Mangroves

A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline or

brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along
coastlines and tidal rivers. They have special adaptations to take in extra
oxygen and to remove salt, which allow them to tolerate conditions that
would kill most plants.

Types Of Mangroves

There are five types of mangroves, they are the following:

 Mangrove Fringe Forests
 Over wash Mangrove Islands
 Riverine Mangrove Forests
 Basin Mangrove Forests
 Dwarf Mangrove Forests

Mangrove Fringe Forests

Fringing Mangrove Forests are a relatively thin fringe of land along

waterways. These forests seem to be flushed daily by tides, but do not
receive the same amount of terrestrial runoff as the Riverine Mangrove
Forests.
 Over Wash Mangrove Islands

Over wash Mangrove Forests exist as islands frequently washed over by

tides. Typically, these islands develop as a Red Mangrove propagule
strand in a shallow flat. As more and more propagule strands and grow,
the island begins as a tangle of prop roots.

Riverine Mangrove Forests

Riverine Mangrove Forests are tall flood plain forests flowing along
waters such as tidal rivers and creeks. Conditions are favorable for
extensive growth due to flushing by daily tides. In addition, freshwater
runoff and terrestrial nutrient influx enhance this type of mangrove
community.

Basin Mamgrove Forests

Basin Mangrove Forests are often stunted and are often located in
interior areas of swamps or drainage depressions. The water in Basin
Mangrove Forests is stagnant or just very slowly flowing.

Dwarf Mangrove Forests

Dwarf Mangrove Forests only attain canopy heights of less than 5 feet or
1.5 meters although they contain the same species as the other types of
forest. The stunted growth is often attributed to a lack of nutrients, high
salinity, and rocky soils.
 Ecosystem - A community of living organisms interacting with each
other and with their abiotic environment.
 Niche - It is the position or role of an Organism in an ecosystem.
 Community - It is all the populations of different species living
together in a particular habitat.
 Ecology - It is the study of interrelationships of living organisms
with each other and the environment.
 Population - It is all the numbers of a species living together in a
particular habitat.
 Species - A group of living organisms consisting of similar
individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
 Habitat - It is the place where an organism live.
 Environment - It is a combination of factors that surround and act
upon organisms. These include biotic and abiotic factors.