Mangrove forests

Abstract

Pojam mangrove odnosi se na kategoriju biljaka koji objedinjuje vrste prilagođene na slana staništa koja su periodički poplavljena. Šume mangrova rastu u tropskim i suptropskim područjima, a najobilnije su razvijene na obalama Azije, Afrike i Južne Amerike. U šumama mangrova dolazi velik broj biljnih i životinjskih vrsta. Šume im služe kao dom ili sklonište. Od biljnih vrsta samo se njih 54 iz 16 porodica smatra pravima mangrova vrstama koje se vrlo rijetko javljaju izvan tipičnih staništa mangrova. Pošto rastu na specifičnim staništima uz obale i estuarije, posjeduju mnoge prilagodbe na visoki salinitet, anoksiju, česta poplavljivanja što im omogućuju život u takvim ekstremnim uvjetima. Svaka vrsta prilagođena je u većoj ili manjoj mjeri na te uvjete, što uvjetuje zonaciju vrsta na obalama. Šume mangrova su izuzetno značajni ekosustavi. Visoko su produktivni, pružaju dom i zaštitu mnogim organizmima. Štite obalna područja od jakih vjetrova, utjecaja valova i poplavljivanja. Također sprječavaju eroziju sedimenta svojim složenim sustavom korijena i održavaju kakvoću vode. Šume mangrova su jedan od najugroženijih tropskih ekosistema. Više od 35% šuma je uništeno, a to je najviše izraženo uz razvijena obalna područja u Indiji, Vijetnamu i na Filipinima. Zbog sve većeg negativnog antropogenog utjecaja i iskorištavanja treba uložiti puno truda u očuvanje ovako vrijednog ekosistema.The term mangrove refers to a category of plants that are adapted to enviroments that have high salinity and are periodicly floaded. Mangrove forests grow in tropical and subtropical areas and they are most abundant on the coasts of Asia, Africa and South America. In the mangrove forests we find a great number of animal and plant species. The forests serve as a home or shelter. Out of plant species only 54 of them from 16 familys are considered true mangrove species that are rare outside of typical mangrove environments. Since they grow in specific environments by the coasts and estuaries, they have many adaptations to high salinity, anoxy and frequent floadings wich allows them to live in such extreme enviroments. Every species is adapted somewhat better or worse to that conditions, wich determins zonation of species on the coasts. Mangrove forests are extremly important environments. They are highly productive, they offer a home and protection to many organisms. They protect the coastal regions from strong winds, waves and floods. They also prevent erosion of sediments with their complex rooting system and they maintain the quality of watter. Mangrove forests are one of the most endangered tropical ecosystems. More than 35% of the forests is destroyed, wich is best seen on developed coastal regions of India, Vietnam and Phillipines. Due to increasingly negative antropogenic influence and exploitation, high efforts are needed to preserve this precious ecosystem