Abstract
Mangrove, peat swamp forest, and freshwater swamp are the major swamp forests in Southeast Asia. Of these, mangrove has been the most intensively studied because of its peculiar morphology and physiognomy. This forest occurs in coastal areas and large river estuaries throughout the tropics and subtropics. Compared with American and African mangrove, Southeast Asian mangrove is largest in community and individual size. Species diversity is also the greatest in the world in this area, with sixty species of mangrove found here. This paper reviews the references on mangrove in Southeast Asia. The distribution patterns of mangrove vegetation are described and the factors of zonation, ecology, morphological characteristics and utilization are discussed.
