April 4

Mangrove Forest Adaptations

Mangroves thrive where most plants can't - in salty coastal waters. They filter salt through their roots, excrete it through leaves, or store it in sacrificial leaves that fall off. Aerial roots allow gas exchange in oxygen-poor mud. Mangroves protect coastlines from storms, provide nurseries for fish, and store more carbon per area than rainforests. These remarkable adaptations make them among Earth's most productive and valuable ecosystems.