JOR 221 Project 6
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A Dying Species Revived
By Alex House
Photo Credit By Alex House
NARRAGANSETT, R.I._Dr. Brice Loose, an assistant professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island Narragansett Campus, is working on research that may be used to save a dying plant species in West Africa called mangroves.
Loose had been studying the Senegal mangroves for the last several years. Mangroves are very important to the country as they have many unique and useful traits that can benefit the people there.
They provide a good habitat or “nursery” for fish. Mangroves can provide shelter, nutrients, and above all protection from predators like sharks.
According to Loose they are becoming endangered due mainly to a massive draught that effected the Sahel region.
They exist in an estuary which depends on receiving water from the land. The freshwater is usually on top of the estuary, while the bottom of the surface is saltier.
The current conditions of the Sahel work in a opposite way. The drought brought so little freshwater that the area became an “inverse estuary” with an overabundance of salt.
“It was water that was so salty that it was saltier than sea water,” Loose said
The excess salt sunk through the bottom and drained out the estuary, thus causing many mangroves to die of dehydration. The whole ecosystem changed as a result with about 80% being damaged and more than one third lost entirely.
Loose explained that the problem goes beyond the dying mangroves, with the bigger issue being what is produced from the plants. Rice cultivation and fishing are two main sources of income. The salt content of the rice makes it unusable for the most part.
“This was starting to impinge on their livelihood,” Loose said.
Things have been this way since about 1990 where the situation appeared irreversible.
Fortunately there is a reinforcement effort in progress led by a non-governmental organization or NGO where they are in the long process of trying to rebuild the ecosystem.
They have begun planting seeds across the damaged area and have reached an estimated total of 15,000 hectares, one of which is equal to 100 acres.
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Dr. Loose and his colleagues became involved with the project in 2010 and have helped develop a new sensory tool that can get a reading on the salinity and let researchers like Loose understand why certain mangrove habitats are depleted more than others.
“The goal would be to place like 100 of them around all of these villages and see what we can find,” Loose said
Dr. Loose believes it is important to help salvage these mangroves not just because of their economic importance, but he is also intrigued by their beauty.
“It is a romantic plant,” Loose said.
He believes the plant is fascinating and finds a lot of intrigue in Senegal in general, believing it to be a great nation.
"Once you leave you want to go right back," Loose said.
Photo Credit By Alex House
While Loose and his colleagues may be passionate about the exotic plant, their efforts will be delayed for now due to the recent Ebola outbreak.
“The project was at least as of June really ramping up and then along came Ebola and that has completely curtailed any activity,” Loose said.
Dr. Loose’s research should resume after the situation has been downgraded
The new tool will allow Loose to examine the results and learn more about the mysterious mangroves and ultimately find a way to restore the ecosystem in West Africa which would have positive effects on the economy and the maybe even the healthof the nation.
