Ecosystems at Risk
...l range => moderate levels Wave energy o Moderate o Protected and sheltered bays & inlets Ocean currents =>Cool current restrict growth; warm currents growth Rates of sediments and orientation o Beach or bay of some sort o Need sediments, silt Salinity o Can survive in a limited salt level o Halophytes Tidal flooding o flooding by river o close to mouth of river o enough regular fresh H2O to balance the salt H2O. soil drainage o some natural movement of H2O through the soil o need some air-ratio. Soil type o Nutrient rich o Is relatively new soil o Texture=> soft Abotic factors that affect the wetlands o Humuid and shady => stops evaporation, decompostive o Wind lack by mangrove => seed dispersal Other o Process of photosynthesis The dynamics of weather and climate (refer to graph on pg 3) Important at micro-scale but no effect on local, national or global climate Geomorphic and hyrologic processes such as earth movements, weathering, erosion, transport and deposition, soild formation Subjected to inundation, at high tides Transport & deposition => reply on sediment build up, colonize & :. Create new land Tidal range Rates of sedimentation Biogeographical processes: invasion, succession, modification, resilience Invasion & succession very important (refer to diagram in book 1) Once established, reasonably resistetent Resistant bcuz species are well adapted to their environment Trees take longer to die, but once dead, ever longer to regenerate Need to maintain the abotic conditions Spaitial extent -> vulnerable Highly specialsed plant community, got specific adaptions to this salty frew wet environment flora, animals primary productivity Adjustments in response to natural stress have ways to reduce stress, eg pneumataphores to extrete salt adapted to environment that other plants dont roots, leaves, reproductive system The nature and rate of change which affects ecosystem functioning changes in salinity occurs, but changes in rate of salinity limits survival. :. Live in range of salinity => short time eg flood tidal movements, healthy only if regular. Intensity + duration affects the function of ecosystem size of mangrove affect animals eg oysters pollutants cause stress in small quantities (oil, detergents, urban run-off, oil spills_ indicators of stress -> eg: o species composition (fish, birds) o limited growth ( mangroves stunted, and/or not colonsing further) o dieback o algeal blooms (eutrophication too much nutrivents in water :. Algeal bloom, O2 Human impacts (both postive and negative) deliberate destruction/ clearing of it -> mostly for reclaiming land for industrial purposes, agriculture, estates pollutants from dumping of wastes, chemicals, sewage, run-offs changes to the flow, damming of the rivers upstream (eg Mekong) or levee => stop water flow or bring too much water down tourism/commercial developments; recreation improper usage introduced species -> weeks, rabbits, cats, foxes blocking & changing water flow noise -> affec...