A powerpoint slide on mangrove forests.

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