Diversity and Function in Mangrove Ecosystems

Mangroves are salt-adapted plants that are found along many of the world's tropical and sub-tropical coastlines. Regrettably, these plants are being lost due to over-exploitation, pollution, conversion to agriculture and aquaculture and other causes. This is having important consequences for local human populations that traditionally rely on this resource, and is upsetting the balance needed to maintain this highly productive ecosystem. This text brings together some papers from two recent international symposia on the mangrove ecosystem. It provides an outline of future directions in mangrove research considered to be urgent by prominent mangrove scientists. Contributions include aspects of population differentiation in mangrove species that have been very little studied so far, ecological function, and restoration and management of the mangrove ecosystem. This book should be useful for scientists actively working in the areas of mangrove ecology and management.