Selected Habitats: Mangroves

Question 1

What is a mangrove forest?

Answer 1

Coastal forest that grows in saline, oxygen deficient soil,

Question 2

Where are mangroves usually found?

Answer 2

In tropical areas

Question 3

What trees are dominant in tropical mangroves?

Answer 3

Halophytic trees that live in inter-tidal areas with saline water

Question 4

What conditions are halophytic trees adapted to survive in?

Answer 4

Saline
Anaerobic
Stormy

Question 5

What species live in mangrove forests?

Answer 5

Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, sponges, fish, molluscs, reptiles and birds

Question 6

How do mangroves reduce coastal erosion?

Answer 6

Vegetation and prop roots of mangroves absorb wave energy, reducing the impact of storms and hurricanes on vulnerable coastal areas

Question 7

What is an example of how mangroves have protected a coastal area?

Answer 7

The 2004 tsunami many areas in south east Asia were devastated those with the least damage where communities with intact mangroves

Question 8

How are mangroves good fisheries?

Answer 8

Mangroves provide important nursery grounds for fish that spend their adult lives in the sea or on coral reefs. The dense roots protect young fish form larger predators

Question 9

How don mangroves protect coral reefs?

Answer 9

As they slow down river water carrying suspended solids which are then deposited earlier before reaching coral reefs where it would settle on the polyps and kill them.
Mangroves also absorb nutrients form farmland stopping eutrophication

Question 10

What resources do mangroves have?

Answer 10

Provide timber for construction and fuel

Question 11

What medical resources are present in mangroves?

Answer 11

Plants have been used in traditional herbal medicines
Leaves of some trees being researched as anti microbial medicines
Cyanobacteria in caribbean for lung cancer

Question 12

What a re the possible anti-microbial leaves of mangrove trees being used too treat?

Answer 12

Anti-biotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA.

Question 13

What are the threats to mangroves?

Answer 13

The growth of human populations and expansion economic developments such as aquaculture, urban developments, and ports

Question 14

How are mangroves being conserved?

Answer 14

Where it is seen as important they are being designated as protected areas
Recolonisation and replanting may take place

Question 15

What % of Sri Lanka mangroves were lost?

Answer 15

75% the rest is protected

Question 16

Why is natural regeneration of mangroves quick?

Answer 16

Because mangrove produce seeds that germinate before they fall off the parent tree, into the sea where they are carried by water currents it anchors it’s self down when in contact with sand