Question- Mangrove Forest

How do the roots of the mangrove trees adapt to the waterlogged soil conditions?

Coastal zone- Sonneratia have aerial roots that are exposed during low tide to
breathe.

Middle Zone- Rhizophora have prop roots to provide support for the trees on muddy
soil.

Inland Zone- Bruguiera have knee-like roots to provide support on the soft soil.

How are forests important to us?

- Support diversity of plants and animals.

- Natural habitats for many animals.

- Provide us with resources. (e.g. food, wood, medicine, etc.)

- Part of our natural heritage for recreation, appreciation of nature, etc.)

Provide some examples of how plants adapt to the low light condition at the lower
layers of the rainforest.

(As the canopy layer of the tropical rainforest prevents sunlight from reaching the
lower layers of the forest, some plants adapted to the low light condition by growing
on the tree branches to get more sunlight.)

- Epiphytes e.g. bird nest ferns grow on tree branches for support to obtain more
sunlight.

- Lianas wind round tree trunk and grow upwards to obtain sunlight.

- Parasites grow on plants and take food from them.

- Young trees and other smaller plants grow at gaps of canopy where they can get
light.

Natural Vegetation- Monsoons

Explain how monsoons are formed.

Northern hemisphere (Asia)- winter- high pressure

Southern hemisphere (Australia)- summer- low pressure

Wind blows from Asia (high pressure) to Australia (low pressure)

Wind picks up moisture from ocean and bring rain to land

Change in direction half yearly during reverse of seasons