Demographic studies on the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) of the Arabian Gulf coast, Saudi Arabia.
Keywords:
Afforestation, Avicennia marina, Density, Growth rate, Pneumatophores, Saplings and shrubs, SeedlingsAbstract
Several excursions were carried out during 2000-2002 to study the occurrence and the distribution of the grey mangrove [Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierch.] along the western coast of the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia. Based on their densities, the stands of the grey mangrove were classified visually into three groups, namely high density stands at Anak and AL-Zower areas; medium density stands at Anak, Sanabis and Juaymah areas; and low density stands at AL-Nasira, Ramis and Ras Tannurah areas. Demographic studies of the grey mangrove were conducted at two selected sites, namely Sanabis (S1) supporting medium density stands and Anak (S2) supporting high density stands. It has been shown that the average growth rates of the grey mangrove with respect to height of shrubs, canopy width and seedling height were lower in S1 than in S2.The studies showed that the rate of transfer from seedling stage to sapling stage was greater in S2 than in S1.Moreover, densities of saplings and shrubs, seedlings and pneumatophores in S2 exceeded those in S1. The annual increase in shoot height and canopy width demonstrated that active growth of the plants occurred during summer rarher than in winter.
The results of this study indicate that the grey mangrove is in a state of active dynamic growth, which recommend its successful utilization for afforestation of the western coast of the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia.
References
- Baker, J.M. and Dicks, B. (1982). The environment effects of pollution from the Gulf oil industry. IUCN/MEPA report for the Experts Meeting of the Gulf Coordinating Council to review environmental issues.
- Barbier,E. and Cox,M. (2002).Economic and demographic factors affecting mangrove loss in the coastal provinces of Thailand. AMBIO. 31 (4) : 351-357.
- Chapman, V. J. (1976). Mangrove vegetation. Strauss and Cramer Gm6H, 6901, Leutershausen, Germany. Chen, G. Z.; Miao, S.Y., Yam, N.F Y.; Wong Y. S.; Li, S.H. and
- Lan C. Y. (1995). Effect of synthetic waste water on young Kanelia candel plants growing under greenhouse condition. Hydrobiologia, 295:263-273.
- Clough, B. F.; Bato, K.G. and Attiwill, P.M. (1993). Mangrove and sewage: A re-evaluation, Tasks for vegetation. Sci. 8:151-161.
- Cooke, J.G.; Cooper, A.B and Clunie, N.M.U (1990). Changes in the water, soil and vegetation of a wetland after a decade of receiving sewage effluent. New Zealand J. Ecology, 14:37-47.
- Curtis, J. T. (1959). Plant Ecology Workbook. Burgess Publishing Co. Minneapolis, 15-Minnesota, U.S.A 27
- Kairo, J. G.; Dahdouh- Guebas, F.; Boisire,J. and Koedam,N. (2001).Restoration and management of mangrove systems- a lesson for and from the East Africa region. South African Journal of Botany.67 : 383-389.
- Kannan , L. ; Ajith Kumar,T.T. and Duraisamy, A. (2005). Remote sensing for mangrove forest management. CAS in Marine Biology. Annamali University.Tamil Nadu.
- Kassas, M. and Zahran, M.A. (1967). On the ecology of the Red Sea Littoral; Salt marches. Ecol. Monog. 37:297-316.
- KFUPM-RI (1994). Final report: Aramco Sustaining Research Project, Environmental Studies, Vol. IV. Research Institute, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dahran, Saudi Arabia.
- Khoon, G. W.; Yahyi ,K. and Enog O. J. (2005). Mangrove ecosystem. Estuarine. 65 (31): 440-445.
- Kogo, M. (1986). A report of mangrove research in Sultanate of Oman, the fourth research on mangrove in the Middle East. Japan cooperation center for the Middle East.
- Lepez-Hoffman, L.; Monroe, I. E.; Narvelez, E.; Mart-Ramos, M. and Ackerly, D. D. (2006). Sustainability of mangrove harvesting. Ecology and Society. 11 (2): 14-17. [ Online] URL: http:// www.ecology and society.org/vol11/iss2/att14/
- Lugo, A.E. and Snedekar, S.C. (1974). The ecology of mangroves. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 5:39-64.
- Madura, A.S.; Khafaji, A.K. and Saifullah, S.M. (1988). Ecology of mangrove stand of a central Red Sea Coast area: Ras Haiba (Saudi Arabia). Abstracts of 11th Symp. The biological Aspects of Saudi Arabia. 30 May – 02 June, 1988. Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.
- Mandura, A.S., Saifullah, S.M. and Khafaji, A.K (1987). Mangrove ecosystem of southern Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia. Proc. Saudi Biol. Soc. V.10, 165-193.
- McGinley, M. (2007). Coastal Venezuelan mangroves. The Encyclopedia of Earth. < http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coastal Venezuelan mangroves>.
- Migahid, A.M. (1978). Flora of Saudi Arabia, V1:pp 461 – Faculty of Science, Riyadh University, Riyady.
- Price, A. R. G; Medley, P.A.; MCDowal, R.J.; Dowson-shephered A.R.; Hogarth, P.J and Ormond,R. F.G., (1987). Aspects of mangal ecology along the Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia. Nat. Hist. V. 21 : 449 – 464.
- Sheppard, C., A. ; Price and Roberts, C. (1992). Marine ecology of the Arabian Region, Patterns and Processes in Extreme Environments. Academic Press, U.K.
- Tomlinson, P.B (1994). The Botany of Mangroves. Cambridge Tropical Biological Series, Cambridge University Press, U.K.
- Vannini, M. (2000). Macrbenthos of Eastern African mangroveslife cycles and reproduction biology of exploited species. Proceedings of the 4th European Symposium on European Farming and Rural Systems Research and Extension into the next Millennium, Volos,Greece, April 3-7, 2000.
