Gulf of Panama mangroves
| Gulf of Panama mangroves (NT1414) | |
|---|---|
Satellite view of Gulf of Parita, fringed by mangroves
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | Mangroves |
| Geography | |
| Area | 2,330 km2 (900 sq mi) |
| Countries | Panama |
| Coordinates | 9°00′29″N 79°06′00″W / 9.008°N 79.100°WCoordinates: 9°00′29″N 79°06′00″W / 9.008°N 79.100°W |
The Gulf of Panama mangroves (NT1414) is an ecoregion along the Pacific coast of Panama, Colombia. The mangroves experience seasonal flooding with high levels of sediment, and occasional extreme storms or very low rainfall due to El Niño effects. They are important as a breeding or nursery area for marine species. Areas of the mangroves have been recognized as Important Bird Areas and Ramsar wetlands. The ecoregion has been severely degraded by clearance of mangroves for agriculture, pasturage and shrimp farming, by urban pressure around Panama City, and by pollution related to the Panama Canal.
The Gulf of Panama mangroves (NT1414) extend from the Gulf of Parita past Chame Bay and Panama Bay to the Bay of San Miguel. They cover an area of 900 square miles (2,300 km2). In the west and the extreme southeast the mangroves fringe areas of Panamanian dry forests. In the center and east they fringe an area of Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests.
The rivers inland from the ecoregion mostly form on steep slopes. The effects of deforestation, livestock grazing and agriculture are to cause high levels of erosion. The rivers carry large volumes of sediment and nutrients to the mangroves, depositing abundant sand and mud. The sediments prevent coral reefs from growing near the shore, although there are corals beside the islands further offshore. Tides range from 2 to 6 metres (6 ft 7 in to 19 ft 8 in). Around Panama City the tides are twice daily, averaging about 3.76 metres (12.3 ft), and ranging from 2.2 to 4.97 metres (7 ft 3 in to 16 ft 4 in).
There is a rainy season from May to December, and a dry season from January to April. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,070 millimetres (42 in) in the west to 3,000 millimetres (120 in) in the east. Storms and high winds from the east often damage the mangroves. During periods of high rainfall the mangroves are flooded for long periods. However, for much of the year the mangroves experience a shortage of water. During El Niños the rainfall is much lower.
The Gulf of Panama mangroves ecoregion is in the neotropical realm, in the mangroves biome. The Panama Bight Mangroves, a Global ecoregion, contains the Gulf of Panama mangroves, Esmeraldes-Pacific Colombia mangroves, Manabí mangroves and Gulf of Guayaquil-Tumbes mangroves.
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Wikipedia