Benthic Animals in Mangrove Swamp: A Review

Abstract

This paper reviews the current knowledge of macrobenthic animals in mangrove swamps, focusing on their spatial organization and ecological functions. Spatial patterns are described separately for arboreal animals and animals living on the bottom, in dead wood, and in rivulets. Some sesarmid crabs and snails graze on higher proportions of mangrove litter in various parts of the world. Positive influences of macrobenthic animals on mangrove plants have been identified: sesarmid crabs and fiddler crabs are beneficial to the growth of mangrove trees, and some fouling and boring animals enhance the growth of mangrove prop roots.