Brazilian mangroves

Abstract

Of Brazil’s 7408 km of coastline 6786 km contain mangrove forests, covering some 25,000 km2. Only one coastal state, Rio Grande do Sul, lacks mangrove coverage. Mangroves occur from the border with French Guiana, just above the Equator (04°30′N) to well beyond the Tropic of Capricorn, reaching 28°30′S, near Laguna (Santa Catarina State). Because the term mangrove may be applied to various levels of observation, specifying the proper spacio-temporal scale is important to describe system behavior. In this paper we describe a nested hierarchy of organization levels constituted of patches, stands, settings, coastal segments and large marine ecosystems. Each of these describes an organization that has evolved to facilitate energy dissipation at its relevant scale, and can be related to a geographic unit. We expect that the framework presented here will be useful for the study of mangrove ecosystem health, assessment of ecosystem pathology, and the development of models for the management and conservation of this resource.

The structural heterogeneity of an urbanised mangrove forest area in southeastern Brazil: Influence of environmental factors and anthropogenic stressors

“…Mangrove forests grow under the influence of environmental factors varying in intensity and frequency (SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI et al, 1990;ALONGI, 2009) according to latitudinal distribution and local history. Physiognomies inside the mangrove forest area are shaped by changes in fresh water and tide levels, wave energy, depositional and erosional processes and the associated biological communities (SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI et al, 2000). Mangrove soils have highly variable sedimentary characteristics because of their different sources SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI, 1983).…”

“…The structural characterisation of vegetation is a valuable tool for the investigation of the responses of the mangrove ecosystem to current environmental conditions and environmental change processes, thereby aiding in its conservation (SOARES, 1999;ESTRADA et al, 2013). Although already extensively studied, a better understanding of the basic processes of the mangrove environment is necessary, including responses to disturbances and restoration capacity (SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI et al, 2000). An analysis of mangrove forest structure can contribute to this understanding.…”

Caracterização estrutural do manguezal do rio Tabatinga, Suape, PE, Brasil

“…Desenvolve-se nas áreas mais internas, atrás dos bosques de franja, a renovação da água é mais lenta, e ocorre ausência de fortes gradientes horizontais (SCHAEFFER-NOVELLI et al 2000). Além disso, deve ser considerado monoespecífico, onde L. racemosa é dominante em todas as parcelas, com raríssima contribuição de A. Schaueriana.…”

Gas exchange and isotopic signature of mangrove species in Southern Brazil

“…ex Moldenke., and Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. Species distribution in subtropical mangroves are constrained by tolerance to freezing temperatures, establishment of seedlings, and the development of saplings and trees (Schaeffer-Novelli et al, 2000;Kathiresan & Bingham, 2001;Kao et al, 2004;Krauss et al, 2008).…”

“…Thus, each geographic zone shows a set of environmental features that results in forests with distinct physiognomies (SchaefferNovelli et al, 1990), since species occurrence and development may be affected by factors on a regional scale, e.g., water balance, wave regime, and tides (Smith, 1992;Schaeffer-Novelli et al, 2000).…”