Kiunga Marine Reserve, Kenya Photograph by Kate Newman   Afrotropics Mangroves   5,800 square miles (15,100 square kilometers) -- about the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined Critical/Endangered

· Life Among the Roots
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Life Among the Roots

From crustaceans and mollusks to monkeys and elephants, an amazing variety of animals thrives in the Eastern African Mangroves. This extremely productive ecoregion is home to the world’s last viable population of dugongs, immense aquatic mammals that are close relatives of the manatee. Many birds migrate here from Europe to spend the winters feasting on the enormous quantities of fish and invertebrates that seek shelter among the twisted roots of these mangrove trees.

Special Features

The East African mangroves and neighboring coral reefs have a mutually beneficial relationship. The mangroves provide sheltered areas for juvenile fish and other marine organisms that live in coral reefs. The coral reefs, in turn, help to shelter mangroves from the full force of the surrounding ocean. The shelter of coral reefs is especially important when seasonal monsoons bring strong winds, powerful waves, and heavy rainfall. Within this ecoregion, there are two general categories of mangroves. Fringe mangroves are found along open coastline, whereas creek mangroves are found at river mouths and reach farther inland. The most well-developed creek mangroves in Mozambique extend up to 30 miles (50 km) inland. Although the mangroves of East Africa are less extensive than those of West Africa, they have a greater diversity of mangrove species. The mangrove species of East Africa are more closely related to species around the Indian Ocean, while the distinct species of West African mangroves are more closely related to species of the Americas.

	Historically, these mangroves were a major source of timber for the countries on the Arabian Peninsula, which have no forests of their own.

Wild Side

Throughout this ecoregion, mangrove trees provide important habitat for monkeys, birds, snakes, and other creatures. A single adult male Sykes monkey travels with a group of breeding females and their offspring. The male loudly calls to advertise his association with the breeding group, and all group members join to defend their territory. Birds, such as crab plovers and roseate terns, migrate from Europe to feast on the diversity of fish and crustaceans that proliferate here. Otters swim among the mangrove roots, often turning onto their backs to nibble mollusks and fish. Sea turtles visit the mangroves to nest on beaches near large river mouths.

Both small and large antelopes move quietly along the edges of these mangrove forests, browsing on the lush vegetation, while hippos rest in the calm river waters. Elephants and cape buffalo visit the mangrove edges in search of fresh browse. And dugongs slowly make their way through mangrove creeks, searching for aquatic plants.

Cause for Concern

Throughout this ecoregion, mangroves are being cleared to make way for rice farms, salt evaporative extraction plants, and urban areas. Sadly, these ecologically important habitats ultimately receive all of the untreated waste that is discharged into rivers, as well as industrial pollution and the pesticides contained in run-off from farms. And when rivers that feed into mangrove habitat are dammed, the decreased flow of water to these forests causes the salt content of the waters to increase to unnaturally high levels. All of these threats leave mangroves more vulnerable to natural stresses such as river floods, deposition of sand and sediments, and rising sea levels. Also, mangrove trees themselves are taken for housing construction and fuel wood.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.