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mangrove

Scientific Name: Rhizophora apiculata

Family: Rhizophoraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Mangroves: Guardians of the Coast

Mangroves are more than just trees; they're the foundation of unique and vital coastal ecosystems. These salt-tolerant trees and shrubs thrive in the challenging environment where land meets sea, offering a haven for diverse life and protecting shorelines from the ravages of storms.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions "spiky vertical roots" (pneumatophores) of the Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina variety australasica).

What are Mangroves?

  • The term "mangrove" describes a group of trees and shrubs, rather than a single species, adapted to live in coastal intertidal zones.
  • They are found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
  • There are approximately 80 different species of mangrove trees.

Habitat and Distribution

  • Mangroves flourish in coastal saline or brackish water.
  • They are typically found along shores, rivers, and estuaries in the tropics and subtropics.
  • They require low-oxygen soil and slow-moving waters where fine sediments can accumulate.
  • They thrive in the waterlogged, salty soils of sheltered tropical and subtropical shores.

Ecological Role

  • Mangrove forests support a wealth of life, from starfish to shorebirds, crab-eating monkeys, and even fishing cats.
  • They act as safe havens and nurseries for many marine species.
  • They protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves, and floods.
  • They help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their root systems.
  • They play a central role in transferring organic matter and energy from the land to marine ecosystems.

Conservation Status

  • Unfortunately, mangrove forests are under threat. More than 35% of the world's mangroves have already been lost, with some countries facing even higher rates of destruction.
  • Organizations like the Mangrove Action Project are dedicated to reversing the degradation and loss of mangroves and related ecosystems worldwide.

Specific Mangrove Mention

  • The text mentions the Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina variety australasica), and its spiky vertical roots, called peg roots or pneumatophores.