& Nico KOEDAM
This photographic exposition presents the impressions of the mangrove after almost a decade of research on mangrove ecosystems in Kenya, Sri Lanka, India and Mauritania at the Università degli Studi di Firenze (Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica “Leo Pardi”) and the Free University of Brussels (Mangrove Management Group). Against a background of giant Rhizophora mucronata trees, the mangrove is depicted from a botanical, zoological and human perspective. One compilation of pictures is devoted to the invaluable cultural interactions with local people, religions and historical sites during the mangrove expeditions.
Actual field work in the forest is exibited from a scientific and a ‘touristic’ point of view. Special attention is drawn to the field work on the vertical migrating behaviour of Sesarma leptosoma and on the horizontal homing behaviour of Thalamita crenata. Some major threats such as from shrimp farming in South-East Asia highlight the continuous need to protect mangroves. Photographs taken in the Parc National du Banc d’Arguin (World Heritage Site) unfolds the austerity of the Sahara desert and the biodiversity and productivity of the upwelling marine system in a land and seascape of exceptionally contrasting natural value, one of which is the biogeographical limit of Avicennia germinans along the West-African coast.
were kindly provided by Stefano Cannicci, Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, Nico Koedam,
Silvia Ritossa, Marco Vannini, Anouk Verheyden and Marc Verneirt.
: mangrove, Kenya,
Sri Lanka, India, Mauritania.
Exhibited at :
Vrije Universiteit Brussel Open-Doors, 6 May 2000, Brussels, Belgium;
International Meeting on Mangrove Macrobenthos, 7-11 Sept. 2000, Mombasa, Kenya;
Science Festival, 21-22 Sept. 2000, Media-Centre, Oostende, Belgium;
44th IAVS Conference, 29 July - 4 Aug. 2001, Weihenstephan, Germany.
This presentation was awarded with the Golden Propagule Award
on the international Meeting on Mangrove Macrobenthos
7-11 September 2000, Mombasa, Kenya
Scientific jury (from left to right) : Sabine DITTMANN, Beth BROOK, Joe S.Y. LEE & Norman C. DUKE.