Notes
- Mangrove Swamp is compared to an extreme form of coral reef or a flooded coastal forest
- They have the ability to sprout aerial roots that permit the exchange of gas for aerobic respiration. This adaptation allows the tree to survive despite being firmly rooted in oxygen-deprived intertidal soils.
- The trees cannot survive in places where the average water temperature falls below about 23 degrees Celcius (73 degrees Farenheit).
- This causes the bands of mangrove and coral to grow large around the world's tropical coastlines.
- Mangrove swamps fall under the category of classification: Mainland or oceanic island
- It is still an unusual and yet amazing part of the world that has yet to be explored more by researchers
- Researchers had gone to the Mangroves of Twin Cays which is an oceanic-island type
- Several "Vibracores" (geological samples obtained by pushing a vibrating pipe into the unconsolidated sediment bottom) indicating that the mangroves at Twin Cays didn't begin growing on coral.
- This mangrove swamp was built on a foundation of seven meters above of petty soil as it reacted to rising sea level.
- The periphery of Twin Cays and its canals is bordered by tall red mangroves that extend stilt like roots into the deeper water, beyond the peat bank that supports the trees.
- The interior of Twin Cays is lined with numerous shallow ponds and mudflats. Some of the areas are now without growing trees; some places contain eroded stumps of large trees that must have towered in the past.
- Naturalists have traditionally placed a great deal of emphasis on the lateral transition of mainland mangrove forests
- Living within the upper forests levels at Twin Cays are countless insects, lizards, snakes and birds
- Seeing those wide variety of animals, researchers can now see that mangroves offer a home to different types of organisms.
- Examining the algae, aquatic invertebrates and insects on Twin Cays have revealed new species that have never been discovered before which is great
- The mangroves are being hurt by the effects of humans onto the area and getting illegally clear-cut by fisherman on their roots.
- After mangrove forests are cut, it may be difficult or even impossible for them to recover because irreversible changes in the fundamental structure of the ecosystem ensue once the trees are destroyed.
- If the mangroves are destroyed then this would lead to the loss of all animals and other organisms supported in that type of living condition
Summary
The mangrove swamp is an interesting area where both sea and land meet giving a home to different types of organisms. The forest itself is compared a very extreme form of a coral reef as it houses hundreds of different species in its area. The plants are very interesting as they have aerial roots that permit exchange of gas for aerobic respiration which adapts the trees to live in this type of area that is oxygen deprived. The area itself is very odd as it is located in certain areas of the world and can only be stable at a certain temperature as well. A mangrove is located in the area of Belize where researchers have been doing further studies to truly understand that area of the world. These communities have been established some time 7,000 years ago and had not begin to grow on coral like they believed. Building upon seven meters of soil, it was able to react fine to the rising sea level creating the area. The Twin Cays area offers a wide variety of insects, lizards, snakes and birds in the upper forests levels and that isn't even all of the mangrove. The mangrove is at risk with human beings interfering with the area and the affects of the mangrove forest being cut can prove to be difficult or even impossible for recovery. There can be irreversible changes in the ecosystem if the trees are destroyed. This can leave this area loss of many diverse species that have yet to be discovered if the area is harmed.
Opinion
Before reading about this, I had never known how the mangroves were and even the name of that type of area. Learning about this now, I can see why this interesting type of area is essential to the environment as it gives homes to both aquatic and terrestrial types of animals. This homes plenty of known species and many species that have yet to be discovered making this area very interesting and worthwhile to keep as it is filled with mystery. That makes this area very important and should not be tampered with such as illegal cutting which kills the plants. This is very bad as it isn't easy to fix things that have irreversible affects such as the cutting of the mangrove forests. I believe that the preservation of this land is important as it offers so much for the organisms in the area giving them the best of both worlds with terrestrial and aquatic. This area is believed to have been here for more than 7,000 years in the making and has built itself from the soil and adjusted to the type of risen water level. This interesting area needs to be maintained for years to come as it offers so much and should for years to come later on!