Florida's Amazing Mangroves
Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates that there are about 600,000 acres of mangroves in Florida. They are so important for protecting Florida's coastal ecosystems and provide habitat for a wide variety of marine organisms including many of our most important fish that there are regulations for their protection, but local laws vary. Be sure to check with officials in your area prior to taking any action, including trimming, to determine if it's allowed or if a permit is required.
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| This mangrove poster by the Wildlife Conservation Society shows just some of the many services that mangroves provide. Read on for more details... |
Mangroves
According to NOAA, “Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone.” They are not necessarily related to each other botanically, but are defined by their ability to survive in saltwater and brackish water environments.
The term "mangrove" can describe either a single plant, a single species, or the whole plant community. Mangroves may not require salty environments for good growth, but they tend to grow in salty environments because of reduced competition from other plants. Salty environments are harsh for plants, but the mangroves use various energy-consuming processes, including extensive filtration and the exudation of salt through special pores to filter out the salt and take in enough usable freshwater for growth. Most mangroves have developed various methods to conserve their freshwater (like desert plants), such as extensive root systems, succulence, thick cuticles, and relatively low rates of water evaporation through pores on the leaves or bark. They may also absorb freshwater from rain through their bark, especially through the surfaces of their drop roots, which are roots that arise from the branches and are usually above mean high tide.
