Vol 04 No 03
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WILDLANKA Vol.4, No.3, pp. 079 - 105, 2016. Copyright 2016 Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka. MANGROVES IN LAGOON ECOSYSTEMS: A NEGLECTED provides the base of the major mangrove recorded in Sri Lanka, the common species and growth of Rhizophora mucronata and mangroves and their diversity in Sri Lanka are 1992a). Although more freshwater runoff of RESULT AND DISCUSSION (b) Provide protection from storm surges and medicine (Table 4). There are many species CONCLUSION HABITAT IN SRI LANKA community food chain. The aerial roots provide being Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia Ceriops tagal seeding under different environ- fairly understood (Aruchelvam 1968; Jayas- Wet Zone rivers reduce the salinity content in There are twenty nine species of mangroves and high winds associated with tropical of mangrove fauna than flora both in numbers Mangrove ecosystems of the inter-tidal shelter for many species of commercial fish and marina, Excoecaria agallocha, Acanthus mental conditions. This study reveals the distri- uriya 1991b; Amarasinghe 1997a, b; the estuaries than the Kala Oya estuary. Arud- identified as fringes and patches from the typhoons. This is important in a country and in diversity. There are eighteen species of zone in the tropical and sub-tropical areas have shellfish (Table 7), particularly in their juvenile ilicifolius, Lumnitzera racemosa, Sonneratia bution, zonation, taxonomy, physiology, Jayewardene et al. 1999; Jayatissa et al. 2002a, pragasam and Jayasinghe (1980) have shown lagoon ecosystems, which fall into seventeen that is hit by an average of 20 typhoons birds associated with mangrove habitats shown multiple uses to human beings and wildlife. K.N.J. KATUPOTHA and most predators prone stages. The trees and caseolaris, Bruguiera gymnorhiza and ecology, productivity and uses of family b; Dahdouh-Guebas et al. 2005; Jayakody et al. that in the Moratuwa Panadura estuary on the families (Table 3). The distribution, density and a year. in Table 5. Several species of birds, both indig- Mangroves have scientific, educational and shrubs provide protection from storm surges Aegiceras corniculatum. Further, they reported Rhizophoraceae in Sri Lanka. Therefore, 2008; NECDEPP 2010c). west coast a clear pattern of distribution and identified threats in fringe mangroves vegitation (c) Provide the bulk of primary production enous and seasonal migrants who come in the aesthetic and commercial values. They provide Department of Geography, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka. and high winds associated with tropical storms that the mangrove forests is estimated as only Coastal Zone Management Plan of CCD (1990) Above all studies coexist with other ecosys- seasonal change of the salinity is determined in lagoons of Sri Lanka. (Appendix 1). in lagoons and estuaries. winter from the Northern Hemisphere are the good nursery grounds for birds, fish and other such as typhoons, cyclones or tsunamis. This 8700 ha. emphasizes the extent, nature and significance, tems with least human interference under mainly by rainfall and wind pattern. Accord- Knox and Miyabara (1984) and IIRR (1992) (d) Serve as protection against soil erosion. mangroves and associated environs (Henry, crustaceans. Variety of mangrove fauna like *[email protected], [email protected] ecosystem serves as protection against soil Studies have attempted to describe the uses, management issues, objectives and certain circumstances lagoons in Sri Lanka ingly, in the Moratuwa Panadura estuary and summarized the common uses (Table 4) and Soil erosion and sedimentation causes in 1978; de Silva & de Silva, 1986). The species crabs, lobsters, prawns and mollusks bring in a erosion. Soil erosion and sedimentation causes interrelationship of mangrove communities in policies on mangroves. Amarasinghe and undergo natural evolution. Mathematical adjoining lake systems of the Bolgoda area multiple uses of the mangroves from the the ocean are the number one cause of and their living habits of the birds differ on considerable amount of foreign exchange. Over in the ocean are the number one cause of coral terms of a relatively simple zonation with Balasubramanium (1992a & b) classified the models can be derived to predict physical, range between 1.0-2.0 ppt and 30.00 ppt. Indonesian and Philippine experiences. Accord- coral reef degradation. sub-habitats of the ecosystem. the last 4 decades, most of the mangrove species ABSTRACT - Mangroves are limited to the coastal ecosystem and are associated with lagoons reef degradation. Similarly, they serve as land particular species characterizing zones in a mangrove stands in Puttalam Lagoon and Ducth chemical and biological attributes in such