ecologists to gain robust data that can, at last, tie up all the links between biodiversity, ecosystem processes and stability. But we may not have time. What do we mean by t h e t e r m biodiversity? For most ecologists, the term is usually taken to mean, the number of different species in an area or within an ecosystem (Smith & Smith, 2012). Can ecologists put a number beside the notion of ideal species diversity in an ecosystem, especially an ecotonal ecosystem like a mangrove forest? No, we cannot provide such a number! Other writers express the same essential idea in a different way by stating that links between measures of biodiversity (e.g. species richness) and ecological services that directly affect human well-being are patchy (Cardinale et. al., 2012; Balvenera et. al., 2014). These writers have, however, ignored the impressive correlations between mangroves and shrimp and or fish catch (e.g. Alongi, 2009) and the fish communities of Mangrove forests in Thailand (Paphavasit et. al., 2009). Clearly, rather than uncertain or patchy, the outstanding ecological service of fishery support is evident. For non-mangrove ecologists, the relatively low overt biodiversity of mangrove trees and shrubs in a mangrove ecosystem often hides the outstanding ecological diversity and the associated covert non-mangrove faunal biodiversity. That of polychaetes, crustacea (many subclasses and orders from copepods to decapods), mollusca, urochordates and, importantly, the finding that Thai mangrove forests could support 19 finfish families. Significantly, the Rhizophora forests with their complex root systems supported the highest fish diversity and density (Paphavasit et. al., 2009). While we cannot easily provide a number to reflect ideal species diversity for our mangroves, the relevance and power of Lawton’s (1994) question remains. “What do species do in ecosystems?” Clearly, Rhizophora forests in tropical Thailand or an Avicennia marina (unispecific) forest in subtropical northern New Zealand must be providing many ecological functions and services. However, the unexpected discoveries by Havanond (2015) with a new hybrid of Rhizophora R.a x R.m here at SIEP and Hidetoshi Kudo with Bruguiera hainesii (Haines Orange Mangrove)–a species largely unknown in the southern hemisphere and never before recorded in Australia (MAP, 2016)– can serve to re-affirm the likely importance of biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems. Clearly, some processes must be contributing to the evolutionary diversity as part of a deeper survival process within mangrove ecosystems. Yes, many gaps remain in mangrove science not least of which being the question: how much biodiversity is necessary to maintain full ecosystem functionality and services (Maxwell, 2015). This paper will highlight and explore some of the important ideas which may help to contribute to developing a perspective on mangrove biodiversity appropriate for today. These ideas include: Overt and covert biodiversity, diversity in eco-physiology (coping with flooding, salinity and anoxia; coping with herbivores (camels to cattle, monkeys to humans); coping with natural succession modifiers (mud-lobsters); coping with temperature extremes (too hot and too cold); coping with storms and typhoons and coping with ecological insults like oil spills. Despite the fact that global warming dominates discussion on climate change and it did, again, at the Paris Climate Change Agreement Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the 71 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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