mangrove

Mangrove refers to a group of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that occupy the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines. They form distinctive forests along estuaries, mangrove creeks, and sheltered shorelines in regions across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Mangroves are not a single species but a community composed of several genera adapted to saline, waterlogged soils.

Mangroves occur in several plant families, including Rhizophoraceae (for example, Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Kandelia), Avicenniaceae (Avicennia), and Lythraceae (Sonneratia). They share adaptations that tolerate high salinity, periodic flooding, and low oxygen in saturated soils. Common structural features include specialized root systems such as stilt or prop roots and pneumatophores that assist gas exchange in flooded soils. Many species also excrete excess salt through leaf salt glands and via other physiological mechanisms. A notable reproductive strategy is vivipary, where seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree and establish propagules that disperse with the tide.

Mangroves provide a range of ecosystem services. They protect shorelines from erosion and storm surge, trap sediments, and contribute to coastal water quality. They are highly productive and store significant amounts of carbon in biomass and soils, earning the designation of blue carbon ecosystems. Mangrove forests serve as nurseries and feeding grounds for numerous fish, crustaceans, birds, and other wildlife, supporting fisheries and biodiversity.

Threats to mangroves include coastal development, aquaculture, pollution, and climate change, which drive deforestation and degradation. Conservation and restoration efforts focus on protecting existing forests, restoring degraded areas, and engaging local communities in sustainable management.