CONTENTS 



Page 



PREFACE Ill 



FIGURES vi i 1 



TABLES vi i i 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS i x 



CHAPTER 1 . INTRODUCTION 1 



1.1 "Mangrove" Definition 1 



1.2 Factors Controlling Mangrove Distribution 1 



1.3 Geographical Distribution 2 



1.4 Mangrove Species Descriptions 5 



1.5 Mangrove Community Types 7 



1.6 Substrates 9 



1 . 7 Water Qual i ty 11 



CHAPTER 2 . AUTECOLOGY OF MANGROVES 12 



2.1 Adaptations to Natural Stress - Anaerobic Sediments 12 



2.2 Adaptations to Natural Stress - Salinity 12 



2.3 Reproductive Strategies 14 



2.4 Biomass Partitioning 15 



2.5 Primary Production 17 



2.6 Herbivory 23 



2.7 Wood Borers 24 



2.8 Mangrove Diseases 25 



CHAPTER 3. ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 26 



3.1 Structural Properties of Mangrove Forests 26 



3.2 Zonation, Succession and "Land Building" 26 



3.3 Nutrient Cycling 30 



3.4 Litter Fall and Decomposition 32 



3.5 Carbon Export 34 



3.6 Energy Flow 36 



CHAPTER 4. COMMUNITY COMPONENTS - MICROORGANISMS 40 



CHAPTER 5. COMMUNITY COMPONENTS - PLANTS OTHER THAN MANGROVES 41 



5.1 Root and Mud Algae 41 



5.2 Phytoplankton 43 



5.3 Associated Vascular Plants 43 



