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Mangrove Forest. What? Halophyte – plants that grow naturally in an ‘saline’ environment Where? Along the tropical coastal areas , include: Southeast Asia Australia West Africa Distributed along a low-lying , sheltered coast with muddy and waterlogged ground. Southeast Asia.
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Mangrove Forest • What? • Halophyte – plants that grow naturally in an ‘saline’ environment • Where? • Along the tropical coastal areas, include: • Southeast Asia • Australia • West Africa • Distributed along a low-lying, sheltered coast with muddy and waterlogged ground.
Southeast Asia iii. West Africa ii. Australia
Structure of the Forest • Has NO distinct layering. • Most of the trees = uniform height. • saltwater swamp: grow near the coast. • Less tolerant of salt (freshwater swamp): grow further inland.
Main Mangrove communities • Avicennia trees • Sonneratia trees • Rhizophora trees • Bruguiera trees • Evergreen hardwoods
Tree Characteristics • Leaves • Broad leaves with leathery texture: • To prevent the loss of moisture through transpiration. • Drip tips to enable rainwater to flow quickly off the leaves. • Some trees have leaves which contain special salt glands to give off salt. • Some trees store the excess salt in their older leaves – will drop off.
b. Roots • Buttress roots • Prop roots • Aerial roots • Help trees to take in oxygen directly from the atmosphere • Pencil-like roots • Jut out of the muddy ground • Enable trees to take in oxygen from the atmosphere directly. Trees anchor firmly on the muddy, waterlogged ground