A forest between two worlds

Where land meets sea, mangroves turn a difficult place into a home.

The photographMangrove trees and their exposed roots at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Jess Sutt / USFWS • Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

The story

Mangroves grow in the intertidal zone: the part of a coast covered and uncovered by tides. Their tangled roots support trees in soft mud.

Those roots slow water and trap sediment, the tiny pieces of earth carried by water. They also shelter young fish. A forest can be a nursery as well as a place to grow.

Think of a mangrove forest as part of the coast’s team. Its roots help keep sediment in place while giving small animals shelter. Protecting the trees means looking after those links, not just counting trunks.

For your curious sideGo DeeperMore to notice. More to try.

Three ways into the story

See what else you can discover.

01Look closer

Roots that breathe

Waterlogged mud contains little oxygen. Some mangroves grow special roots above the mud that help air reach the root system.

02Connect the dots

A connected coast

Young fish can use mangroves as nursery habitat before moving elsewhere. The coast works as a network of habitats.

03Keep wondering

Think about it

If a nursery disappears, could the effects reach beyond the forest? Explain your reasoning.

You do not need to have every answer. A good question is a great place to start.

Keep exploring

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