Under this project support is provided for collaboration between Dr. S. Ahmed of the School of Oceanography, University of Washington, and Dr. G. S. Quraishee, Director Emeritus of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Karachi, Pakistan. The research deals with the interaction of the elements of the web of mangrove systems, especially in the system at the mouth of the Indus river in Pakistan, to understand the impact of factors such as the decrease in fresh water flow and increase in ground water salinity on the growth of trees and the chain reaction on other marine life in the mangrove ecosystem. In Pakistani mangrove ecosystems the result has been expressed in vastly decreased species diversity of the halophytes and in shorter shrubs. The full understanding of the ecophysiology of the mangrove ecosystems and an order of importance of its elements is needed to affect a reversal of the loss in this natural resource. Scope: This research is being carried out by the U. of Washington team with the participation of the NIO staff which also provides the boats and other logistical support. The participation in the data analysis and even in data acquisition will be enhanced through this project to the benefit of the U.S. team and also to the Pakistani team. The latter will develop the necessary capabilities and expertise to continue the reserach beyond the involvement of the Americans. The project fits the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program. This project is being funded jointly by INT and OCE.
