MANGROVE

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the tropics and subtropics –
mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S. They are also part of the Mangrove Forest Biome. The
saline conditions tolerated by various species range from brackish water, through pure seawater (30
to 40 ppt), to water of over twice the salinity of ocean seawater, where the salt becomes
concentrated by evaporation

There are many species of trees and shrubs adapted to saline conditions. Not all are closely
related, and the term "mangrove" may be used for all of them, or more narrowly only for the
mangrove family of plants, the Rhizophoraceae, or even more specifically just for mangrove trees
of the genus Rhizophora.

Mangroves form a characteristic saline woodland or shrubland habitat, called mangrove

swamp, mangrove forest, mangrove or mangal. Mangals are found in depositional coastal
environments where fine sediments (often with high organic content) collect in areas protected from
high energy wave action. They occur both in estuaries and along open coastlines. Mangroves
dominate three quarters of tropical coastlines.

Mangroves are found in tropical and sub-tropical tidal areas, and as such have a high degree
of salinity. Areas where mangals occur include estuaries and marine shorelines

Of the recognized 110 mangrove species, only about 54 species in 20 genera from 16
families constitute the "true mangroves", species that occur almost exclusively in mangrove
habitats. Demonstrating convergent evolution, many of these species found similar solutions to the
tropical conditions of variable salinity, tidal range (inundation), anaerobic soils and intense sunlight.
Plant biodiversity is generally low in a given mangal. This is especially true in higher latitudes and
in the Americas. The greatest biodiversity occurs in the mangal of New Guinea, Indonesia and
MalaysiaOf the recognized 110 mangrove species, only about 54 species in 20 genera from 16
families constitute the "true mangroves", species that occur almost exclusively in mangrove
habitats. Demonstrating convergent evolution, many of these species found similar solutions to the
tropical conditions of variable salinity, tidal range (inundation), anaerobic soils and intense sunlight.
Plant biodiversity is generally low in a given mangal. This is especially true in higher latitudes and
in the Americas. The greatest biodiversity occurs in the mangal of New Guinea, Indonesia and
Malaysia

MUTIA HUSNI ALANIA (20)

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