Interactions among Living Things in Mangrove Swamps.pptx
1.
2. Let’s Learn
Mangroves or “bakawan” are plants living in the tidal coastal
areas between land and sea. Mangrove forest is a group of mainly
timber plants with leaves that are always green. Mangroves are an
important part of the coastal and marine ecosystem. The Philippines has
a high diversity of mangroves. The country caters more than 50% of the
world’s mangrove species.
4. Mangroves Structure
1. Mangroves are also called “forests of the sea.”
Two things about mangrove trees:
a. tree species populating ecosystem
b. tidal swamp ecosystem found in tropical deltas,
estuaries, lagoons or islands.
5. 2. They can live in water with up to 100 times salinity since they can
excrete salt through their leaves or keep the salt within their tissues.
3. Mangroves have pneumatophores (are pencil-like roots that stick
out of the dense, wet ground like snorkels) that act as breathing tubes,
which allow them to breathe in an environment that is frequently flooded
and low in oxygen.
3. The roots have an intricate network that provides a shelter for
many oceanic and freshwater species.
4. Numerous species use the shelter of the mangrove as a nursing
ground or breeding places before heading to the open ocean.
7. Interdependence in a Mangrove Swamp Ecosystem
Biologist have found that mangrove swamps are one of the
most important habitats in the world. This is due to the fact that
mangrove swamps are very productive and biologically complex.
1. Mangrove serves as a habitat for various organisms like
plants, bacteria, fungi, microalgae, invertebrates, birds, and mammals.
2. A place for breeding, growth, and feeding of different marine
organisms.
8. 3. The decaying material is used as a fuel by the microbes and
fungi located on the mangrove roots.
4. Young fishes and shrimps use the vegetation as protective cover
and food until they are able to migrate to the ocean. Monkeys, birds,
insects and other plants all live in mangrove branches.
5. Mangroves used as a place for nesting and feeding.
6. Mangroves undergoes decomposition, relocation and
maceration with the help of other organism and consumption of organic
particle.
9. Mangrove Swamps Interaction
1. Parasitism – One organism lives with, on, or inside another
organism and harms it. Example is the mistletoe takes some of its food
from the tree bark of the mangrove tree. The mangrove tree suffers a
loss of some food thus, the mangrove tree is harmed.
10. 2. Mutualism – Both species benefit from each other.
Example is the crab recycles the nutrients that it gets from eating the
mangrove leaves back into the mangrove tree.
11. 3. Commensalism – One organism benefits, while the other
is neither helped nor harmed. Example are the oyster uses the
mangrove pneumatophore as a solid habitat, but the
pneumatophore does not harm.
12. 4. Predation – In this kind of relationship, one organism called
predator does the killing, and the other organism called prey is
killed. Examples of predators are salt water crocodile, jabiru,
flamingo, and sea snake. Some examples of prey are crustaceans,
fishes, turtles, snakes, lizards, bids, mollusks.
13. 5. Competition – Organisms compete with one another for
survival since they need the same limited resources.
14. Importance of Mangrove Protection and Conservation
1. Mangroves serve as a home to an incredible array of species
including those which are endangered.
2. Mangroves also contribute to the health and growth of
species and other marine organisms. It will serve as a nursing ground
for larvae and the young species.
3. Mangroves serve as a valuable tool in the fight against
climate change. When a tree grows, its sores carbon in its biomass
that decreases the mount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
15. 4. Mangroves trap sediments which flow from the rivers and off the
land through the dense root systems of mangroves. This helps in the
stabilization of coastlines and prevention of erosion due to waves and
storm.
5. Various products and materials used by humans for traditional
and commercial purposes can also be found in mangroves. Like wood
used for fuel and construction material. Other products and materials include
corks and floats, dyes, soap alternatives, synthetic fibers, cosmetics, fruits, honey,
vinegar, salt, cooking oil, and medicines.