Login

what are the characteristics of mangrove forest?

Mangrove forests often bring to mind stands of contorted hardwoods with unusual root systems growing in swampy, tidal flats. This is true of red mangroves and black mangroves which both grow within areas of the tidal zone that are flooded for much of each day. Because the roots of the trees are under water so much of the time they are not able to get enough oxygen. To compensate for this lack of oxygen the trees have developed special aerial roots to bring in more oxygen. The strange looking roots give mangrove trees the unique and interesting appearance that is often associated with these forests. Red mangroves have long prop roots that grow out of the trunk or drop roots that grow out of branches. These extra roots reach down to the ground and provide support to the trees while bringing in more oxygen. Black mangroves have thin, pencil-like tubes that grow up out of the ground around the base of the tree. These cable roots, or pneumatophores, act as breathing tubes for the underground root system.


 

Aside from the aerial roots mangrove trees have shallow root systems with no deep tap roots. Gaseous exchange and nutrient intake occur in the thin upper layer of the substrate. The soils in mangrove habitats are basically fine sand or peat. Peat is a spongy, fibrous mixture of sand, tiny pieces of leaf litter, rootlets, and various inorganic substances. Beneath the surface soil is a mixture of coarser sand and clay.

As mangrove trees establish in the wet, muddy tidal flats and their gnarled roots entangle one another, sediments and organic matter are held together and build up into new soil. Over time, this may result in the build-up of land islands around the trees. For this reason some people describe mangroves as land builders. Mangrove trees depend on these deposit sediments to provide a place to reproduce and regenerate new trees within the community.

Mangrove forests grow in the brackish waters of coastal estuaries. The trees have adapted several unique characteristics in order to survive in the wet, salty conditions of this harsh coastal environment. Mangroves are salt-tolerant; they have adapted the ability to live within a salty environment. However, they cannot survive with excessive amounts of salt within them so the trees have developed ways to exclude excessive salt from entering or to expel salt from inside the trees. Trees may restrict the amount of salt that can enter through the roots, expel salt crystals through transpiration, grow a thick cuticle to restrict salt absorption, or use glands to rid the leaves of excess salt. These adaptations allow mangrove trees to use either salty or fresh water. Specific adaptations are discussed in the section on Plants in Mangrove Forests.

Other adaptations to coastal conditions include thick, succulent leaves to retain water and extra roots (as discussed earlier) to supplement oxygen in-take and offer structural support in high winds, strong wave action, and wet, shifting substrate. Red and black mangrove seeds have another adaptation—they begin to germinate while still on the tree then fall to the ground or water as propogules. These may lie dormant in the wet mud for months until conditions are right for sprouting. This gives mangrove trees a head start over other species that might try to grow nearby.

Mangrove forests depend on the daily fluctuations in water level as the tides move in and out. Incoming water brings fresh nutrients and releases those that have built up in the soil. It flushes out pollutants and excess salt and aids in the decomposition of organic matter. At high tide both the red and black mangroves are standing in brackish water and serving as refuge for many tiny marine creatures. Shifting water levels also help many mangroves to disperse the floating seed propogules to new coastal areas and help mangroves colonize other areas. 

  • 4
View Full Answer
  1. these forestesare found in the areas of coasts influenced by tides.
  2. these forests having roots submerge in water
  3. palm, keora,agar,coconut are common trees
  4. royal bengal tigers are famous animals.
  • 16
Arrey Nandhita Nair, itne long answer ki kya jaroorat hai? Thoda short likhtin to kya bigad jata????😩😩😩😩😩
  • 0
1. Mangrove forests grow in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world.
2. Mangrove forests are the most important forests found in the areas of the tide influenced coasts where these forests have accumulated mud and salt. 
3. The roots of mangroves are developed to be exposed to the air as marshy swamps restrict the intake of the oxygen.
4. Mangrove forests have varieties of plants submerged under water. These forests help in pollination and seed dispersal.
5. They are thick and dense forests.
6. Mangrove forests are thick and evergreen enabling many species of birds animals and insects to propagate in the area.
7. A mangrove forest is an intersection of land and sea. Hence they support the life of flora to fauna to people. 
8. They are also very important for the earth's well being and 
  • 8
Mangrove Forests

(i) Vegetation:

i. Mangrove forests are the most important vegetation found in the areas of tide influenced coats having accumulated mud and silt.

ii. Dense mangrove is the common varieties with roots of the plants submerged under water, Ganga, Mahanadi.

iii. Krishna, Kaveri and Godaveri Deltas are covered by these forests.

iv. In the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta sundew trees are found which provide durable light but hard timber.

v. In some parts of delta, palm, coconut, keora, agar, screw, pine, amor are found.

(ii) Wildlife:

a. Royal Bengal Tiger is the famous animal in these forests.

b. Turtles, crocodile, gharials and snakes are found in large number here.

c. All animals, birds, worms and insects help to propagate the plant.

d. They help both in pollination and in seed dispersal.
  • 1
Other kinds of rainforests include the monsoon forests, most like the popular image of jungles, with a marked dry season and a vegetation dominated by deciduous trees such as teak, thickets of bamboo, and a dense undergrowth. Mangrove forests occur along estuaries and deltas on tropical coasts. Temperate rainforests filled with evergreen and laurel trees are lower and less dense than other kinds of rainforests because the climate is more equable, with a moderate temperature range and well-distributed annual rainfall.
 
  • -1
idk
 
  • -8
Momomomomk bajshsgjsaj
  • -7
Swag
  • -8
O yeah o yeah o yeah o yeah


J J Rocks
  • -4
[¡]
  • -5
¡ manngrove vegetation is characterised by breathing roots which act as respiratory organs . ¡¡ its stilt like roots remain submerged under water as a tangled mass helping the plant to survive in the shifting of mould of coastal region. ¡¡¡ these forests are very dense .
  • -1
roots
  • -3
fack this page
 
  • 0
i want to fack this page of the 
  • 0
shi7

bnyt
  • 1
What are you looking for?