Interconnectivity of coastal ecosystems: An overview

Abstract

Coral reefs and seagrass beds reduce the water tidal flow which provides less stress on the mangroves which exist

behind the other ecosystems. The adult fishes of coral reefs utilize mangroves and seagrasses, mainly as nursery grounds. Our studies in Gulf of Mannar have proved that the mangroves provide nutrients, essential for multiplication of bacteria and phytoplankton, which form the basis of complex food web in the tropical coastal environment, besides providing clean water through filtration of landward waste materials for sustenance of coral reefs and seagrass meadows.