend inland as far as 40 kilometres (25 mi) along the many rivers, bays and estuaries. The heavy rainfall and inputs from many rivers in the region reduce salinity, so that palms (family Arecaceae) and freshwater macrophytes often grow with the mangroves. Towards the east of the ecoregion there are longer dry seasons and higher salinity, so the mangroves are less developed.[1]
The Maranhão mangroves are home to half the total population of shorebirds in Brazil, and 7% of all shorebirds in South America. They are also important areas for feeding and breeding for herons (family Ardeidae) and roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja).[1] Rare and endangered species include scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber), wattled jacana (Jacana jacana), tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) and several species of sea turtle that use the mangroves as a breeding area.[1]
Statusedit
The World Wildlife Fund gives the ecoregion the status of "Vulnerable". It is inaccessible and has a low human population, so is mostly intact. The mangroves are used by many artisanal fishermen for subsistence crab collection. The mangrove wood is used for fuel, housing and boats, and tannin from the bark is used as a dye. In some areas mangroves have been replaced by rice fields or used for urban development. Commercial over-fishing, industrial waste and pollution from gold mining are concerns.[1]
Guianan-Amazon Mangroves, WWF Global, retrieved 2017-04-04
Tognetti, Sylvia S.; Burdette, Christine, Northeastern Brazil (NT1419), WWF: World Wildlife Fund, retrieved 2017-04-05
April 10, 2024
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The Maranhao mangroves in Portuguese Reentrancias Maranhenses is a mangrove ecoregion of northern Brazil It supports half of the shorebird population of the country The combination of flat land heavy rainfall and high tides causes the mangroves to extend up to 40 kilometres 25 mi inland where they are interspersed with other rainforest species Maranhao mangroves NT1419 Igarape shallow channel in MaranhaoEcoregion territory purple in blue dashed box EcologyRealmNeotropicalBiomeMangroveGeographyArea11 300 km2 4 400 sq mi CountryBrazilCoordinates1 37 30 S 44 45 07 W 1 625 S 44 752 W 1 625 44 752Climate typeAf equatorial fully humid Contents 1 Location 2 Climate 3 Flora 4 Fauna 5 Status 6 References 7 SourcesLocation editThe ecoregion covers and area of 11 300 square kilometers 4 400 sq mi on the Atlantic coast of Maranhao state 1 The ecoregion is part of the 31 855 square kilometres 12 299 sq mi Guianan Amazon Mangroves global ecoregion which also contains the Guianan mangroves Amapa mangroves and Para mangroves ecoregions 2 The land is flat and tides may be as high as 8 metres 26 ft in same places so salt water may reach inland along the many estuaries and rivers for as far as 40 kilometres 25 mi 1 The ecoregion may be divided into eastern and western parts The western part extends from the Para boundary along the coast of western Maranhao state to the Baia de Sao Marcos Here the coastline is made up of hundreds of islands and mudflats made up of fine silt deposited by the Amazon River The eastern part extends from the Baia de Sao Marcos along the eastern coast of Maranhao to the mouth of the Parnaiba River Here the coast is dominated by extensive sand dunes interspersed with pockets of mangroves in bays and river mouths 1 Climate editThe ecoregion has a hot and humid climate Mean annual temperature is 26 C 79 F Annual rainfall averages 2 500 millimetres 98 in and may be as high as 4 000 millimetres 160 in 1 Flora editThe ecoregion holds about 36 of all mangroves in Brazil In the western part the mangroves cover the mudflats and islands along the coast and extend inland as far as 40 kilometres 25 mi along the many rivers bays and estuaries The heavy rainfall and inputs from many rivers in the region reduce salinity so that palms family Arecaceae and freshwater macrophytes often grow with the mangroves Towards the east of the ecoregion there are longer dry seasons and higher salinity so the mangroves are less developed 1 The most common mangrove species is Rhizophora mangle which is found nearest to the coast and grows to as high as 25 metres 82 ft Other mangrove species are Avicennia germinans Avicennia schaueriana Rhizophora racemosa Rhizophora harrisonii Laguncularia racemosa and Conocarpus erectus Flora that grow on the margins of the mangroves include Spartina alterniflora on the seaward side and Hibiscus tiliaceus and Acrostichum aureum on the landward side and dry patches within the mangroves Flora that grow with the mangroves due to the low salinity include Dalbergia brownei Rhabdadenia biflora Montrichardia arborescens Mora oleifera acai palm Euterpe oleracea and Attalea speciosa 1 Fauna editThe Maranhao mangroves are home to half the total population of shorebirds in Brazil and 7 of all shorebirds in South America They are also important areas for feeding and breeding for herons family Ardeidae and roseate spoonbills Platalea ajaja 1 Rare and endangered species include scarlet ibis Eudocimus ruber wattled jacana Jacana jacana tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus and several species of sea turtle that use the mangroves as a breeding area 1 Status editThe World Wildlife Fund gives the ecoregion the status of Vulnerable It is inaccessible and has a low human population so is mostly intact The mangroves are used by many artisanal fishermen for subsistence crab collection The mangrove wood is used for fuel housing and boats and tannin from the bark is used as a dye In some areas mangroves have been replaced by rice fields or used for urban development Commercial over fishing industrial waste and pollution from gold mining are concerns 1 Protected areas include the Bacanga State Park and the Lencois Maranhenses National Park a Ramsar Convention wetland of international importance and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Tognetti amp Burdette Guianan Amazon Mangroves WWF Global Sources editGuianan Amazon Mangroves WWF Global retrieved 2017 04 04 Tognetti Sylvia S Burdette Christine Northeastern Brazil NT1419 WWF World Wildlife Fund retrieved 2017 04 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maranhao mangroves amp oldid 1032858175, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
