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Mangrove Forest Deforestation, Hydrodynamics of Mangrove-Root Models & Biomimicry

Mangrove forests play an important ecological role by absorbing carbon dioxide, filtering wastewater, and protecting coastlines from erosion. However, mangrove deforestation due to shrimp farming, pollution, development, and tourism has degraded mangrove ecosystems. Researchers are studying mangrove root structures and salt exclusion properties to develop biomimicry devices that can desalinate water and create more resilient coastal barriers. Concrete structures inspired by mangrove roots aim to reduce coastal erosion while restoring habitats.

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Emmie Massias
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52 views8 pages

Mangrove Forest Deforestation, Hydrodynamics of Mangrove-Root Models & Biomimicry

Mangrove forests play an important ecological role by absorbing carbon dioxide, filtering wastewater, and protecting coastlines from erosion. However, mangrove deforestation due to shrimp farming, pollution, development, and tourism has degraded mangrove ecosystems. Researchers are studying mangrove root structures and salt exclusion properties to develop biomimicry devices that can desalinate water and create more resilient coastal barriers. Concrete structures inspired by mangrove roots aim to reduce coastal erosion while restoring habitats.

Uploaded by

Emmie Massias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mangrove Forest deforestation,

Hydrodynamics of mangrove-root
models & Biomimicry
!"#$%&'$("#)*'+,$-'*,./0$ Source: Mongabay Series:
Global Forests

1'2/3,*#$4&,/#"5
Authors: MICHAEL
TATARSKI
Date: April 21, 2020
Link: https://news.mongabay.
com/2020/04/a-vital-man-
grove-forest-hidden-in-viet-
nams-largest-city-could-be-at-
risk/

Can Gio’s Mangrove forest serves as the city’s ‘lungs’: absorbing carbon dioxide and providing oxygen.

It acts as the ‘kidneys’: filtering wastewater pollution sent downstream from the city.

A ‘green wall,’: protecting the region’s shoreline from erosion caused by storms, typhoons and tsunamis
coming from the East Sea.
6,7'*,./"/&'#$'7$("#)*'+,$-'*,./.8$93*,"/.

- Impact of shrimp farming: deforestation


of mangroves and ground is drained to
create shrimp ponds

- Eutrophication: excess minerals and nu-


trients deplete oxygen from water, and the
sediment of the mangroves

- Upstream pollution and erosion caused


by transport: cargo ships that ply the
Soai Rap and Long Tau rivers next to and
through Can Gio on their way to and from
Ho Chi Minh City’s busy ports

- Development activities: sand extraction

- Tourism: deforestation of mangroves for


golf courses and resorts

- Illegal logging

Shrimp Ponds in the Mekong Delta


:;"</"/&'#.$/'$1"=/$>"/,*
- Salt Exclusion: roots and cell membranes
that prevent salts from passing through in an
uncontrolled manner, and cell walls that
contain a waxy substance

- Salt Pores - located on leaves, root and


branches. Excess salt absorbed from soil is
secreted through the leaves, “desalinating”
the water from its surroundings.
Source: The Guardian
Author: Nicola Davis
Date: 21 February 2020
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/21/device-in-
spired-mangroves-help-clear-flood-water

Researchers say they have reproduced this process in a


synthetic system, using a polymer membrane that filters
out salts as the “root”, a finely porous silica filter as the
“stem”, and “leaves” based on either a hydrogel-filled
membrane or aluminium oxide featuring tiny pores.

Demonstration:
Through simple evaporation, a huge negative pressure
is generated to drive water flow through a semi-
permeable, reverse-osmosis membrane, thereby
desalinating the water.

- In the industrial process, large, high-pressure pumps –


and loads of electricity – are required to generate these
high pressures to drive flow and desalination.
Source: Science Advances Magazine
Vol. 6, no. 8, eaax5253
Authors: Yunkun Wang, Jongho Lee, Jay R.
Werber Menachem Elimelech
Date: 21 February 2020

Link: https://advances.sciencemag.org/con-
tent/6/8/eaax5253/tab-pdf

Potential uses:

Large-scale manage-
ment of stormwater
and to reduce flood
damage.
Source: Ansys Blog
?&'5&5&@*A$'7$("#)*'+,.$9,"@3,.$ Authors: Keith Van de Riet
Date: March 6, 2019

B'C$/'$D5<*'+,$!'"./"=$?"**&,*. Link: https://www.ansys.com/blog/bio-


mimicry-mangroves-improve-coastal-ero-
sion-coastal-barriers

Mangrove-inspired coastal structures:

Biomimicry of the mangrove in form and function -


exploring how the root system interacts with, and
responds to, the fluid flows around it:

- Guard against coastal erosion and protect shore


communities from storm surge.

- Their complex, exposed root system also nurtures


juvenile fish and biodiversity.

- Carbon Sink: Reduce greenhouse gases by captur-


ing and storing waste carbon dioxide.

Man-made coastal barriers, in contrast, are signif-


icantly less resilient. They are also environmentally
unfriendly and unsightly, and costly to construct.
1,"C"==$5';&E@"/&'#.8$
@'#@*,/,$<"#,=.$C&/3$*''/F=&G,$<*'H,@/&'#.
Tools:

- Hydrodynamic simulation
- Wave-tank studies
- Physical prototyping
- To attract nearby oysters, the researchers added
crushed oyster shells to the concrete mix

Aim:

- Create surge-resistant coastal structures that decelerate


the surrounding water flows. This will dampen the soil- or
sand-eroding turbulent energy and recreate the habitats lost
when the sea walls replaced nature.

These semi-flexible “roots” have built-in gaps that facilitate wa-


ter flow and create spaces for habitats to flourish.

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