Losses of mangroves also release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, arising from destruction of their biomass and the release of the large carbon stocks held in their soils. This affects all of us on the planet as it contributes to global warming, further accelerating global climatic change.

As far as root structures, the distinct arching shapes of red mangrove are unmistakable. White mangroves, on the other hand, have a small rounded leaf which is often lighter in color. The name white mangrove probably arose from the bark having a lighter color when compared to the other species.

Three species of tropical wetland trees that grow along the shoreline of many estuaries in central and southern Florida are classified as mangroves. The three species are native to Florida: red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa).

Red mangroves have prop roots extending from the trunk and adventitious roots from the branches. These air roots, called pneumatophores, extend upward from the underground roots above the soil surface.

The mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisoni, resides in the canopy, feeding primarily on red mangrove leaves. Other crabs live in the intertidal mud flats, utilizing leaf litter and detritus as a food source. Horseshoe crabs are scavengers and may be found among mangroves feeding on algae, invertebrates, and dead organisms.

The team found that nearly 1300 square miles of mangrove forests were lost during the study period, or about 2 percent of global mangrove area. Sixty-two percent of the lost area was due to human causes, mainly farming and aquaculture.

Now, the loss rate has dropped to 0.3% to 0.6%. This drastic drop is due to successful mangrove conservation efforts around the globe. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow along the coastlines of more than 100 countries in subtropical or tropical regions.

Mangroves are important to people because they help stabilize Florida’s coastline ecosystem and prevent erosion. Mangroves also provide natural infrastructure and protection to nearby populated areas by preventing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather events such as hurricanes.

The primary threats to all mangrove species are habitat destruction and removal of mangrove areas for conversion to aquaculture, agriculture, urban and coastal development, and overexploitation.

More than one in six mangrove species worldwide are in danger of extinction due to coastal development and other factors, including climate change, logging and agriculture, according to the first-ever global assessment on the conservation status of mangroves for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.

The mangrove forests help to stabilize shorelines and reduce the devastating impact of natural disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. They also serve as breeding and nursing grounds for marine finfish and shellfish species of commercial importance.

Mangroves are the first line of defense for coastal communities. They stabilize shorelines by slowing erosion and provide natural barriers protecting coastal communities from increased storm surge, flooding, and hurricanes.

In addition to being a marginal ecosystem, a mangrove is unique in that, as an ecosystem it has various interactions with other ecosystems, both adjoining and remote in space and time. Another unique feature of mangroves is that, unlike most marginal ecosystems, they are highly productive and dynamic.

White mangrove fruit are not edible. And the poor Buttonwood, Conocarpus erectus, (kawn-oh-KAR-pus ee-RECK-tus) never viewed on its own. The Buttonwood makes a nice landscape tree, is high in tannin and can be used to make a smokeless, high grade charcoal.

If it falls at the low tide, it drops like a dart into the mud and puts out roots immediately. If instead it falls into water, it may float, scouting for a new habitat even 100 miles away. It can survive in the water for up to a year, waiting to touch the muck rich sand.

Walking through the mangrove forest When walking in the waterlogged soft muddy soil of the mangrove trees, be careful of the slippery soil too as it can easily fall you down, hold the tree branches or stem if you are not stable to walk freely.

1. Mangrove forests are the most important vegetation found in the areas of tide influenced coats having accumulated mud and silt. ii. Dense mangrove is the common varieties with roots of the plants submerged under water, Ganga, Mahanadi.