What are mangroves?
Q: What are mangroves?
A: Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in salty water in hot places like the tropics.
Q: Where do mangroves typically grow?
A: Mangroves typically grow on 1/3 of tropical shores, as well as sub-tropical Africa, Asia, and the southwest Pacific.
Q: What type of habitat do mangroves create?
A: Mangroves create a special saltwater woodland or shrubland habitat called a mangrove swamp, mangrove forest, mangrove or mangal.
Q: How do mangroves affect shorelines?
A: The twisted, tangled roots of the mangrove collect sediment which can eventually become islands or extend the shoreline over time.
Q: Are there any other benefits to having a mangrove ecosystem?
A: Yes! Mangroves provide food and shelter for many species of fish and birds, protect coastlines from erosion due to storms and tides, act as carbon sinks by storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in their soil and vegetation, filter pollutants from runoff before it reaches open waters, and help sustain local fisheries by providing breeding grounds for fish larvae.
Q: Are there any threats to these ecosystems? A: Yes - climate change is causing sea levels to rise which can lead to flooding of coastal areas where these ecosystems exist; human activities such as deforestation for agriculture or development can also threaten them; pollution from agricultural runoff can cause damage; unsustainable fishing practices can deplete populations of fish that depend on them for survival; and invasive species may outcompete native plants.