cases. ingly, mangroves: (e) Serve as a land builder through soil Mangrove biotopes indicate that there exist in Sri Lanka have been cleared and water and estuaries due to high salinity, low oxygen levels, high light intensity, strong winds and Platupana particularly for construction of salt builder through soil accretion. Sediment from unidirectional sequence normal to the water's Bay (western coastal zone) broadly into two Apparently, a majority of scientific studies on accretion. Sediment from the land a fairly large number of snails, crabs, fishes and that at prawn farm sites, in and around, the bodies, mainly lagoons reclaimed, and are a periodic inundation by tidal water. Many lagoons, out of 82 lagoons in Sri Lanka, mangroves fans. Also, mangrove fringes and patches in the land collects among the dense roots building edge, ecological characteristics as well as their groups: (a) estuarine, and (b) island/mainland coastal lagoons in Sri Lanka has been focused collects among the dense roots building molluscs, which feed directly on the fresh mangrove species cleared and ploughed rapidly destroyed and degraded the resources. play an important role on microscopic and mesoscopic fauna and also for coastal inhabitants lagoons to northwards from Periya Kalapuwa up the land and trap coastal pollutants, which economic significance and human interference fringe. Structural diversity of six mangrove on fringe mangroves whereas least emphasis up the land and minimize the coast leaves or litter of mangroves (Tables 6). The thoroughly and allowed drying up. By this Such destruction is a threat to flora and fauna as in the country. The micro relief of the mangrove habitats produces food and shelter, and (East Coast) up to Jaffna Peninsula also have may otherwise severely damage adjacent on them. Tansely and Fritsch (1905) described stands of these two types was studied in terms has been laid on salt marsh vegetation (Table 1). erosion most common fish species in lagoons/estuarine mechanical activity the mangrove ecosystem well as the livelihood of the people. Thus, it is provides nursery grounds for the birds, fish, reptiles and other crustaceans. Further, they help been cleared for cultivation of paddies and marine ecosystems. Beside these, mangroves the zonation, habitat and the characteristics of of floristic composition, density, basal area, Bathymetry and hydrography are known for (f) Traps and buffer adjacent estuarine areas mangrove ecosystems in both dry and wet zones and the natural buffer zone completely destroy. necessary to manage and conserve the to preserve the balance of nature. coconuts as well as urbanization and industriali- serve as a wildlife sanctuary, offer aesthetic, true mangrove and semi-mangrove species of mean, stand diameter, tree light, standing fourteen lagoons while fish fauna or fish against the large changes in up-streams are bring a considerable amount of foreign Beside these, pollutants such as fungistatic mangrove habitats as a natural heritage to Different research groups viz., individual scientists and institutional researches provide differ- been formed of weathered bedrock which are ridges of headland-bay-beaches. Such forma- zation (Table 4). educational and scientific values. Sri Lanka. Even at the beginning of the 20th aboveground biomass and leaf-area index. productions of nine lagoons have been studied. input of nutrients and wastes. exchange to the country. Table 7 indicates that paints, pesticides (organic and inorganic), food protect the coast from erosion, and to obtain a ent figures on the extension of mangrove vegetation in Sri Lanka. However, there is no sometimes capped by lateritic soils, while other tions have developed as a result of a lowering of The discharge of toxic substances from Mangrove habitats with its variety of century, they reported the effect of human Furthermore, the same authors (1992b) exam- Only the Negombo Lagoon on the west coast, (g) Trap coastal pollutants, which may abundant macroscopic mangrove animals such remnants and faecal wastes add from prawn variety of products from aquatic and terrestrial conformity on total figure. In this study, we try to calculate the exact extent of mangrove areas covered by terrestrial deposits as well as sealevels in the Late Holocene period factories and the waste products such as sub-habitats are a source of forest products such interference on the mangrove forests of Sri ined the net primary productivity of two Rekawa Lagoon the south coast and Chilaw and otherwise severely damage adjacent as crabs (Potunidae, Ocypodiae and Graspsidae farm environments in mangrove areas. These Over exploitation that has rapidly destroyed (a) Rapid siltation that is often aggravated components. For this purpose, public awareness vegetation in 82 lagoons with their availability