Mangroves are specially adapted plants that thrive where salt and freshwater meet along coastlines. They have several adaptations that allow them to tolerate saline conditions, such as preventing saltwater influx and concentrating salt in leaves. There are over 50 mangrove species worldwide, including the white, black, and red mangrove, which are described. Mangroves have specialized root structures like stilt and pneumatophore roots that help them survive in anaerobic soils. Mangroves provide important ecosystem benefits like coastal stabilization, sediment accumulation, and wildlife habitat. However, widespread mangrove destruction for shrimp farming in Indonesia eliminated these protections, exacerbating damage from tsunamis.

1.
Mackenzie
Taggart*
SS
421*
Wetlands*
Spring
2014
Mangrove Functions and Importance Across Cultures
Adaptations To Salinity
Mangroves
are
specially
adapted
to
withstand
many
hostile
conditions,
but
their
ability
to
cope
with
salinity
make
them
a
remarkable
coastal
species.
There
are
four
main
adaptations:
v Preventing
influx
of
saline
water
into
roots
through
filtering
v Absorbing
large
quantities
of
water
to
dilute
the
salts
stored
in
leaves
and
tissues
v Concentrating
salt
in
leaves
and
bark
which
are
then
shed
v Excreting
salt
through
special
pores
of
the
surface
of
leaves
What are Mangroves?
Mangroves
are
a
specially
adapted
species
that
thrive
along
coastlines
where
salt
and
freshwater
converge.
Mangrove
forests
are
some
of
the
most
productive
terrestrial
ecosystems
and
are
considered
an
important
natural
resource.
Mangroves
grow
in
Tropical
and
Subtropical
climates
between
30˚North
and
South
of
the
Equator
and
are
present
on
almost
all
continents
except
Europe
and
Antarctica.
Mangroves
grow
from
a
long,
tubular
seed
called
a
Propagule.
When
the
seed
is
ready,
it
falls
from
the
tree
and
sticks
in
the
mud
where
it
will
begin
to
grow.
If
the
seed
in
unsuccessful,
it
will
be
carried
away
and
will
stay
dormant
until
it
washes
ashore.
Common Species of Mangroves
There
are
more
than
50
species
of
mangroves
worldwide,
but
there
are
three
more
variations:
The
White
Mangrove
Laguncularia
racemosa
The
white
mangrove
grows
at
higher
elevations
than
both
black
and
red
mangroves
and
is
unique
for
having
no
visible
root
system.
The
white
mangrove
has
oval
shaped
light
green
leaves
with
glands
at
the
base
of
each
leaf
that
excrete
salt
taken
in
by
the
roots.
The
Black
Mangrove
Avicennia
germinans
Easily
identified
thanks
to
the
dark
colored
bark
and
roots
it
is
named
after.
Another
identifiable
feature
are
the
Pneumatophores
that
supply
oxygen
for
the
mangrove.
Black
mangrove
leaves
are
oblong
and
a
shiny
dark
green
on
top,
light
green
on
bottom.
The
Red
Mangrove
Rhizophora
mangle
Easily
identified
by
the
reddish
tint
to
its
bark
and
roots,
the
red
mangrove
is
nicknamed
the
“walking
tree”
due
to
its
stilt
roots.
The
leaves
are
1-­‐2
inches
in
length
with
a
blunt
tip;
they
are
a
shiny
dark
green
on
top,
and
light
green
on
the
bottom
Specialized Roots
These
specialized
roots
are
adaptations
that
allow
mangroves
to
grow
in
anaerobic
conditions.
Stilt
Roots:
These
roots
grow
from
the
trunk
of
the
mangrove
and
keep
the
mangrove
rooted
and
stable.
They
too
allow
the
diffusion
of
oxygen
through
lenticels
on
the
surface
of
the
roots.
Pneumatophores:
These
roots
extend
upwards
through
the
soil
and
reach
around
20-­‐30
cm
in
height.
They
are
covered
in
small
pores
called
lenticels,
which
allow
the
diffusion
of
oxygen
when
exposed
at
low
tide.
Mackenzie
Taggart
*
SS
421*
Spring
2014

2.
Importance of Mangroves
Mangroves
are
crucial
to
sustaining
coastal
ecosystems
around
the
world
and
have
many
ecological
and
societal
benefits.
Their
benefits
can
be
separated
into
two
interconnected
categories:
benefits
from
the
mangrove
products,
and
benefits
from
the
mangrove
ecosystem
as
a
whole.
These
categories
are
interconnected
because
they
depend
on
one
another;
if
mangrove
products,
such
as
wood
harvested
for
fuel,
are
too
widely
used
or
destroyed,
the
mangrove
ecosystem
will
be
unable
to
provide
the
benefits
it
used
to.
Mangrove
Ecosystem
As
A
Whole
Coastal
StabilizaUon
AccumulaUon
of
Sediment
DissipaUon
of
Wind
&
Tide
Energy
Improvement
of
Water
Quality
Nutrient
RetenUon
Carbon
AccumulaUon
Wilflife
Habitat
Mangrove
Products
Food
&
Fiber
TexUles
Timber
Fuel
Dye
For
Clothing
Tannin
Used
in
Medicine
Fishing
Case Study: Mangrove Destruction in Indonesia
Residents
depended
on
mangroves
as
a
source
of
wood
for
fuel,
but
when
farmers
realized
the
value
of
the
land,
shrimp
farming
took
over.
Mangroves
posed
a
problem
for
shrimp
farmers,
who
wanted
their
ponds
closer
to
the
shore;
as
a
result,
hundreds
of
acres
of
mangroves
were
cut
down.
Without
the
mangroves
stabilizing
the
coast
and
dissipating
the
energy
of
the
wind
and
tides,
tsunamis
have
caused
significant
damage
and
taken
thousands
of
lives.
The
most
destructive
tsunami
resulted
from
the
massive
9.0
magnitude
earthquake
off
the
coast
of
Indonesia
and
Sumatra
in
2004.
The
tsunami
destroyed
the
coastlines
of
11
countries
bordering
the
Indian
Ocean
and
ravaged
Indonesia.
References
"The
Deadliest
Tsunami
in
History?"
National
Geographic.
National
Geographic
Society,
7
Jan.
2005.
Web.
29
May
2014.
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1227_041226_tsunami_2.html>.
"Uses
of
Mangroves."
Australian
Institute
of
Marine
Science.
Australian
Government,
n.d.
Web.
28
May
2014.
<http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/projectnet/mangroves-­‐uses.html>.
Environmental
and
Socio
Economic
Value
of
Mangroves
in
Tsunami
Affected
Areas
(2007):
1-­‐22.
The
World
Conservation
Union,
Feb.
2007.
Web.
27
May
2014.
<http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/sri_lanka_socioeconomic_value_report.pdf>.
"What
Are
Mangroves?"
Florida
Department
of
Environmental
Protection.
Florida
Department
of
Environmental
Protection,
n.d.
Web.
31
May
2014.
<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/mangroves.htm>.