estuaries – florida mangroves materials in this powerpoint adapted from the everglades foundation...

NSF Grant DRL-1316782

Estuaries – Florida Mangroves

Materials in this PowerPoint adapted from the Everglades Foundation lesson “Living on the Edge” (http://www.evergladesfoundation.org/curriculum)

Florida’s Mangrove Estuaries

Estuary – Partially enclosed coastal body of brackish waterBrackish Water – Where fresh water and saltwater meet

What are Mangroves?

Mangroves – Variety of trees and habitat associated with brackish water

Common Plants

Black MangrovesRed Mangroves

White Mangroves

Buttonwood (FCIT) String Lily (Vincent P. Lucas)

Common Animals

• Mangrove tree crab• Horseshoe crab• Mangrove water snake• Loggerhead sea turtle• Raccoon

Blue CrabWest Indian Manatee Grey Snapper• Bald Eagle• Roseate Spoonbill • Wood Stork• Brown Pelican

Red Mangroves

Top Left: Prop roots – spider-like roots buffer against wind & wavesBottom Left: Lenticles, small pores in the roots, secrete saltTop Right: Larger leaves retain waterBottom Right: Cigar shaped propagules, or seedlings

Black Mangroves

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

White Mangroves

Left: No significant surface root systemTop Right: Petioles, or leaf stems, have glands that excrete saltBottom Right: Triangular propagules resemble more common seeds

Mangroves and Tidal Zones

Ecosystem Services

Mangroves sequester carbon while slowlyextending the coastline

Ecosystem Services – benefits that people get from healthy ecosystemslike clean water and air

Roots prevent erosion by trapping sedimentswhile providing a nursery for 30% ofcommercial and recreational fish

Effects of Climate Change

Changing rain patterns have changedthe salinity of the ocean in past 50 yearsRed: increased 0.5%Blue: decreased 0.5% (Durack, Wijffels, Matear)

Sea level rise of 2 meters will redefinecoastal U.S. states (NOAA)

• Temperature• CO2 Concentrations• Changing Salinity• Sea Level Rise• Severe Weather

NorthAmerica

Summary

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