Impact of Marine Woodborers Dicyathifer mannii, Sphaeroma terebrans and Cirolana sp. on the Mangroves of the Kenyan Coast

Carren M. Bosire, Jared O. Bosire, Laila U. Abubakar, James O. Ochanda

Abstract


Three species of woodborers from marine mangrove plants at Mida Creek, Tudor Creek and Gazi Bay along the Kenyan coast are identified. The relationship between the borers and the host mangrove plants (Avicennia, Sonneratia, Rhizophora) are described. Observation of infested plants showed that woodborers - Dicyathifer mannii (Wright, 1866), Sphaeroma terebrans (Bate, 1866) and Cirolana sp. occur on submerged parts of roots (prop-roots and pneumatophores), stems and branches. All the observed species appear to have a host preference. Among the two most frequent marine woodborers, S. terebrans occurs only on Avicennia sp.  whereas  D. mannii occurs mostly on Rhizophora plants, but also on Sonneratia. The marine woodborers deteriorate the  vegetation. Therefore, the present study is relevant to the restoration, conservation and management of mamgroves.

Keywords


Woodborers; Mangrove Plants; Host Preference; Bio-deterioration

References


Baratti, M.; Filippelli, M. and Messana, G. 2011. Complex genetic patterns in the mangrove wood-borer Sphaeroma terebrans Bate, 1866 (Isopoda, Crustacea, Sphaeromatidae) generated by shoreline topography and rafting dispersal. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 398(1-2): 73-82.

Baratti, M.; Goti, E.; Messana, G. 2005. High level of genetic differentiation in the marine isopod Sphaeroma terebrans (Crustacea Isopoda Sphaeromatidae) as inferred by mito-chondrial DNA analysis. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 315(2): 225-234.

Bosire, J.O.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Kairo, J.G. and Koedam, N. 2003. Colonization of non-planted mangrove species into restored mangrove stands in Gazi Bay, Kenya. Aquatic Botany 76: 267–279. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3770(03)00054-8

Bowman, T.E.; Bruce, N.L. and Standing, J.D. 1981. Recent Introduction of the Cirolanid Isopod Crustacean Cirolana arcuata into San Francisco Bay. Journal of Crustacean Biology 1(4): 545-557.

Brearley, A.; Chalermwat, K. and Kakhai, N. 2003. Pholadidae and Teredinidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) collected from mangrove habitats on the Burrup Peninsula, Western Australia. Pages 345-362, In: Wells, F.E.; Walker, D.J. and Jones, D.S. (Editors) The Marine Flora and Fauna of Dampier, Western Australia.Western Australian Museum, Perth..

URL: wamuseum.com.au/dampier/documents/pdf/brearley

Cragg, S.M. 1993. Wood breakdown in mangrove ecosystems: A review. Papua New Guinea Journal of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries 36 (1): 30- 39.

Cragg, S.M. 2007. Marine wood boring invertebrates of New Guinea and its surrounding waters. Pages 539-563, In: Beehler, B. and Marshall, A. (Editors) The Ecology of Papua. Periplus, Singapore.

Cragg, S.M.; Jumel, M.C.; Al-Horani, F.A. and Hendy, I.W. 2009. The life history characteristics of the wood-boring bivalve Teredo bartschi are suited to the elevated salinity, oligotrophic circulation in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 375: 99-105.

Doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2009.05.014

Gilbert, G.S. and Sousa, W.P. 2002. Host specialization among wood decay polypore fungi in a Caribbean mangrove forest. Biotropica 34: 396–404.

Gilbert, G.S.; Reynolds, D.R. and Bethancourt, A. 2007. The patchiness of epifoliar fungal symbionts in two tropical rain forests: host range, host abundance, and environment. Ecology 88: 575–581.

Harrison, K. and Holdich, D.M. 1984. Hemibranchiate Sphaero-matids Crustacea: Isopoda from Queensland, Australia, with a world-wide review of the genera discussed. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 81: 275–387.

Kairo, J.G.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Gwada, P.O.; Ochieng, C. and Koedam, N. 2002. Regeneration status of mangrove forests in Mida Creek, Kenya: A compromised or secured future? Ambio 31: 7-8.

Keable, J.K. 2001. Three new species of Cirolana Leach, 1818 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 58(2): 347-364.

Kuhne, H. 1971. The identification of wood-boring crustaceans. Pages 65-88, In: Jones, E.B.G. and Eltringham, S.K. (Editors). Marine Borers, Fungi and Fouling Organisms. OECD, Paris.

Mitchell, R. and Kirchman, D. 1984. The microbial ecology of marine surfaces. pages 49-56, In: Costlow, J.D. and Tipper, R.C. (Editors) Marine Biodeterioration: An Interdisciplinary Study. Navid Institute Press, Maryland.

Mohamed, M.O.; Neukermans, G.; Kairo, J; Dahdouh-Guebas, F. and Koedam, N. 2009. Mangrove forests in a peri-urban setting: The case of Mombasa (Kenya). Wetlands Ecology and Management 17: 243–255.

Pillai, N.K. 1961. Wood – boring Crustacea of India. Manager of Publications, Govt. of India. Press, New Delhi. 61 pages.

Santhakumaran, L.N. and Sawant, S.G. 1998. Marine wood- infesting organisms in the destruction of living mangrove vegetation along Goa Coast. Indian Forest Bulletin 40. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun. 67 pages.

Slim, F.J.; Gwada, P.M.; Kodjo, M. and Hemminga, M.A. 1996. Biomass and litterfall of Ceriops tagal and Rhizophora mucronata in the mangrove forest of Gazi Bay, Kenya. Marine Freshwater Research 47: 999-1000. Doi: 10.1071/MF9960999

Turner, R.D. 1966. The Identification of Molluscan Borers. Report to the Governemnt of India. FAO Report No. TA. 2155. 30 pages.

Turner, R.D. 1971. Identification of marine wood -boring molluscs. Pages 17-64, In: Jones, E.B.G. and Eltringham, S.K. (Editors) Marine Borers, Fungi and Fouling Organisms. OECD, Paris.

Villalobos, C.R.; Cruz, G.A. and Cruz R.A. 1985. Notes on the biology of Sphaeroma terebrans Bate, 1866 Sphaeromatidae: Isopoda in the mangrove swamps of Pochote, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. Brenesia, San Jose 24: 287–296.


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

COPYRIGHT of this Journal vests fully with the National Instional Institute of Ecology. Any commercial use of the content on this site in any form is legally prohibited.