Wetland Conservation > Characterizing mangrove functions in Tai O – an integrated approach from environmental and cultural perspectives > Summary of Project
The project intends to investigate three types of functions of mangroves in the study area using different methods to show that the functions of mangroves are related to the impact of a human community in close proximity.
In addition to collecting general background data, field data will be collected to verify the assumption that locations closer to stilt houses are more impacted, i.e. closer to the stilt houses, there are higher nutrient level in sediment, lower biodiversity, and people value the mangrove more.
The study area is located in the north-east of Tai O, behind Sun Ki Street where stilt houses aggregate. The mangrove is a regrown stand from an abandoned salt pan since the 1960s.
1: Ecosystem services functions in terms of sewage treatment and carbon storage
1a) Some household sewage from stilt houses is directly discharged into the edge of the re-grown mangrove stand. Apparently mangrove has a role in filtering and treating such domestic discharge. In this study, sediment, water and plant samples will be collected along 4 transects, each with 10 sampling points, and the levels of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total carbon will be analyzed to determine the pollution treatment capability of the mangrove.
In addition, odor around stilt houses and mangroves will also be measured using E-nose to study the treatment effect from another perspective. At the same time, surveys of population density and amount of discharge will be conducted in stilt houses at the edge of mangroves (along Sun Ki Street). The environmental sampling data will be correlated with the survey data to investigate the impact of household sewage on the condition of mangrove.
1b) The carbon locked up in sediment and mangroves make them potential good carbon sinks. In this study, the amount of carbon stored in the mangrove enriched with nutrients from household discharge will be estimated by measuring the total carbon content in the sediment and the canopy biomass of mangrove plants.
2: Ecological functions and biodiversity mangroves
Mangrove is well known as a biodiversity rich habitat that not only accommodates intertidal organisms but also nurtures numerous oceanic organisms. In this study, the biodiversity in mangroves under the influence of the human community will be investigated. Intertidal organisms (e.g. crustaceans, bivalves, gastropods and fishes) will be surveyed in both dry and wet seasons to find out the species diversity and abundance. The diversity and abundance of soil invertebrates will also be investigated by sampling of sediment.
3: Cultural function
The mangrove constitutes an important part of the image of Tai O water village of Tai O and at the same time serve environmental functions to the local community. This part of the study intends to find out the awareness and views of local stakeholders on various functions of mangroves and their expectations on the mangrove stand. 200 questionnaire interviews will be conducted to collect data for the analysis.
The final results will be summarized in a paper and published on online platforms and shared with the public in a seminar and a road-show.
