Estuaries – Florida Mangroves Materials in this PowerPoint

Estuaries – Florida Mangroves Materials in this PowerPoint adapted from the Everglades Foundation lesson “Living on the Edge” (http://www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum) NSF Grant DRL-1316782

Florida’s Mangrove Estuaries Estuary – Partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water Brackish Water – Where fresh water and saltwater meet

What are Mangroves? Mangroves – Variety of trees and habitat associated with brackish water

Common Plants Red Mangroves Black Mangroves White Mangroves Buttonwood (FCIT)

Common Animals Blue Crab Grey Snapper West Indian Manatee Mangrove tree crab Bald Eagle Horseshoe crab Roseate Spoonbill Mangrove water snake Wood Stork Loggerhead sea turtle Brown Pelican Raccoon

Red Mangroves Top Left: Prop roots – spider-like roots buffer against wind & waves Bottom Left: Lenticles, small pores in the roots, secrete salt Top Right: Larger leaves retain water Bottom Right: Cigar shaped propagules, or seedlings

Black Mangroves Top Left: Pneumatophores, or aerial roots, extend up from main roots Bottom Left: Cable roots radiate outward near the surface (FCIT) Top Right: Leaves excrete salt, note silvery underside of leaf Bottom Right: Lima bean-shaped propagules

White Mangroves Left: No significant surface root system Top Right: Petioles, or leaf stems, have glands that excrete salt Bottom Right: Triangular propagules resemble more common seeds

Mangroves and Tidal Zones

Ecosystem Services Roots prevent erosion by trapping sediments while providing a nursery for 30% of commercial and recreational fish Mangroves sequester carbon while slowly extending the coastline Ecosystem Services – benefits that people get from healthy ecosystems like clean water and air

Effects of Climate Change Temperature CO2 Concentrations Changing Salinity Sea Level Rise Severe Weather North America Changing rain patterns have changed the salinity of the ocean in past 50 years Red: increased 0.5% Blue: decreased 0.5% (Durack, Wijffels, Matear) Sea level rise of 2 meters will redefine coastal U.S. states (NOAA)

Summary What are Mangroves? Common Plants Common Animals Types of Mangroves Mangroves and Tidal Zones Ecosystem Services Effects of Climate Change