Mangroves are natural phenomenons.
Living in salty, brackish waters is not an easy feat, however mangroves have an incredible ability to adapt and survive in these environments. Mangroves have to deal with high tides that swamp the plant and low tides that expose the roots. On top of that, mangroves often have to deal with water that can range from almost completely fresh to completely salty.
How do they do it? Well, mangroves have many unique biological features that allows them to survive and thrive in such seemingly harsh landscapes like no other species in the plant kingdom. All these adaptations and safeguards help mangroves carve out a niche for themselves where other plants cannot grow.
Learn about all the cool survival tactics and features mangroves have below:
Mangroves have an ultrafiltration system to keep much of the salt out of its system. They have membranes that prevent salt from entering their roots, glands on their leaves that secret salt, and even mechanisms that move salt to leaves that are about to fall off.
Mangroves' complex root system also allows them to survive in intertidal zones. Some mangroves, specifically the black mangrove, have snorkel-like roots called pneumatophores that stick out of the mud and sediment to help mangroves take in air. Other mangroves use prop roots to keep their trunks upright in the soft sediments at tide's edge.
Mangroves truly are incredible!