Mangroves

Some mangroves like Grey and River Mangroves exude salt through special glands on their leaves. Salt is expelled and salt crystals form on the leaves. Rain washes the salt deposits from the leaves.

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Some mangroves reproduce from buds which form plantlets while still attached to the parent plant, or from seeds which germinate within the fruit. The seed of mangrove trees are bouyant so they can be carried to other sites once they have been dropped into the water.

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Pneumatophores are spongy vertical root extensions that protrude from the cable roots of mangroves. These specialised structures protrude above the mud bottom. The pneumatophores have tiny pores, called lenticels, that take in air.

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Mangrove Fieldwork - Quadrat sampling

Record information about the location and size of plants, seedlings, pneumatophores, within quadrat squares along a transect, and calculate the percentage coverage.

Syllabus links:

12 Geography

Ecosystems and Global Biodiversity

Investigation of ecosystems (Mangrove Forests)

Students investigate TWO different types of ecosystems. They undertake a study to illustrate each type of ecosystem selected. At least ONE study is to be selected from outside Australia.

For each study, students investigate:

• The characteristics of the ecosystem, including its spatial pattern and the nature of its biodiversity
• The dynamics of ecosystem functioning, including vulnerability, resilience and ecological disturbance
• Human-induced modifications to the ecosystem
• Responses and strategies, including for maintaining ecosystem functioning and actions for sustainability
• Differences in ecosystem management, compared with at least one other location, due to economic, political and sociocultural factors
• The role of contemporary research and innovation in the sustainable management of the ecosystem

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