 |
|
||||
| Vol
2 No 2 Dec 95 Mudskippers at Sungei Buloh The Mangrove Boardwalk Site Studies at Sungei Buloh |
 A
Walk on the Wild Side The Mangrove Boardwalk It is a commonly held belief that mangrove ecosystems are hostile, mosquito-infested places that should be cleared as they serve no useful purpose. This misconception can be dispelled upon a visit to mangrove areas. Mangrove ecosystems teem with life: insects, arachnids, crustaceans, molluscs, annelids, birds and reptiles abound. Mangroves develop along sheltered coastlines where fine silt of a river has been allowed to settle. The roots of the mangrove trap silt and debris. When the detrital matter decays, an enriched mud is formed. This enriched mud forms good breeding grounds for fish, prawns and crustaceans. Plant Life Mangroves are trees of tropical countries which grow on muddy land and near water. In Singapore, they are found in the northern and western parts of the main island and on Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and some of the southern islands. The conditions that mangrove trees have to endure are harsh. The mud is water-logged and anaerobic (that is, lacking in oxygen). Salinity is high and the constant ebb and flow of tides makes it difficult for roots to anchor.  In order
to cope with these conditions, mangroves have developed special features.
The unusual root systems of many mangrove species bear testimony to this.
For example, roots of the Rhizophora species branch from the trunks
above the water to help prop up the trees and to help the trees breathe.
These roots extend seaward and act as breakwaters, preventing erosion of
the coastline. To cope with the problem of salinity, mangrove leaves are thick, fleshy and waxy. This helps to minimise water loss. Some species have leaves which can store the salt absorbed in crystalline form. When the leaves fall, the salt is lost. Some mangrove species exhibit vivipary, that is, seeds germinate in the fruit while still attached to the plant. Rhizophora embryos germinate directly on the tree to produce seedlings with a long, javelin- shaped root. These seedlings eventually fall and become anchored in the mud below. In this way, the seedlings are not easily washed away by the tide.  Animal
Life Buried in the mudflats are annelids and molluscs. On the
mudflats and in the waters are crustaceans (crabs and prawns), fish (such
as mudskippers) and insects (ants, beetles and moths). On the trunks and
leaves of trees are other life-forms such as crabs and shellfish, some of
which are semi-terresterial and migrate from the mudflats to the branches.
Keep your ears peeled for the raucous call of the Collared Kingfisher, and look out for predators such as the Malayan Water Monitor and the White-bellied Sea Eagle. All these animals find their little niche in the mangrove ecosystem and cope well with the conditions within it. To appreciate the flora and fauna of the mangrove ecosystem without getting your shoes muddy, walk along the Mangrove Boardwalk at the Visitor Centre. It is 500m long and visitors taking a leisurely stroll should take about 20 minutes to complete the route. |
|
|
© Sungei Buloh Nature Park |