Principal Vegetation
Mangrove swamps dominated by species of Rhizophora, notably R. apiculata, with mature forest up to 30m in height. Howes and Sahat (in prep) recognized six distinct vegetation zones within their survey area in Brunei Estuary:
1. Avicennia/Sonneratia forest on the seaward edge, dominated by A. marina and S. alba, with some immature Rhizophora apiculata and Lumnitzera coccinea;
2. Rhizophora forest dominated by R. apiculata, with other species such as Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Sonneratia acida and Aegiceras corniculatum in the less frequently inundated zone.
3. A belt of the nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) between the major rivers in the lower reaches of the estuary and along the upper reaches of the rivers.
4. Heritiera/Excoecaria forest dominated by H. littoralis and E. agallocha, forming a landward extension of the Nypa belt.
5. Peat swamp forest with species such as Dyera spp. mixed with a variety of mangrove associates along the riverbanks in the upper reaches of the tidal influence.
6. Sandy areas on exposed coasts and offshore islands with Casuarina equisetifolia and some Melastoma malabaricum and Barringtonia asialica.
The vegetation to the landward of the mangrove in Temburong District is dominated by peat swamp forest, with mangrove extending along the major rivers.
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