(PCCA) of December 2015, when we attempt to relate climate change to mangroves it is wise to adopt a “big eye” approach. Such an approach may help us to both identify keystone mangrove species and gaps in our existing knowledge. Even in the absence of global warming and sea level rise, global mangrove resources continue to face destruction and degradation (Macintosh et. al., 2013). With this threat comes the pragmatic need for mangrove eco-repair, eco-restoration and afforestation. It is against this important backdrop that my paper is structured. II. OVERT AND COVERT MANGROVE BIODIVERSITY Some 84 trees, shrubs and ferns have been recognized as mangroves (Saenger, 2002; Maxwell, 2015): an impressive lineup at the overt taxonomic level. But how much of this biodiversity is necessary to sustain full ecosystem functionality (Maxwell, 2015)? Indeed, low biodiversity mangrove stands, where one or a handful of species dominate and characterize the forest, are the norm globally. This situation is most strongly illustrated at the present biogeographic limits of mangrove, in Japan to the north (where Kandelia candel survives) and New Zealand to the south (where Avicennia marina survives Maxwell, 2002). Even in the optimal mangrove environment–in tropical Thailand and Indonesia –two Rhizophora species (R. mucronata and R. apiculata) rule the ecosystem. In both cases, tropical and temperate, good, productive fisheries are positively associated with these species-poor yet. ecologically diverse mangrove forests (Paphavasit et. al., 2009; Maxwell, 1991). The direct causal links may need more study as they are not always easy to demonstrate (Macintosh et. al., 2013). This problem is probably part of a larger ecological uncertainty: to demonstrate experimentally links between diversity and ecosystem processes (Schulze et. al., 2005; Ives, 2007). It may be easy (perhaps too easy and too tempting) to deduce that because some mangrove ecosystems can do well with just a few mangrove species, we should downgrade our worries about biodiversity loss. Such an “easy” way is packed with ecological uncertainty and conservation danger. The danger lies in the fact that we still do not know everything we need to know about what species do in and for ecosystems and, importantly, how currently uncommon species fit into the story. Their latent eco-biological potentials are unknown in a world of climate change. At present, discussion and documentation in climate change i s dominated by the expectation that global warming will remain the trajectory taken. The alternative, global cooling, is mostly relegated to the status of unlikely. This is unwise. A major explosion of widespread volcanism could easily add particulate matter–volcanic dust–to the Earth’s atmosphere resulting in global cooling. Thus, wise mangrove scientists should also place cool-tolerant mangroves into our formula for mangrove biodiversity awareness. To date, only two mangrove species have displayed clear eco-physiological tolerance to ‘cold shock’. These are Avicennia marina and Kandelia candel (Maxwell, 2002). And not all ecotypes of these species may be the same (Maxwell, 2002). The ecology of biodiversity awaits far more work. The discovery of an unexpected new hybrid mangrove at SIEP by Dr. Sonjai Havanond is another perfectly timed and welcome reminder for all in mangrove science to be on the alert for new genetic diversity and emergent speciation. Importantly, the projected environmental dynamics associated with climate change may well contribute to both extinctions and, in contrast, to speciation and new patterns in mangrove forest structure. Myers (1988) introduced the compelling and attractive concept of biodiversity “hotspots” into the literature of ecological conservation Dr. Sonjai Havanond’s discovery could serve to 72 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
To see the actual publication please follow the link above