Impact of oil spills on mangrove forests

Abstract

Mangrove forests are the dominant intertidal plant community along most low wave energy shorelines in the tropics (Macnae 1968; Lugo and Snedaker 1974). Their value as habitat and detrital food sources for marine organisms as well as their direct commercial value as lumber, firewood and tanning agents are well documented (Odum and Heald 1972; Chapman 1976).