Mangroves

Mangrove forests are protection for our coasts,
nursery of many marine commercial species,
fixers of sediments

So, why we are still cutting them,
instead of protect them?

Cayuco

MANGROVES

Mangrove is a distinctive tree of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama.
Mangrove forests, as a coastal-marine ecosystems, have a very important rol as sediments trappers and fixers, coasts protectors, organic material recyclers and wild life (land, acuatic or aerial) refuge.

As is easy to observe in the Pacific side of Panama, where the difference between high and low tide is very big, part of the day (during the low tide) many of the trees of the forest have their roots out of the water.
Once the tide grows up to the high level, all the mangroves are submerged up to the beginning of the main roots.

In the Caribbean coast, where the tides variation is small, it is possible to observe the same phenomenon, in small scale.

Mangroves of this region show another peculiarity: the waters surrounding their roots are so transparent that it is possible to
observe, clearly, the hidden part of the mangroves ecosystem, the underwater roots, where many marine creatures born and grow, well protected by the roots.

Bocas del Toro, in the Bastimentos Island National Marine Park, displays many small mangrove islets, surrounded by sea, where the water, due to the lack of movement, is so clear that only with mask, snorkell and fins, everyone can appreciate this secret life of the mangroves, their underwater life.

THE SECRET LIFE OF MANGROVES

UW Mangrove roots

Take a fast look to this intrincate world of roots, strange underwater forest of leeveless trees.
Between the roots schools of small snappers try to catch tiny bait fishes.
Close, little barracudas and needle fishes wait for their turn to feed.

Some times, almost submerge in the sandy bottom, a small sting ray shows only its eyes and, a little far, a baby nurse shark is. making its first steps in its predator life, trying to catch, in this true kindergarden, some crab, one if its favorite meals. On the roots, that amazingly try to reach the bottom, come up, modifying their simetry, sponges and fire corals incrustations, algae and, over then a multitud of tiny bristtle star fishes, crabs and sea urchins.
Other roots show populated colonies of clams and mangrove oysters.

Suddenly, an impact in the surface interrupts the calm: a leave had felt and in a few seconds is part of the carpet that decor the interior bottom of the mangrove.
Soon, starts its descomposition to end in the source of the process: the tree, this time as a nutrient.

Strange and complex, this secret world of the mangrove roots.

A real microuniverse with all the componentes in a direct relationship between them and with the neighbord ecosystems: the sea grass and the coral reef.

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