Environments Unit: Mangroves NSF Grant DRL-1316782

Mangroves of Southern Florida Living on the Edge Mangroves of Southern Florida Everglades Foundation Copyright ©2006-2015 www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Mangrove Swamp A mangrove swamp contains dense forests of one or more mangrove species. It has saltwater to brackish areas subject to tidal fluctuations, sheltered from high energy wave action. These areas often serve as nursing grounds where young marine life is protected during development.

Mangrove Swamp - Common Plants Red mangroves Black mangroves White mangroves Buttonwood String lily Photosource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FL-Mangrove-clw.jpg Because of fluctuation in water’s salt content, plants often have salt-secreting glands that remove ingested salt particles. Root adaptations increase stability of mangrove trees in the soft sediments along shorelines.

Mangrove Swamp Common Animals Mangrove tree crab Horseshoe crab Blue crab Grey snapper Mangrove water snake Loggerhead sea turtle Roseate Spoonbill Wood Stork Brown Pelican Bald Eagle Raccoon West Indian manatee Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manatee http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/index.jsf http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_crab_on_market_in_Piraeus_-_Callinectes_sapidus_Rathbun_20020819-317.jpg

Red Mangrove The red mangrove’s shallow prop roots extend from the lower stem like arching spider legs, giving it the nickname “the walking tree”. Drop roots hang down from the branches of the upper stem. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Salt Extruder Parts of the roots that are above ground (and above water) contain small pores or lenticels that allow the roots to take in oxygen, which then moves down through the tissue and prevents water and salt from entering during high tide. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Red Mangrove Leaf The dark green leaves of the red mangrove are larger than those of the other mangrove species, and help the tree retain water. The red mangrove gets its name from the reddish layer just beneath its thin greyish bark. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Cigar-like Propagule Its seedling, or propagule, is long and cigar shaped. The red mangrove grows closest to the coast and is even found in off-shore mud flats and sand bars. Propagules contain fresh water and are often preyed upon by animals such as raccoons or crabs for their fresh water content. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Black Mangrove More inland is the black mangrove. Its root system consists of shallow underground cable-like roots that radiate outward many feet away from the stem.   www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Pneumatophores Black mangroves have peg-like aerial roots called pneumatophores that extend upwards from the cable roots. These pneumatophores contain lenticels that help in oxygen exchange. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Silvery underside of leaf The black mangrove gets its name from the dark, blackish bark. The leaves have a silvery underside and are able to excrete salt. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Lima bean-shaped propagule Its propagule looks like a lima bean. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

White mangrove The white mangrove is found even further inland and its root system is able to exclude salt by filtering brackish water.   www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Glands on petioles It is the smallest of the true mangroves and has oval shaped leaves with a distinct gland-like opening on the leaf stem, called a petiole. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Triangular propagule www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Mangrove Zonation Intertidal zone red white black

What are Ecosystem Services? Ecosystem services are benefits that people get from healthy ecosystems. Things like clean drinking water, clean air, and the plants used for many medicines are all examples of ecosystem services. The health and well-being of people depend on these services. Natural ecosystems of south Florida and the plants and animals within them provide people with benefits that would be very difficult to duplicate. Many of these benefits are performed for ‘free’, but are worth trillions of dollars. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Mangrove Ecosystem Services The mangrove swamp provides many ecosystem services, such as providing nurseries for the young of about 30% of commercial fishes and recreation. Mangroves are also a first line of defense to protect the coast from soil erosion. www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum

Effects of Climate Change on Mangroves Temperature CO2 Concentrations Changes in Salinity Sea Level Rise Severe Weather Hurricanes, Storm Surge