Mangroves are :

tropical (2000mm or more rainfall, 25-30dc, not seasonal)
woody-usually forested
specialised species of trees-live on edge where rainforest meets water
Found on: sheltered coastlines, river deltas
one of the few plants that grow in these areas

Where can mangroves be found?
27 % of mangroves are found in South East Asia alone

COASTAL ZONE

Avicennia
• Adapted to grow in salt water
• Have aerial roots (point upwards) - help them 'breathe'
• Aerial roots help survive high tides and flood
• Secretes salt onto surface of leaf - removed by wind/rain

Sonneratia(apple trees)
• Tastes like CHEESE!
• Adapted to grow in salt water
• Have aerial roots (point upward) - help them 'breathe'
• Aerial roots help survive high tides and flood
• Ultrafiltrator - absorbs saltwater/ignores salt
• Remove excess salt by storing in old leaves(fall off)

Middle Zone
Rhizophora
• Prop/stilt roots - anchor trees in soil firmly
• Ultrafiltrator
• Remove excess salt by storing in old leaves


Inland Zone

Bruguiera
• Kneed roots - provide firm support on soil
(trees extremely heavy)
• Ultrafiltator
• Remove excess salt by storing in old leaves

Mangroves
• salt tolerant plants - Halophytes
• densed
• abundant vegetation
• high temperature & rainfall
•undergrowth sparse - canopy block SunL(most)

Provide:
• food - leaves
• firewood - branches(tinder)
• charcoal (carbon produced after heating wood)
• construction materials (wood)
•support unstable soil (roots hold firmly)
•shelter/home for animals
•oxygen
•beauty

Adaptation

Leaves
•broad with drip tips - allow water to flow off quickly
(prevent bacteria from breeding - high temp.+water=growth of bacteria)
•Thick/Feathery leaves - reduce water loss(transpiration)

Roots
• Aerial root - tiny pores on it (lenticels) to absorb air
• All roots - support tree in soft muddy soil

Fruits
•Buoyant(floater) to travel on seawater
to other suitable places for growth
•Rhizophora/Bruguiera - germinate while still attached
(fall onto ground and penetrate soil,rooting)


BENEFITS
• Home & food to wild creatures eg.Fish/Shellfish
Animals(Shellfish/Spongefish) filter-feeders -> clean the water
->ocean flourish
• Prevent rockslide/soil erosion/floods - roots hold soil firmly
•oxygen for living
•maintain biomass & biodiversity

DISADVANTAGES
•Young Mangroves - fragile(destroyed easily)