Mangrove - Environment | Environment for UPSC 2025 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

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MANGROVES 
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MANGROVES 
MANGROVES 
Mangroves represent a characteristic littoral (near the 
sea shore) forest ecosystem. 
These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in 
sheltered low lying coasts, estuaries, mudflats, tidal 
creeks backwaters (coastal waters held back on land), 
marshes and lagoons of tropical and subtropical 
regions. 
Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems 
 They protect the shoreline from the effect of cyclones 
and tsunamis. 
They are breeding and spawning ground for many 
commercially important fishes. 
Since mangroves are located between the land and sea 
they represent the best example of ecotone. 
 
 
Page 3


MANGROVES 
MANGROVES 
Mangroves represent a characteristic littoral (near the 
sea shore) forest ecosystem. 
These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in 
sheltered low lying coasts, estuaries, mudflats, tidal 
creeks backwaters (coastal waters held back on land), 
marshes and lagoons of tropical and subtropical 
regions. 
Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems 
 They protect the shoreline from the effect of cyclones 
and tsunamis. 
They are breeding and spawning ground for many 
commercially important fishes. 
Since mangroves are located between the land and sea 
they represent the best example of ecotone. 
 
 
Page 4


MANGROVES 
MANGROVES 
Mangroves represent a characteristic littoral (near the 
sea shore) forest ecosystem. 
These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in 
sheltered low lying coasts, estuaries, mudflats, tidal 
creeks backwaters (coastal waters held back on land), 
marshes and lagoons of tropical and subtropical 
regions. 
Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems 
 They protect the shoreline from the effect of cyclones 
and tsunamis. 
They are breeding and spawning ground for many 
commercially important fishes. 
Since mangroves are located between the land and sea 
they represent the best example of ecotone. 
 
 
Mangroves occur worldwide in the tropics and 
subtropics, mainly between latitudes 25° N 
and 25° S. 
They require high solar radiation to filter saline 
water through their roots. 
 This explains why mangroves are confined to 
only tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters. 
 
 
 
Page 5


MANGROVES 
MANGROVES 
Mangroves represent a characteristic littoral (near the 
sea shore) forest ecosystem. 
These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in 
sheltered low lying coasts, estuaries, mudflats, tidal 
creeks backwaters (coastal waters held back on land), 
marshes and lagoons of tropical and subtropical 
regions. 
Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems 
 They protect the shoreline from the effect of cyclones 
and tsunamis. 
They are breeding and spawning ground for many 
commercially important fishes. 
Since mangroves are located between the land and sea 
they represent the best example of ecotone. 
 
 
Mangroves occur worldwide in the tropics and 
subtropics, mainly between latitudes 25° N 
and 25° S. 
They require high solar radiation to filter saline 
water through their roots. 
 This explains why mangroves are confined to 
only tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters. 
 
 
 
 
MANGROVE ADAPTATIONS  
 
Mangroves have had to physically adapt their 
leaves, their roots and their reproductive 
methods in order to survive in a harsh, 
dynamic environment of soft, low oxygen 
soils and varying salinity.