In a recent study of mangroves in Cambodia, biologists were surprised by an unusual discovery. Meticulous research conducted in Cambodia has shown that these mangroves are home to roughly 700 different species of wildlife.
Research carried out in two nature reserves in Cambodia, Peam Krasop and Koh Kapik, identified species starting from bats to insects. The survey, sponsored by Fauna & Flora International, highlighted fascinating discoveries corresponding to fur-bearing otters, spotted civets and unique bats.
Stefanie Rog, leader of the research team whose report was published on Sunday, revealed that although they’ve identified 700 species in mangroves, they imagine this represents only a fraction of the true biodiversity. Rog is confident that further exploration of the world will discover ten times as many species.
The research also highlights the important thing role of mangroves as breeding grounds for fish corresponding to barracuda and grouper. Their presence is crucial to local fishermen and the fishing industry. In addition, mangroves provide protection against tsunamis and effectively absorb carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation efforts.
Mangrove forests are a singular network of forests that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines where land availability is commonly limited. Their presence is critical because these trees thrive in salt water, unlike most other plants. Unfortunately, in recent a long time the world has lost 40% of its mangrove forests on account of land clearing for beach resorts or agriculture. However, the remaining mangroves provide a very important habitat for a lot of beneficial species.
In addition to protecting against tsunamis and storms, mangroves are effective carbon sinks. They also provide a refuge for many desirable animals. These discoveries were made using sophisticated techniques corresponding to camera traps, nets, fish and bug population estimates, and “transect” surveys that survey the landscape in a straight line.
In studies conducted in Cambodian mangroves, the fishing cat, Pionailurus raccoon was discovered, attracting attention for its barely larger size than domestic cats. They have strong bodies and short legs and are exceptional swimmers with webbed claws for catching fish and rodents. They use the tactic of hiding amongst mangrove roots before attacking their prey.
With support from the environmental enterprise Fishing Cat, this study also identified the presence of 74 species of fish and 150 species of birds within the mangrove ecosystem. Of these, 15 species are classified as endangered or critically endangered in keeping with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
In the older mangroves, researchers also successfully photographed one other interesting find – the woolly otter – using camera traps. Lutra Sumatran, its scientific name, uses the fur from its nose to detect prey corresponding to crustaceans, molluscs and other creatures. These otters are the rarest in Asia and unfortunately are almost extinct.
