Crabs and molluscs are the predomin

crabs and molluscs are the predominant animal groups of the mangrove ecosystem (berry 1963, 1972; hutch-ings & saenger 1987, jones 1984, macintosh 1988, macnae 1968) and are thought to play a significant ecolo-gical role in the structure and function. of the mangrove (lee 1998, 1999).they form important links between the primary detritus at the base of the food web and con-sumers of higher trophic levels (macintosh 1984) and because of their large abundance and biomass (secondary production), the energy assimilated by the macrofauna plays a significant role. in nutrient recycling. the bur-rowing activities of crabs improve soil aeration (smith et al. 1991),.allow seawater penetration and nutrient exchange (paphavasit et al. 1990) and alter the topo-graphy and textural properties of mangrove soils (warren & underwood 1986). crabs and any other animals that can modify the mangrove sediment have the potential to mediate mangrove vegetation structure and productivity.

Crabs and molluscs are the predominant animal groups of the mangrove ecosystem (Berry 1963, 1972; Hutch- ings & Saenger 1987, Jones 1984, Macintosh 1988, Macnae 1968) and are thought to play a significant ecolo- gical role in the structure and function of the mangrove (Lee 1998, 1999). They form important links between the primary detritus at the base of the food web and con- sumers of higher trophic levels (Macintosh 1984) and because of their large abundance and biomass (secondary production), the energy assimilated by the macrofauna plays a significant role in nutrient recycling. The bur- rowing activities of crabs improve soil aeration (Smith et al. 1991), allow seawater penetration and nutrient exchange (Paphavasit et al. 1990) and alter the topo- graphy and textural properties of mangrove soils (Warren & Underwood 1986). Crabs and any other animals that can modify the mangrove sediment have the potential to mediate mangrove vegetation structure and productivity.

Crabs and molluscs are the predominant animal groups of the mangrove ecosystem (Berry 1963, 1972 ; Hutch-ings & Saenger 1987, Jones 1984, Macintosh 1988, Macnae 1968 ), and are thought to play a significant ecolo-gical role in the structure and function of the mangrove (Lee 1998, 1999 ).They form important links between the primary detritus at the base of the food Web and con- sumers of higher trophic levels (Macintosh 1984 ), and because of their large abundance and biomass (secondary production), the energy assimilated by the macrofauna plays a significant role in nutrient recycling. The bur- rowing activities of crabs improve soil aeration (Smith et al, 1991,allow seawater penetration and nutrient Exchange (Paphavasit et al, 1990), and alter the topo- graphy and textural properties of mangrove soils (Warren & Underwood 1986). Crabs and any other animals that can modify the mangrove sediment have the potential to mediate mangrove vegetation structure and productivity.