188
L.D. de Lacerda . B. Kjerfve
throughout their distribution range and can be considered true mangrove species.
These include the fern Acrostichum aureum 1. and the Malvaceae Hibiscus tileaceus 1.,
which form dense belts along the landward edge of mangrove systems, on more elevated
sites, and around dry and saline areas inside mangrove wetlands. Numerous species of
aquatic plants, including algae, fungi, lichens, and Angiospermae, also occur in mangroves.
Few animal species, however, are exclusive inhabitants of mangroves. Most animals
found in mangroves also occur elsewhere in other protected coastal areas. For example,
of the 358 macro invertebrates and vertebrates found in a 4000 ha mangrove system
in Trinidad, only the Cerripede Chthamalus rhizophorae was confmed to the mangrove
habitat. On the other hand, many of the other species were mostly found associated
with mangroves, and it is in this sense that they can be called mangrove fauna (Bacon\1993). The New World mangrove fauna, whether transient or permanent, includes
over 140 bird species, 220 fish species, and hundreds of species of terrestrial and marine invertebrates. This creates high diversity environments along otherwise low
biodiversity mudflats.
Due to the accelerated destruction of inland forests in some countries, many mangrove areas have become important sanctuaries and migratory routes for many species, which otherwise would be threatened to extinction. For example the monkey,
Chipodes satanas, found refugee in the extensive mangroves along the coast of northern Brazil, likewise the manatee, Trichechus manatus, and the scarlet ibis, Eudocimus
ruber. The American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, occurs in many Caribbean islands,
where their only shelter are mangroves. In Ecuador, in the Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve, the only population of the "Canclon", Anhima cornuta, occurs west of the
Andes.
Several species of penaeid shrimp are related to mangroves of the Pacific coast. As
many as 9 species have been reported using mangroves as nursery areas, including
Penaeus vannamei, Penaeus occidentalis, Penaeus stylirostris, and Penaeus californiensis
(D'Croz 1993). These shrimp enter the mangroves as post-larvae, seeking protection
and food resource in brackish habitats, and then move offshore as juveniles. Penaeids
constitute the major component of the coastal shrimp fishery along the tropical Pacific coast.
9.3
Mangrove Uses
Mangroves play an important role in tropical coastal economies, providing many goods
and services. These include coastline protection and stabilization, nursery for many
economically important shellfish and finfish, products such as timber, firewood, charcoal, and chemicals, waterways for transport, enrichment of marine coastal waters by
input of nutrients, locations for aquaculture (Chapman 1975; Kjerfve 1990). Some of
these benefits are still poorly understood or unrecognized in many American countries, but such understanding is significant for the rational management of the coastal
wetlands of the coast of the Americas.
Protection of waterways with fringing mangroves is common in Ecuador and Colombia. In Brazil, mangroves have recently been included in the management plans for
marinas and condominia in coastal settings. In ,panama, 60% of the total shrimp fish-
L.D. de Lacerda . B. Kjerfve
throughout their distribution range and can be considered true mangrove species.
These include the fern Acrostichum aureum 1. and the Malvaceae Hibiscus tileaceus 1.,
which form dense belts along the landward edge of mangrove systems, on more elevated
sites, and around dry and saline areas inside mangrove wetlands. Numerous species of
aquatic plants, including algae, fungi, lichens, and Angiospermae, also occur in mangroves.
Few animal species, however, are exclusive inhabitants of mangroves. Most animals
found in mangroves also occur elsewhere in other protected coastal areas. For example,
of the 358 macro invertebrates and vertebrates found in a 4000 ha mangrove system
in Trinidad, only the Cerripede Chthamalus rhizophorae was confmed to the mangrove
habitat. On the other hand, many of the other species were mostly found associated
with mangroves, and it is in this sense that they can be called mangrove fauna (Bacon\1993). The New World mangrove fauna, whether transient or permanent, includes
over 140 bird species, 220 fish species, and hundreds of species of terrestrial and marine invertebrates. This creates high diversity environments along otherwise low
biodiversity mudflats.
Due to the accelerated destruction of inland forests in some countries, many mangrove areas have become important sanctuaries and migratory routes for many species, which otherwise would be threatened to extinction. For example the monkey,
Chipodes satanas, found refugee in the extensive mangroves along the coast of northern Brazil, likewise the manatee, Trichechus manatus, and the scarlet ibis, Eudocimus
ruber. The American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, occurs in many Caribbean islands,
where their only shelter are mangroves. In Ecuador, in the Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve, the only population of the "Canclon", Anhima cornuta, occurs west of the
Andes.
Several species of penaeid shrimp are related to mangroves of the Pacific coast. As
many as 9 species have been reported using mangroves as nursery areas, including
Penaeus vannamei, Penaeus occidentalis, Penaeus stylirostris, and Penaeus californiensis
(D'Croz 1993). These shrimp enter the mangroves as post-larvae, seeking protection
and food resource in brackish habitats, and then move offshore as juveniles. Penaeids
constitute the major component of the coastal shrimp fishery along the tropical Pacific coast.
9.3
Mangrove Uses
Mangroves play an important role in tropical coastal economies, providing many goods
and services. These include coastline protection and stabilization, nursery for many
economically important shellfish and finfish, products such as timber, firewood, charcoal, and chemicals, waterways for transport, enrichment of marine coastal waters by
input of nutrients, locations for aquaculture (Chapman 1975; Kjerfve 1990). Some of
these benefits are still poorly understood or unrecognized in many American countries, but such understanding is significant for the rational management of the coastal
wetlands of the coast of the Americas.
Protection of waterways with fringing mangroves is common in Ecuador and Colombia. In Brazil, mangroves have recently been included in the management plans for
marinas and condominia in coastal settings. In ,panama, 60% of the total shrimp fish-