Ecosystems · Coastal
Mangrove forests
Where tides, trees and nursery habitats meet.
Tropical and subtropical coasts
What to understand
- 1Mangroves occupy the intertidal zone and tolerate waterlogged, low-oxygen soils.
- 2Their roots slow water, trap sediment and provide shelter for aquatic life.
The distinction to remember
Mangroves are coastal trees and shrubs; seagrasses are submerged flowering plants.
Conservation connection
Coastal habitat loss removes shoreline protection and nursery habitat.
Pause & recall