All About Mangrove

A mangrove is an ecosystem at the coastal area that consist of a variety of plants that are adapted to brackish water. A complete coastal ecosystem in the tropics consists of three ecosystems, which are the mangrove, seagrass bed, and coral reef. All have a vital role in protecting the coast, with a function of being a nursery and a place for fishes to breed.

Mangrove forest have different types. They can also be classified based on zones, depending on the distance of the ecosystem with open water. The types of trees in the mangrove are also different and each species can be determined by their root formation. Based on the distance of the mangrove itself to the sea, the composition of the trees in each forest can differ as each tree species has their own range of tolerance to salinity. The closer the mangrove is to the sea means that the trees in that forest have a high tolerance towards salinity, and the opposite is true. The further a mangrove is from the sea, then the forest would consist of trees with a lower tolerance towards salinity.

Mangroves can be separated into the landward zone that is closest to land, then there is the mid zone, and then the seaward zone that is located nearest to open water. Meanwhile the types of roots that can be found from tree species in the mangrove are buttress roots, knee roots, pencil roots, prop roots, and snake-like roots. Each type of root is specific to a certain species of plant, such as the buttress roots that is owned by Heretiera sp. and the Xylocarpus sp. having a snake-like root.

Source: Ginantra I.K., Suaskara I.B.M., Joni M. 2018. Diversity of Mangrove Plant for Support Ecotourism Activities in Nature Conservation Forum Putri Menjangan, Pejarakan Buleleng-Bali. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, (Volume IX, Fall), 5(29): 987-994. DOI:10.14505/jemt.v9.5(29).10