The word mangrove is a term used to describe both a type of tree or shrub AND a type of ecosystem!

Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone and form a filtration buffer between the ocean and inland rivers and streams, known as a mangrove forest! Mangroves protect both the saltwater and the freshwater ecosystems they straddle. The mangroves’ complex root systems filter nitrates and phosphates that rivers and streams carry to the sea. They also keep seawater from encroaching on inland waterways. There are about 80 different species of mangrove trees in the world, and here in the Damas Island Mangrove Estuary we have 5 of them.

Many mangrove species survive in salty conditions by filtering out as much as 90 percent of the salt found in seawater as it enters their roots. Some species excrete salt through glands in their leaves. These leaves, which are covered with dried salt crystals, taste salty if you lick them. All of these trees grow in areas with low-oxygen soil,, where slow-moving waters allow fine sediments to accumulate. Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

This delicate wetland ecosystem is a vital home, bio-corridor and migratory destination for countless species. Dripping with diverse fauna and flora each bend holds the potential for observing a plethora of animals in their natural habitat. In the Damas Island our mangroves are home to: 184 species of birds and 109 species of mammals and almost 80 species of fish in the surrounding waters.

Many mangrove forests can be recognized by their dense tangle of prop roots that make the trees appear to be standing on stilts above the water. This tangle of roots allows the trees to handle the daily rise and fall of tides, which means that most mangroves get flooded at least twice per day. The roots also slow the movement of tidal waters, causing sediments to settle out of the water and build up the muddy bottom.

Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. The intricate root system of mangroves also makes these forests attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.