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The degree of salinity may be categorised into oligohaline waters of low salinity (0.5-5 ppt), mesohaline waters of intermediate salinity (5-18 ppt) and polyhaline waters of high salinity (18-30 ppt). The term brackish water actually refers to oligohaline to weakly mesohaline waters. Specific readings of salinity within a mangrove may range from 0.5-35 ppt! One of the reasons for this variation is the tide—when the sea floods the mangrove, the salinity is that of polyhaline seawater. Salinity also varies with estuarine depth, for salty seawater tends to sink, being heavier. When the sea recedes, tide pools can become hypersaline (>30 ppt) especially during the long exposure during lower low water springs. Inside the mangroves, however, the influence of freshwater runoff from the land becomes significant, particularly during monsoons. Small streams in the mangrove are oligohaline and further inland, some are even freshwater! In our narrow mangroves, the effect of freshwater inflow is considerable. Conditions in the sea are more constant, but within the narrow Straits of Johor and Singapore waters, the pattern of salinity does exhibit two maximas (Mar/Apr and Oct/Nov) and two minimas (Jan and Jul/Aug), ranging between 28.5 and 32 ppt. |
What is mangrove?
Introduction The Ecosystem Abiotic Biotic Value Intro Products Indirect uses Potential uses About Mangroves in Singapore History Mangroves to visit Conservation |
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From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors) Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng, B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum © 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre |