MANGROVE IN NIGER DELTA

MARINE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY

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• Niger Delta is located mostly in the South-South and also the south west and east zone of Nigeria with population of over 20million.

• It is characterized by extensive interconnectivity of creeks, deltaic tributaries, flood plains, mangrove swamps and other coastal features

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Mangrove zone

Map of Nigeria

Map showning Niger Delta

Spatial distribution of mangrove

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• The Niger Delta is the world's second largest wetland dominated by mangrove swamps and low lying alluvial plains making it one of the most fertile regions.

Short Mangrove Tall Mangrove

Source :www.cas.umkc.edu/geo :

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• Mangrove is unique inter-tidal wetland ecosystem found in sheltered tropical and subtropical shores, which receive inputs from regular tidal flushing and from freshwater streams and rivers.

• It is characterized by high temperature, fluctuating salinity, alternating aerobic and anaerobic conditions, periodically wet and dry, unstable and shifting substratum.

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• Mangrove Communities made up of taxonomically diverse groups of plants and animals, and each community has its own distinctive flora and fauna species…Hong kong Agriculture,

fisheries and conservation Department

04/08/2023 Marine community ecology 7

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• The earliest mangrove species originated in the Indo-Malayan region.

• Because of their unique floating propagules and seeds, species spread westward, borne by ocean currents, to India and East Africa, and eastward to the Americas.

• It arrived in Central and South America between 66 million years ago (upper Cretaceous period) and 23 million years ago (lower Miocene epoch)….Map action project (http://mangroveactionproject.org/)

04/08/2023 Marine community ecology 8

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ChangedMangrove Habitat and Growth

• Mangrove distribution is primarily determined by sea level .

• Other secondary factors are:  air temperature, salinity, ocean currents, storms, shore slope, and soil substrate.

• Most mangroves grow on muddy soils, sand, peat, and coral rock.

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Mangrove Reproduction

• Mangrove species can propagate successfully in a marine environment because of special adaptations. Embryo germination begins on the tree itself and later drops its propagules, which may take root in the soil beneath.

04/08/2023 Marine community ecology 10

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• The Niger Delta mangrove belt is adjudged the largest expanse in Africa and the fourth largest in the world.

• The large expanses of mangrove forests in the Niger Delta are estimated to cover approximately 5,000 to 8,580 km² of land

• 60 percent of the fish in the Gulf of Guinea breed here. 

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A strip of Nypa Palm with Rhizophora Mangrove species in the background.

Mangrove vegetation

Source: www.cas.umkc.edu/geo

04/08/2023 Marine community ecology 12

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• Shelter• Soil stabilization & erosion protection• Nutrient retention and water quality improvement

through filtration of sediments and pollutants• Flood mitigation• Sequestration of carbon dioxide• Protection of associated marine ecosystems

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• Firewood • Medicines • Fibers & Dyes • Food • Charcoal • Construction materials

Mangrove logs for local fuel energy

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• Shrimp aquaculture• Charcoal production and logging • Oil exploration and extraction• Urbanization and urban expansion

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• The mangroves of the Niger Delta are under growing anthropogenic induced stress.

• The threats range from oil and gas activities • The over-dependence of coastal communities on

mangroves for domestic and economic uses .

04/08/2023 Marine community ecology 16

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• Of all the factors suppressing the mangroves of the Niger Delta, oil spillage constitutes the most potent threat.

• While gas flaring has caused uncontrobally fire, resulting to a large elimination of population of endangered species

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Case Study:BodoMangrove (Ogoniland)

• The web of oil pipelines connecting Bodo West) located in the mangrove swampland of Bodo are sources of oil leakages to the environment.

• Between 1970-2003, four oil spillages occurred• June 2008,another oil spillage occurred

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Source:www.foei.org/en Source:www.greendiary.com

Source:www.flickr.com/photos/marcusbensassonSource:www.cas.umkc.edu/geo

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• About 20km long of mangrove died out and remain un-recovered

• Death of endemic biota (flora and fauna) • Defoliated tree • Interference with respiratory activity of

submerged roots • Mortal damages to food species

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 Toxicity of hydrocarbons on Organism.

Mortal damages to food species

These include:Oyster (Crassostrea gasar)

bloody cockle (Anadara senilis)

Swimming Crab (Callinectis spp)

fiddler crab (Uca tangeri),

mangrove hairy crab (Gionopsis Pelli),mudskipper (Periopthalmus papilio), Mullets (Mugil cephalus, Liza spp),Snapper (Lutjanaus spp)

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• Alterations in the pH of the soil and water, • Alteration of the natural hydrology of the

mangrove;• Formation of a barrier to the ebb and flow of

water• Generally, Over 21,000 hectares of the mangrove

forest in the region has disappeared.

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• The stoppage of any new oil exploration in mangrove zones

• The withdrawal of all oil infrastructure located in Mangroves

• The avoiding of mangrove zone in the planning of oil and gas pipeline routes

• A socio-environmental impact study of all oil activities in mangrove zones

• Post-spill Ecological Assessment Studies for the purpose ecosystem restoration

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