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Division of Fish and Wildlife Distributed as a public service by Maho Bay Camps. What are mangroves? Mangroves are trees that are adapted to live in areas that are often flooded by water, places called wetlands. In the V.l. there are three types of mangroves: red, black and white that live in saltwater wetlands. Each has a different tolerance for the amount of salt and water they can live in. Why are mangroves important? 1. All mangrove roots trap sediment washed from our hillsides during rain, especially from cleared land. This keeps our ocean water clear and protects our reefs and seagrass beds. Don't leave cleared land unprotected; replant immediately and use sediment fences to trap soil before it is washed away. Mangroves are often called landformers since the soil they trap causes the shoreline to grow seaward over time. The mangroves continue to grow out on the edge of this expanding shoreline while terrestrial plants colonize the land behind the mangroves. 2. Black mangrove pneumatophores not only act as a "snorkle" for the roots to breath, they trap sediment and may remove chemicals from water running into the sea. Many people view these areas as wasted land and would like to fill them with soil to make them productive. This covers the pneumatophores and kills the trees. 3. Red mangrove roots underwater serve as a nursery area for most coral reef fish and many invertebrates. Most fish caught by fishermen on reefs need this important habitat to grow up in, safe from predators and with a good food supply. These roots also protect our shorelines from wave erosion during stomps. 4. A lot of terrestrial wild life such as hummingbirds, pigeons, herons and iguanas either nest, rest or feed in mangroves over water to be safe from predators. 5. The red mangrove leaf is dark green and shiny. The fruit is called a "pencil" and is actually a baby tree that sticks in the mud and grows when it falls from the tree. It may also float great distances to colonize other areas. 6. The white mangrove has adapted to living in wet, salty soils by excreting excess salt through pores at the base of each leaf. Look for these bumps with a little hole on top. 7. Black mangrove leaves are long and narrow and covered with salt crystals undeneath. This is how they have adapted to living in salty soils and ridding themselves of excess salt. 8. Since mangroves often occur in protected bays, they are ideal sites for marinas and boat facilities. In the last 50 years the V.I. have lost 40 to 50 percent of our mangroves to these and other activities. Tying your boat to mangroves in a storm is considered OK, but as a long-term mooring method it can damage the bark and kill the tree. A lot of our mangroves are being lost to illegal cutting of mooring "slips" for small boats. 9. Many people think of mangroves as smelly places suitable for dumping trash and other unwanted material. This can damage the roots and harm the crabs and birds that live here. Dispose of your garbage properly in a landfill. 10. Decaying leaves and twigs in the water under mangroves provide a rich source of nutrients for other nearby marine ecosystems such as seagrasses and coral reefs. In general, mangroves have been found to be useful in a variety of ways. Red mangrove wood is heavy and durable. The bark is used for tanning and medicinal purposes. The bark, leaves and shoots yield various dyes. The leaves have been used for cattle feed and contain high amounts of protein. The flowers of most mangroves yield high grade honey and the woods are used for charcoal production. Through careful management all of the values and uses of mangroves can be maintained. This brochure was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts. |
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