Mangroves Ecosystem

The information mainly focuses on mangroves in the Caribbean.

What are mangrove swamps/forests?

Tropical coastal ecosystems that include salt-tolerant woody trees

What are “salt-tolerant plants”?

Plants that are able to adapt to areas with salty water soil

What is the general area where mangroves are found?

The Tropics (Between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn)

What are 3 main characteristics of mangroves? List them.

Salt tolerant

Woody trees

Angiosperms (Flowering plants)

Mangrove swamps are sheltered from waves. Why is this?

They are on the leeward side, meaning wind blows away from the shore

What temperature are the waters where mangroves grow in?

24 degrees C or more

What does the “leeward” side mean?

The wind blows away from the shore

What is the opposite of leeward?

windward

What happens because of the lack of water movement (in mangrove ecosystem)?

Fine sediments settle out to form a sandy bottom

What is the main factor in the water that the mangroves have to adapt to?

High salinity

What is the main factor in the soil that the mangroves have to adapt to?

Low oxygen content

What are the 2 scientific terms for a low oxygen content/lack of oxygen?

Anaerobic/Anoxic

What are 4 main types of mangroves in the Caribbean?

Red, Black, White, Buttonwood

What are the 4 main types of mangroves in order of moving inland/moving to the shore?

Red, Black, White, Buttonwood

What does it mean when a mangrove is in the “low tide zone”?

It is always wet

What does it mean when a mangrove is in the “high tide zone”?

It is only wet during high tide

What is the most prominent mangrove?

Red

What do prop roots do? List 3 things.

Anchors trees in the soft mud
Stabilizes in mud or land
Traps sediments
(Excretes salt)

What are 3 characteristics of a propagule?

Germinates while still attached to tree

Is pointy

Has a torpedo or pencil-shaped

What happens to the propagule when it falls in low tide?

Sticks into the mud and grows

What happens to the propagule when it falls in high tide?

Floats to other areas

What is vivipary?

Germination of the seed on the tree

List 3 ways the propagule adapts to the environment.

The tip is pointy, which allows the propagule to stick into the ground

The torpedo shape allows the propagule to become trapped in the prop roots

The seedling germinates before leaving the tree increasing its ability to survive

What are 4 abiotic factors mangroves have to adapt to? List them.

Soft unstable soil

Low oxygen soil

High salinity water

The heat and wind

What are lenticels and what do they do?

Breathing pores on prop roots which provide air to the root system

What helps the leaves of mangroves conserve water?

A thick waxy cuticle which reflects heat (reducing transpiration)

Explain sacrificial leaves.

Yellow leaves with accumulated salt with the purpose of discarding unneeded salt by falling off of the tree, taking excess salt with it

List 4 organisms that live on mangrove roots.

Oysters
Mussels
Snails
Algae

What mangrove has large prop roots and pencil seeds/propagules?

Red mangroves

What are snorkel roots?

Roots that grow upward to get oxygen from the air above

What is the scientific name for snorkel roots?

Pneumatophores

How do black mangroves get rid of salt?

Excreting salt out of leaves through salt glands

Which are the most salt tolerant type of mangroves?

Black

How do white mangroves adapt to salt?

Excretes salt from salt glands

What does the name buttonwood come from?

The reddish, round, button-shaped fruit

How do mangroves adapt to unstable soil?

Deep root systems

What are 3 importance of mangroves?

Nursery to juvenile fish
Jobs for fishermen
Offers protection against coastal erosion
Filters the coastal waters of debris and sediments
Stabilizes land mass
Provides medicine and Timberwood

What are 5 threats to mangroves?

Climate Change

Human Impact

Overfishing

Pollution

Invasive Species

Why are buttonwoods not true mangroves?

They are not salt-tolerant