What are mangroves?
Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in salty or brackish water, in tropical and sub-tropical coastal regions that have tides. There are several different families of mangrove plants, and together they create a fantastic habitat. Mangrove swamps are considered one of the most productive tidal ecosystems in the world!
Mangrove plants can live in oxygen-poor soil because their roots can absorb oxygen from the air. The roots are adapted to filter salt water, and the plant’s leaves excrete the salt. Many mangrove plants have a special reproductive technique. The seeds of the mangrove tree do not need to be in soil to germinate, but start to germinate while the seeds are still attached to the tree.
Durings low tide, the mangrove trees' fantastic root system is shown, which are perfect hiding spots for many animals.
Photo: Nathalia-Verony-CC-BY-SA
Under the surface in a mangrove swamp.
Photo: James-St.-John-CC-BY
A mangrove swamp in southern Australia.
Photo: Roof66-CC-BY-SA
Aerial roots from mangrove trees, that protrude from the ground and are visible at low tide.
Photo: Neegzistuoja-CC-BY-SA
Mangrove fruit that has begun to germinate before falling from the tree.
Photo: Louise-Wolff-CC-BY-SA
Hiding place and nursery
Mangroves grow along the border between land and sea, creating a dense maze of roots. Among the roots, lots of species of fish, and other aquatic animals, are able to reproduce. The young of the various species are given excellent protection. Monkeys, birds, reptiles and more than 20 different species of amphibians also live in mangrove swamps. Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove swamp in India and Bangladesh, is home to the Bengal tiger – one of the world’s most endangered mammals.
Mangrove forests also capture sediment and certain nutrients from water that runs off the land, stopping them reaching important and sensitive seagrass beds and coral reefs in the sea. Many fish migrate between mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs during their lifetime, in search of food and shelter.
In the maze of roots created in a mangrove swamp, lots of animals find their hiding places, their food and their place to reproduce.
Photo: AndrewKPepper-CC-BY-SA
The mangrove roots act as a good surface for many organisms to grow on, such as various mussels and other molluscs.
Photo: Rachel-Docherty-CC-BY
The many fish and other small animals in the mangrove swamp are perfect food for larger birds like herons.
Photo: Hugh-Lunnon-CC-BY-SA
The mangrove swamp is a perfect habitat for mudskippers - fish that live both in water and on land.
Photo: Anirnoy-CC-BY-SA
The Mangrove pitta finds plenty to eat in the mud during low tide.
Photo: UdayKiran28-CC-BY-SA
The Bengal tiger lives in the world's largest mangrove swamp area, Sundarban, in India and Bangladesh.
Photo: Soumyajit-Nandy-CC-BY-SA
Colourful crabs emerge from the mud during low tide in the mangrove swamp.
Photo: Ankur-P-CC-BY
The crocodile finds plenty of food in the Indian mangrove swamps.
Photo: Soumyajit-Nandy-CC-BY-SA
Otters on the hunt for food in the mud in the mangrove swamps of Sundarban.
Photo: Syedabbas321-CC-BY-SA
The fishing cat is shy, but likes to hunt for fish in the Indian mangrove swamps.
Photo: Srichakra-Pranav-CC-BY-SA
The spotted deer lives in Sundarban's mangrove swamps.
Photo: Anubhav123sarangi-CC-BY-SA
Protection against climate change and natural disasters
Mangrove swamps absorb more greenhouse gases than rainforests do. They also act as vital coastal barriers, against cyclones, hurricanes with torrential rain and similar storms. The mangroves reduce the force of the wind, so that houses and farmland are not flooded. Many millions of people depend on mangrove swamps for protection, fishing and firewood. Plants are also collected and used as medicines.
The mangroves are an important barrier between sea and land, which slows down the effects of major storms and tsunamis. Here, the mangrove forest can be seen along the coast of Taiwan, which is shrinking with the expansion of cities.
Photo: Peter-Wen-CC-BY-SA
Mangroves are an important source of firewood in many areas, such as here in Ghana.
Photo: Akiwumi-CC-BY-SA
Millions of people depend on fishing in the mangrove swamps to get food. The picture shows a fisherman in a mangrove swamp in Indonesia.
Photo: Exagren-CC-BY-SA