Mangrove forests are found in sheltered coastal regions between 23.5°N and S of the equator that experience tropical climates. They have three horizontal zones - coastal, inland, and middle. Species are adapted to different zones depending on salt tolerance. Mangroves have adaptations like aerial roots, thick leaves, and salt secretion or storage to survive in their habitat characterized by high rainfall, temperature, salt levels, and muddy, oxygen-depleted soil.

1. MANGROVE
FOREST

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

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

4. STRUCTURE
• 3 distinct horizontal zones
• No vertical layers

5. Horizontal zonation of
Mangroves

6. 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

7. CHARACTERISTICS

8. 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.

9. C2: Dense & Luxuriant
• Most form a dense, continuous canopy
due to the presence of high temperatures
and high rainfall.

10. C3: Sparse
Undergrowth
• Little sunlight filters through the dense,
continuous canopy.
• Hence there is little undergrowth present in
this layer.

11. C4: Evergreen leaves
• As there is high temperature and high
rainfall throughout the year, the leaves
remain evergreen.

12. C5: Colourful flowers
• The flowers are generally colourful to
attract insects to pollinate its flowers.

13. C6: Buoyant Fruits
• This enables fruits to be carried away by
waves and currents to new coastal areas.

14. ADAPTATIONS

15. A1: High rainfall
• The leaves are broad with drip tips to
enable water to flow off the leaves quickly.

16. A2: High Temperature
• The leaves are thick and leathery to
reduce water loss through transpiration.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. PENCIL ROOTS

21. PROP ROOTS

22. KNEED ROOTS

23. BUOYANT FRUITS

24. THE END