examples. Clearly, mangrove ecosystems 

 are linked functionally to other south 

 Florida ecosystems through physical pro- 

 cesses such as water flow and organic 

 carbon flux. As a result, the successful 

 management and/or preservation of many 

 fishes, mammals, birds, reptiles, and 

 amphibians depends on proper understanding 

 and management of a variety of ecosystems 

 and the processes that link them. Saving 

 mangrove stands may do the gray snapper 

 little good if sea grass beds are 

 destroyed. Pink shrimp populations will 

 be enhanced by the preservation of sea 

 grass beds and mangrove-lined waters, but 

 shrimp catches on the Tortugas grounds 

 will decline if freshwater flow from the 

 Everglades is not managed carefully (Idyll 

 et al. 1968). Successful management of 

 south Florida mangrove ecosystems, 

 including their valuable resources, will 

 depend on knowledgeable management of a 

 number of other ecosystems and the 

 processes which link them. 



12.8 MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: PRESERVATION 



Based on years 

 Florida and based 



of research in south 

 on the information 



reviewed for this publication, we have 

 concluded that the best management prac- 

 tice for all types of Florida mangrove 

 ecosystems is preservation. Central to 

 this concept is the preservation of 

 adjacent ecosystems that are linked signi- 

 ficantly by functional processes. The 

 continued successful functioning of the 

 mangrove belt of southwest Florida is 

 highly dependent on the continual exis- 

 tence of the Everglades and Big Cypress 

 Swamp in an ecologically healthy condi- 

 tion. 



At no cost to man, mangrove forests 

 provide habitat for valuable birds, mam- 

 mals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, and 

 invertebrates and protect endangered 

 species, at least partially support exten- 

 sive coastal food webs, provide shoreline 

 stability and storm protection, and 

 generate aesthetically pleasing experi- 

 ences (Figure 18). In situations where 

 overwhelming economic pressures dictate 

 mangrove destruction, every effort should 

 be made to ameliorate any losses either 

 through mitigation or through modified 

 development as described by Voss (1969) 

 and Tabb and Heald (1973) in which canals 

 and seawalls are placed as far to the rear 

 of the swamp as possible. 



86 



