MANGROVE FOREST

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MANGROVE FOREST
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OBJECTIVES

• Describe the distribution of mangroves.
• Describe climatic features of MG areas.
• Describe explain the features of MG.
• Describe the adaptations of MG.

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DISTRIBUTION

• along sheltered coastal regions
• Found b/w 23.5N and S of the equator.
• areas experiencing tropical climate

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STRUCTURE

• 3 distinct horizontal zones
• No vertical layers

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Horizontal zonation of Mangroves

• http//www.mesa.edu.au/mangroves/images/mang_zones
  .jpg

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STRUCTURE

• Coastal Zone
• Nearest to the coast
• Adapted to salt water
• Aerial roots
• Avicennia, Sonneratia

• Inland Zone
• Grow inland
• Least tolerant of salt
• Knee-like roots
• Bruguiera

• Middle Zone
• Prop roots
• Stilt roots
• Rhizophora

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CHARACTERISTICS
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C1 Little Variety

• Mangrove is species poor as there are only 4 main
  species present Avicennia, Sonneratia,
  Rhizophora, Bruguiera
• This is because only Halophytes (salt tolerant
  plants) can survive in this region.

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C2 Dense Luxuriant

• Most form a dense, continuous canopy due to the
  presence of high temperatures and high rainfall.

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C3 Sparse Undergrowth

• Little sunlight filters through the dense,
  continuous canopy.
• Hence there is little undergrowth present in this
  layer.

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C4 Evergreen leaves

• As there is high temperature and high rainfall
  throughout the year, the leaves remain evergreen.

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C5 Colourful flowers

• The flowers are generally colourful to attract
  insects to pollinate its flowers.

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C6 Buoyant Fruits

• This enables fruits to be carried away by waves
  and currents to new coastal areas.

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ADAPTATIONS
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A1 High rainfall

• The leaves are broad with drip tips to enable
  water to flow off the leaves quickly.

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A2 High Temperature

• The leaves are thick and leathery to reduce water
  loss through transpiration.

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A3 Salt

• Avicennia are salt secretors They excrete excess
  salt on their leaves which are then removed by
  the wind or rain.
• Bruguiera, Rhizophora, Sonneratia are
  ultrafiltrators They absorb salt and store it in
  the old leaves which fall off eventually.

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A4 Oxygen Deprived

• Due to waterlogged conditions in the mangrove
  environment, the soil is oxygen-deprived.
• Avicennia and Sonneratia have aerial roots As
  these roots are exposed during low tide, they
  take in oxygen.

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A5 Muddy Soil

• Prop Roots
• Rhizophora Stilt or prop roots which anchor the
  roots firmly to the ground
• Keed Roots (Knee-Like)
• Bruguiera Kneed roots that provide firm support
  on the soft soil.
• Fruits with elongated structure
• Rhizophora enables the fruits to anchor in soft
  muddy soil.

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PENCIL ROOTS
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PROP ROOTS
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KNEED ROOTS
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BUOYANT FRUITS
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THE END