Environmental change of selected mangrove areas in Samoa

Abstract

Samoan 14 Environmental change of selected mangrove areas in Samoa Eletise Alofoe Suluvale* Introduction The term 'mangrove' is both well understood and difficult to accurately define at the same time1. Ecologically, mangroves are characteristic littoral plant formations, which occur along sheltered coastlines on muddy substrates at the interface of land and sea if certain conditions prevail. Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and biodiverse wetlands on earth. Yet these unique coastal tropical forests are among the most threatened habitats of the world. Mangroves form a small but significant component of the biota of Samoa. Their occurrence also marks the eastern limit of the Indo-Pacific mangrove distribution2. Three mangrove communities have been recognised in Samoa3. The most common mangroves are Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and the red mangrove (Rhizophora samoensis). In Samoa, these two communities typically occur adjacent to each other: The R. samoensis on the seaward fringe