Mangrove Swamps

Formation

Coastal areas, tropical and sub tropical regions

Muddy, sandy areas with no direct wave action. Large lagoons and other inland areas with rivers that are very close to the sea.

“Land” is built up by the growing roots where other types of vegetation thrive.

Develop from the sediment up.

Growth of a mangrove

54 species of true mangroves

Special adaptations to grow in the high salinity conditions.

Pneumatoophores-pencil like breathing tubes sent up by other mangroves roots. Once they reach the surface, they start to take in oxygen and then grow into full mangrove trees.

Adaptations to secrete salt from leaves.

Zones

Red-closest to the sea, able to withstand high salinity

Black-closer to land

White-further inland

Importance

Filter pollutants from river runoff

Silt, pollution

Prevent silting

Protects coastline from erosion

Immense aquatic habitat from roots and other “litter” that is deposited over time.

Leaf litter for habitat and food for aquatic species

Living organisms

Fish, crabs, sponges, mollusks, bacteria, some mammals, marine worms, sea stars, birds, snakes

Aquatic life

Cardinal fish, banded archerfish, Chicild, seahorse, crocidiles/gators

Mammals

Mangrove monkey

Rats, larger mammals

Birds

Jabiro stork, flamingos, Anhinga,

Degradation

Hurricanes can damage them, but mangroves are great protectors to the inland from hurricanes.

Human

50% have been destroyed over the past decades

Used as shrimp farming and filling in for other land uses