Factors Influencing Biodiversity and Distributional Gradients in Mangroves

Abstract

Numerous factors affect the distribution of mangrove plants.Most mangrove species are typically dispersed by.water-buoyant propagules, allowing them to take advantage of estuarine, coastal and ocean currents both to replenish existing stands and to establish new ones.The direction they travel depends on sea currents and land barriers, but the dispersal distance depends on the time that propagules remain buoyant and viable.This is expected to differ for each species.Similarly, each species will also differ in establishment success and growth development rate, and each has tolerance limits and growth responses which are apparently unique.Such attributes are presumably responsible for the characteristic