The goal of this research program is to investigate specific mangrove properties under different types of geomorphology. Predictions of ecosystem function based on models of mangrove processes are presently restricted to specific environmental settings. Thus the application of mangrove management practices from one part of the tropics to another is limited by a general understanding of mangrove ecology. Thom (1982) introduced the idea of specific geomorphic and ecologic responses of the coastal zone to degrees of environmental processes such as magnitude of rainfall, river discharge, tidal amplitude, Turbidity and wave power. For example, the Guayas River estuary is an area with high tidal amplitude, medium rainfall and high river discharge and would be a number I setting, whereas Terminos Lagoon in Mexico has low tides, medium rainfall and river discharge and would be a number IV setting. The geomorphic and ecologic response are different for each coastline due to these differences in environmental processes. The hypothesis of this proposed study is that mangrove properties such as litter productivity, sedimentation, detritus export, and nutrient cycling are controlled by the magnitude of hydrologic energy. By using mangrove sites representing various environmental settings as sites for comparative studies of ecosystem structure and function, we can test whether differences in ecological processes can be explained by differences in these coastal processes.