Mangroves

Distribution

• found along or very close to the coast

• sheltered environments such as shallow river mouths or behind islands

• areas that experience the tropical climate (around the Equator)

Environment

• high salinity water (seawater)

• muddy, water-logged, and oxygen-deficient soil

• lack of competition with other plants

Aerial Roots

• grow partially above the soil surface, allowing them to take in oxygen when exposed during low tide

• anchors the plants to the soft soil and prevents it from being washed away by strong waves

Salt-secreting leaves

• helps the plant remove salt from the saline water

Salt-excluding roots

• roots which prevent salt from entering

Coastal Zone

Sonneratia, Avicennia

Middle Zone

Rhizophora

Inland Zone

Bruguiera

Sonneratia

cone roots (up to 1.5m) - long

Avicennia

pencil roots (up to 20cm) - short

Rhizophora

prop roots which grow from the trunk and lower branches to the ground, giving the plant a broader base and making it more stable

Bruguiera

knee-bend roots which bend upwards to emerge above the soil surface before bending downwards back into the soil

Locations of mangroves

Found in the tropical environment, from 30 degree north to 30 degree south