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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
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Estuaries – Florida MangrovesMaterials 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 Black Mangroves Red 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 Crab Grey Snapper West Indian Manatee • Bald Eagle • Roseate Spoonbill • Wood Stork • Brown Pelican
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
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