How Mangroves Managed to Put Up With Florida

Today, after our fun excursion of scuba diving and snorkeling we went right next door to a surfing-like rental place where we rented some kayaks and a paddleboard.  Our group paddled into the main channel where we took a turn into a mangrove forest in Plantation Key. The mangrove forest had a narrow path that sometimes was near impossible to pass through with all of the roots and branches everywhere. Even with that said the sights of the mangrove forest and the small path that we took with our kayaks and paddleboat was amazing and unique.

Mangroves are actually an important ecological component for many species. Some examples of the importance of mangroves includes: the ability of land formation; it is a primary producer; it is a nursery and/or habitat for many species; it is a buffer for storms (e.g. hurricanes); and aids in filtering run-off.  In addition to those ecological services, mangrove forests/swamps offer economical services such as greatly supporting the seafood market and construction material from its branches. 

Mangroves also provide information on how to adapt to waters with high salinity and temperature, humid climate, and tidal changes. One of the mangrove’s adaptations is the various root structures that the mangroves have to allow for more efficient gas exchange because the soil can become anoxic. Those root structures include root knees (aerial loops in horizontal roots), prop roots (develop from the stem), drop roots (develop from the branches), pneumatophores (develop from horizontal cable roots), and plank roots (vertical extensions of horizontal roots). Mangroves can also have adaptations in their leaves that allow them to lose less water due to the constant hot climate. Leave adaptations include hairs, stomata, and thick outer wall and cuticles. Generally, depending on the species, mangroves either adapt to high salinity by excreting salt, storing salt, or blocking salt intake. 

The mangroves that we saw and today (and other days) was the red mangrove species or Rhizophora mangle. One of the easiest ways to identify red mangroves is, of course, that it has red bark (on young roots and stems). Other characteristics would be that its flowers are white, the fruit is green and viviparous, it has prop roots or drop roots, and the leaves are opposite and leathery. 

http://www.florida-tourism.net/florida-keys/plantation-key.htm

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Red-Mangrove

#Florida’s weather is impossible #mangroves #kayaking #paddle boarding #snorkeling