Perspectives on mangrove biodiversity in an unstable climate Gordon S. Maxwell The Open University of Hong Kong and Ecosystem Research Centre, Paeroa, New Zealand E-mail: gayaumax@gmail.com Abstract-There are three outstanding threats to the ecosphere’s biodiversity: climate change, human overpopulation and dollar- driven environmental degradation. This paper will focus on key aspects of climate change, both anthropogenic and natural. Today, most climate change discussion and decision-making is dominated by concerns about elevations in atmospheric CO2 and associated ‘Green House’ mean temperature increases. Derived from global elevations in mean temperature are polar ice cap melts and consequent sea-level rise. Mangrove coastal forest ecosystems may be especially vulnerable to both temperature and sea-level increases. Although only a few species of mangrove dominate most mangrove forests worldwide, there is an important bank of plant biodiversity within these ecosystems. This paper argues that a wise and much needed approach to assessing the eco-economic values of mangrove biodiversity lies in placing far more emphasis on species which show the widest eco-physiological tolerances. I contended that important parameters of these tolerances include: temperature increases and decreases (global warming and global cooling); how changes in mangrove species biodiversity operate at the ecosystem level of function and what species are best adapted to handle sedimentation and or S.L. rise. It is unwise to neglect or underestimate these factors in assessing the ecological versatility and values of mangrove biodiversity. Keywords: climate change, temperature rise and decrease, ecosystem function, eco- physiology. I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW The literature of contemporary ecology and conservation biology is replete with mentions of the importance of biodiversity. Mangrove literature is no exception to this thematic trend. The term biodiversity is often uttered by modern politicians when they try to make impressive statements about sustainability. “Green Groups” love the word and it would be rare to find textbooks and EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Guidelines, laws, ordinances and statutes that fail to mention biodiversity, almost as an essential sister word alongside sustainability (Maxwell & Fung, 2015). Despite all the hype and popularity associated with the concept of biodiversity, the links between biodiversity and ecosystem processes remain very difficult to demonstrate and confirm experimentally. (Schulze et. al., 2005): a situation that may have led long established ecologists like Smith and Smith (2012) in their 8th Edition text, “Elements of Ecology” to address the importance of biodiversity in terms of environmental ethics. This approach may be good if it results in buying time and enabling 70 Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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