MANGROVES

watchu know ab mangorves lil bro 😛😛. study 4 chapter 3

What are mangroves?

Coastal forests of salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) found in tropical & subtropical tidal zones. They act as transitional ecosystems between land and sea.

(Halophytes: Plants adapted to grow in salty, waterlogged soils)

What are the major mangrove species in Florida?

• Red Mangrove – Rhizophora mangle

• Black Mangrove – Avicennia germinans

• White Mangrove – Laguncularia racemosa

How do halophytes (like mangroves) survive salty, waterlogged soils?

• Tolerate high salt & low oxygen

• Manage salt via exclusion, excretion, or storage

• Have thick cuticles, succulent leaves, and air-conducting tissues

How does the red mangrove adapt to salty, waterlogged soils?

• Prop roots: stabilize tree & help oxygen reach roots

• Salt exclusion: roots filter out most seawater salt

How does the black mangrove survive?

• Pneumatophores: vertical “snorkel” roots for gas exchange

• Salt excretion: leaf glands remove salt; crystals visible

• Sacrificial leaves: old leaves store salt, then drop off

How does the white mangrove survive?

• Salt glands: excrete salt at leaf bases

• Succulent, waxy leaves: conserve freshwater under high salinity

What adaptations do all mangroves share?

• Osmotic control: high internal solutes help water uptake

• Aerenchyma: air channels carry oxygen to submerged roots

• Hydrophobic root barriers: block unwanted salt

• Lenticels: pores in bark/roots allow gas exchange

How do mangroves reproduce and spread?

• Vivipary: seeds grow into propagules while still attached to parent

• Buoyant dispersal: propagules float to suitable sediment

• Rapid rooting: helps them survive in shifting tidal areas

What is structural zonation in mangroves?

• Zones reflect decreasing tidal immersion

• Root types adapt to oxygen & salt stress

• Creates layered habitats for diverse aquatic & terrestrial life

How do mangroves protect coastlines and reduce flooding?

• Dense roots slow waves & currents, reducing storm energy

• Trap sediment, raise coastal elevation, prevent erosion

• Fallen leaves & roots build peat/soil, stabilizing shorelines

• Organic matter cycling supports ecosystem productivity

• Forest expansion helps resist sea-level rise