Biological coastline protection
June 18th, 2007 by levende
Looking at these beautiful roots reminds me of the diversity of mangroves.
Rhizomes of mangrove swamps are unique in the sense that they can deal with water as well as drought. They can adapt to low levels of oxygen as well as limit their intake of salt. Furthermore, mangroves protect coastlines from erosion by waves.
Adaptation is really the word of the day concerning mangroves.
3 Responses to “Biological coastline protection”
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I was told that a lot of the casualites and catastrophies caused by the Tsunami a few years ago could have been avoided if the mangrove was still there - but alas. On the touristy beaches the mangroves had been cut down to bring the ocean closer to the beach…
Yes I heard that too. So sad :-(
Doesn’t it really call for self-scrutiny for humankind that plants are smarter in terms of adapting than we are?
I mean–cutting down mangroves seems to be just simply basically stupid. Like cutting down the branch one is sitting on, literally.
well - sometimes you don’t realize how vital something is before it’s lost. I guess it was the same with the mangroves…