Duration: 3 hours7 types of mangroves seen in the Golfo Dulce
The Osa Peninsula has one of the biggest mangrove forests of the whole Central American Pacific: the Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands. The overall mangrove area in the Osa Peninsula is estimated to be 20,000 hectares, which is about 40% of its land and marine territory. Worldwide, mangroves represent as low as 0.4% of all forests and these fragile ecosystems are disappearing at a faster speed than other ecosystems due mainly to climate changes and deforestation.
Present in coastal saline and brackish water, mangrove trees need high temperatures, low-oxygen soil and slow-moving water to grow. Essential actor in the food chain, they offer a perfect shelter for fish and birds as great protection from predators. Healthy mangroves provide fresh water supply, food, sediment filtration, flood control, and groundwater recharge. They also host a wide variety of wildlife such as roseate spoonbills, caimans, boa snakes, and even sloths.
The ecosystems take up to five times more carbon emission compare to an average tropical rainforest. In other words, when left undisturbed, mangrove can sequester and store carbon for hundreds of years. Mangroves accumulate sediments (heavy metals and soil/dust/sand) providing nutrients to an incredible number of living species and allowing the water to stay clear.
About bioluminescence in the Golfo Dulce…
Renowned of its bioluminescent plankton, biologists and scientists from across the World are amazed by the frequent occurrence of the biochemical light in the waters of the Golfo Dulce.
As a matter of fact, the gulf contains all the elements needed for an optimal bioluminescence activity. As many rivers of Osa and Golfito pour out freshwater into this tropical fjord, it reduces considerably the ratio of saltwater making it favorable for living organisms including an incredible array of rare marine species. The proximity to the equator and the calm of the water surface for microscopic marine organisms to liberate their eggs are excellent conditions for the proliferation of these ocean creatures.
The light emission phenomenon occurs after dark, and the best conditions to appreciate a maximum of plankton and other marine life sparkling are five days after the full moon on a cloudy, but none-raining night, far away from any light sources during the dry season (January to April). When the water is agitated, the microorganisms emit a glow making the ocean seems fluorescent at night.
Animal species which live in mangroves
Shrimps
Mollusks
Barnacles
Oysters
Mussels
Worms
Snails
Shellfish
Crabs
Jellyfish
Tarpon
Sea bass
Baby sharks
Barracudas
Jacks
Sponges
Snakes
Crocodiles
Birds
Monkeys
Honeybees
Bats
Juvenile snappers
7 types of mangroves seen in the Golfo Dulce
Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle
Red mangrove (Rhizophora racemosa), (Rhizophora harrison),
Tea mangrove (Pelliciera rhizophorea),
black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)
white mangrove (Langucularia racemose)
buttonwood or Button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus)
Out of these seven types of mangroves, the most dominants are the red, black and white mangroves.
8 reasons to protect mangroves
Biodiversity
Provide a nutrient-rich breeding ground and nesting habitats for a large variety of marine species and other wildlife.
Livelihoods
Natural resources for communities who depend on these essential ecosystems.
Shoreline protection
Robust mangroves protect the coast from destructive storm and strong winds, surge, and floods. They help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their dense tangled root systems acting as a natural barrier for coastal communities.
Water filter
Maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land, preventing contamination and protecting habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Carbon storage
Carbon dioxide is absorbed and stored by mangrove forests easier than it is in a mature tropical forest.
Medicinal
Extracts and chemicals identified from mangroves are mainly used in bush medicine, insecticides and pesticides.
Economical
Exploited for firewood, charcoal, construction of dwellings, furniture, boats and fishing gear, tannins for dyeing and leather production are some traditional uses of the mangroves.
Sustainable development
Ecotourism in healthy mangrove without compromising coastal ecosystems benefits community dwellers.
