Topic 2.3. An extreme tropical environment

FODE008_Banner.jpeg

Content

Topic Introduction

In this topic we will look at a case study of an extreme tropical environment. In the tropics, the coastal zone between the high-water mark and low-water mark is often occupied by a specialized group of plants called mangroves. As a result, these areas are referred to as mangrove forests. The plants must be able to survive extreme conditions. They persist in a saline environment that would kill most plants. The substrate is loose and permanently water-logged. On top of that, the forests are flooded at high tide, so for much of the time, the roots and lower parts of the trunks are underwater. To survive these extreme conditions, mangrove plants have developed a number of remarkable adaptations, and we will examine these in this topic.

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

  • Assess how mangrove species survive in a tidal, salt-water environment.
  • Compare the adaptations of mangrove plants with forest plants typical of dry land.
  • Contrast the various adaptation strategies of mangroves.

FODE 008-01