578
19.3 Classification of Mangrove Types
Mangroves get tightly bound to the coastal environment in which they occur. There
are the following six types of mangrove forests (Colin 1995):
1. Over wash mangrove forests: These are small mangrove islands that are frequently washed by tides. Here the dominant species is Rhizophora.
2. Fringing mangrove forests: These are strips of mangroves found along the borders of the protected shorelines and islands influenced by daily tide range. They
are sensitive to erosions. Here also the dominant species is Rhizophora.
3. Riverine mangrove forests: These are luxuriant stands of mangroves found along
the rivers and creeks which get inundated by daily tides. They are influenced by
large amount of fresh water inputs along with the fluvial nutrients. These are
often composed of Avicennia, Rhizophora and Laguncularia.
4. Basin mangrove forests: these are stunted mangroves located along the interior
side of swamps. These are often dominated by Avicennia.
5. Hammock mangrove forests: These are similar to the basin mangrove types
except that they are found in more elevated areas than the above four types. Here,
dominated species is Rhizophora.
6. Shrub mangrove forests: These are dwarfed mangroves occurring along the flat
coastal fringes.
As the above classification of mangrove functional types has the limitations in
providing information on the physical processes that takes place in all types of mangrove forests, a new classification has been suggested (Kathiresan 2005). These
include, (i) river dominated, (ii) tide dominated and (iii) interior mangrove forests.
Based on the substrate, tidal range and sedimentation, the following six more broad
classes of mangrove settings have been suggested by Thom (1984) and Galloway
(1982):
1. Large deltaic system, occurring in low tidal range and with very fine allochtonous
sediments (examples are the mangroves of Sunderbans and Borneo)
2. Tidal plains, where alluvial sediments are reworked by the tides and there is
presence of large mudflats.
3. Composite plains (under the influence of both, tidal and alluvial conditions).
Examples: lagoons formed behind wave built barriers where mangroves grow.
4. Drowned bedrock valleys (e.g. mangroves of Northern Vietnam or Eastern
Malaysia).
5. Fringing barriers with lagoons, high wave energy conditions with allochtonous
sediment of fine sand and mud. Examples: mangroves of Philippines.
6. Coral Coasts: here mangroves grow at the bottom of coral sands or in platform
reef. Examples: mangroves of Indonesia, India and Singapore.
The first five types of mangrove wetlands can be found on coast dominated by
terrigenous sediments (shallow marine sediments consisting of material derived
from the land surface) whereas the sixth one can be found in the oceanic islands,
Ajai and H.B. Chauhan
19.3 Classification of Mangrove Types
Mangroves get tightly bound to the coastal environment in which they occur. There
are the following six types of mangrove forests (Colin 1995):
1. Over wash mangrove forests: These are small mangrove islands that are frequently washed by tides. Here the dominant species is Rhizophora.
2. Fringing mangrove forests: These are strips of mangroves found along the borders of the protected shorelines and islands influenced by daily tide range. They
are sensitive to erosions. Here also the dominant species is Rhizophora.
3. Riverine mangrove forests: These are luxuriant stands of mangroves found along
the rivers and creeks which get inundated by daily tides. They are influenced by
large amount of fresh water inputs along with the fluvial nutrients. These are
often composed of Avicennia, Rhizophora and Laguncularia.
4. Basin mangrove forests: these are stunted mangroves located along the interior
side of swamps. These are often dominated by Avicennia.
5. Hammock mangrove forests: These are similar to the basin mangrove types
except that they are found in more elevated areas than the above four types. Here,
dominated species is Rhizophora.
6. Shrub mangrove forests: These are dwarfed mangroves occurring along the flat
coastal fringes.
As the above classification of mangrove functional types has the limitations in
providing information on the physical processes that takes place in all types of mangrove forests, a new classification has been suggested (Kathiresan 2005). These
include, (i) river dominated, (ii) tide dominated and (iii) interior mangrove forests.
Based on the substrate, tidal range and sedimentation, the following six more broad
classes of mangrove settings have been suggested by Thom (1984) and Galloway
(1982):
1. Large deltaic system, occurring in low tidal range and with very fine allochtonous
sediments (examples are the mangroves of Sunderbans and Borneo)
2. Tidal plains, where alluvial sediments are reworked by the tides and there is
presence of large mudflats.
3. Composite plains (under the influence of both, tidal and alluvial conditions).
Examples: lagoons formed behind wave built barriers where mangroves grow.
4. Drowned bedrock valleys (e.g. mangroves of Northern Vietnam or Eastern
Malaysia).
5. Fringing barriers with lagoons, high wave energy conditions with allochtonous
sediment of fine sand and mud. Examples: mangroves of Philippines.
6. Coral Coasts: here mangroves grow at the bottom of coral sands or in platform
reef. Examples: mangroves of Indonesia, India and Singapore.
The first five types of mangrove wetlands can be found on coast dominated by
terrigenous sediments (shallow marine sediments consisting of material derived
from the land surface) whereas the sixth one can be found in the oceanic islands,
Ajai and H.B. Chauhan