Rhizophora mangle the red plague Mangroves are a predominant form of vegetation that can be found in intertidal zones of tropical estuaries, lagoons, sheltered shorelines and in subtropical coastlines (Allen, 1998). Mangroves are trees and shrubs that have adapted to living in saltwater environments. They are propped up, out of the water, by dense, tangled roots that allow them to obtain oxygen in oxygen poor sediments. Their roots also allow the tree to remain supported during the rise and fall of the tides. They slow down water movement which allows for sediment to build up within the roots, which may help to stabilize coastlines and reduce erosion from different weather conditions such as storms, currents, waves and tides (“What is
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In the Caribbean, mangroves strongly influence the community structure of fishes on neighboring coral reefs. Often, juvenile coral reef fish inhabit mangroves because it serves as an intermediate nursery habitat. However the importance of mangrove nurseries to the dynamics of the reef fish population has not been quantified (Mumby, 2004). Currently, there are three mangrove species in Hawai‘i: Rhizophora mangle, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Conocarpus erectus. R. mangle is the most common (Demopoulos, 2004). In 1902 R. mangle was introduced to Molokai, Hawai‘i to stabilize the shoreline (Allen, 1998). Since then, mangroves have traveled to other Hawaiian islands, establishing themselves in monospecific stands along shoreline habitats (Demopoulos & Smith, 2010). Even though mangrove acts as a nursery habitat for juvenile fish and other species, it is still invasive in Hawaii because it causes a buildup of nutrients, causes problem in ancient Hawaiian fishponds, and gives other invasive species a head start. To keep the mangrove from spreading and wreaking havoc on other ecosystems it needs to be removed and the removal needs to be maintained. Mangrove in Hawaii needs to be researched more to find ways to control their growth and discover a useful
In the Caribbean, mangroves strongly influence the community structure of fishes on neighboring coral reefs. Often, juvenile coral reef fish inhabit mangroves because it serves as an intermediate nursery habitat. However the importance of mangrove nurseries to the dynamics of the reef fish population has not been quantified (Mumby, 2004). Currently, there are three mangrove species in Hawai‘i: Rhizophora mangle, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Conocarpus erectus. R. mangle is the most common (Demopoulos, 2004). In 1902 R. mangle was introduced to Molokai, Hawai‘i to stabilize the shoreline (Allen, 1998). Since then, mangroves have traveled to other Hawaiian islands, establishing themselves in monospecific stands along shoreline habitats (Demopoulos & Smith, 2010). Even though mangrove acts as a nursery habitat for juvenile fish and other species, it is still invasive in Hawaii because it causes a buildup of nutrients, causes problem in ancient Hawaiian fishponds, and gives other invasive species a head start. To keep the mangrove from spreading and wreaking havoc on other ecosystems it needs to be removed and the removal needs to be maintained. Mangrove in Hawaii needs to be researched more to find ways to control their growth and discover a useful