Litter Production of Mangrove Forests at the Gesashi River

Mangrove releases the nutrient as litter to the nearshore. Litter is an important source of organic detritus, which supports detrital marine food webs. The importance of mangrove in timber production, nursery and hatchery for fish, crustacea and molluscs and coastal protection from erosion is well appreciated. Mangrove is also important for the ability to control nutrient and sediment fluxes in the nearshore waters. Litterfall rate in the Gesashi mangrove forests is seasonal. It is generally low in winter and high from spring to summer. Total weight of litterfall was 1190 gm^ yr^ or 11.9 t ha^ yr^ in the mixed mangrove forests