Sunda Shelf mangroves

The Sunda Shelf mangroves ecoregion, in the mangrove biome, are on the coasts of the islands of Borneo and eastern Sumatra in Malaysia and Indonesia. They are home to the proboscis monkey.

Sunda Shelf mangroves
Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia
Ecoregion territory (in purple, sections along the coasts for four countries)
Ecology
RealmIndomalayan
BiomeMangroves
Geography
Area37,529 km2 (14,490 sq mi)
Countries
Conservation
Protected13.16%[1]

As well as being an important habitat for terrestrial and marine wildlife, mangroves preserve the shape of the coastline.

Flora

There are more plant species here than in most mangrove forests in the world, with five different types of mangrove dominating parts of the region as follows: Avicennia and Sonneratia species on the coast where water is saltiest and the tidal wash strongest; Rhizophoras and Bruguieras in the swampy areas just behind them; and Nypa fruticans palms in the freshwater streams further inland still.[2]

About 28 species of mangroves trees grow in the ecoregion, including Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia alba, Avicennia lanata, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera cylindrica, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bruguiera parviflora, Bruguiera sexangula, Ceriops decandra, Ceriops tagal, Excoecaria agallocha, Heritiera littoralis, Kandelia candel, Lumnitzera littorea, Lumnitzera racemosa, Nypa fruticans, Phoenix paludosa, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora lamarckii, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora stylosa, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Sonneratia alba, Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonneratia ovata, Xylocarpus granatum, and Xylocarpus moluccensis.[2]

Fauna

Mammals of the mangroves include the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), which is endemic to the Bornean mangroves and adjacent lowlands, and is absent from Sumatra.[2]

The mangroves are home to many birds, including the white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), and species of herons, cormorants, plovers, sandpipers, kingfishers, terns, sunbirds, munias, and tailor birds.[2]

Threats and preservation

Mangroves are vulnerable ecosystems as trees are cut for timber, firewood and to clear land for agriculture and urban development such as shrimp farming. This loss of habitat persists despite the mangroves being part of a large number of protected areas including: on Borneo Bako National Park in Malaysia and Tanjung Puting and Gunung Palung National Parks in Indonesia, and on Sumatra Berbak and Sembilang National Parks.[3]

Protected areas include:[1]

References
  1. Sunda Shelf mangroves. DOPA Explorer. Accessed 19 March 2023.
  2. Wikramanayake, Eric. Sunda Shelf Mangroves. One Earth. Accessed 19 March 2023.
  3. "Sunda Shelf mangroves". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
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