1. Mangrove Forests Dr. James A. Danoff-Burg Columbia University
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

2. Mangrove Forests Found in coastal areas all over the tropics
Primarily in brackish water
salty and fresh mix
Cover approximately 22 million hectares in tropical and subtropical coasts
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

3. Ecosystem Functions & Threats
Serve as an important buffer between sea and land
Lessen impact of intense storms
Reduce erosion and increase sedimentation
Important coastal pioneer species
Act as basis for a complex, biologically diverse, and productive ecosystem
Increasingly threatened
Human development is most intense along coasts
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

4. Mangroves Not a natural taxonomic group
Convergence among several groups
Possibly 16 convergent events
Based on physiological attributes
54 species total world-wide
16 Families
Principally: Avicenniaceae & Rhizophoraceae
These two families include 25 spp.
20 Genera
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

5. Mangrove Location Found in tropical areas only
Within the 20ºC isocline
More southern on East side of continents
Due to southward moving warm Equatorial currents there
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

6. Terminology Mangal Mangrove Pneumatophore
Community of organisms in the mangrove habitat
Mangrove
Trees that flourish in the mangal
Pneumatophore
Vertical root structures for air exchange
Lenticels - tiny pores for air exchange
Aerenchyma – tissue for air storage
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

7. Characteristics of Mangal
Inundation with tides
Increasing salinity towards ocean
Sandy clay soil
Nutrient poor
Nitrogen & Phosphorus are limiting
Limiting mangrove growth only
Organic nutrients deposited via siltation
Fresh water streams & down-shore currents
Most all are of terrestrial origin
In sum: Mangal is a harsh place to live
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

8. Mangrove Adaptations Salt tolerance Frequent inundation
Sequester in tissue (bark, stem, root)
Secrete through leaves
Exclusion by negative hydrostatic pressure
Frequent inundation
Aerenchyma tissue & aerial roots
Tolerant of soils low in oxygen
Hypoxic or anoxic
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

9. Mangrove Consequences of Adaptations
Greater root mass
Relative to rest of plant & relative to non-mangrove species
For water exchange & air exchange
Lower growth rates
Consequence of salt & air exchange
Tradeoff between salt tolerance & frequent inundation
Can adapt for one or other
Not both
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

10. Mangrove Pollination Pollination method varies by species
Wind (Rhizophora)
bat or hawk moth (Sonneratia)
birds and butterflies (Bruguiera)
bees (Acanthus, Aegiceras, Avicennia, Excoecaria, Xylocarpus)
fruit flies (Nypa)
other small insects (Ceriops, Kandelia)
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

11. Mangrove Reproduction
Vivipary normal
Reproduction and growth while still attached to plant
Flowering
Fertilization
Propagule growth
Mature propagule
Young propagule a.k.a. Hypocotyl
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

12. Mangrove Dispersal Maturity -> Drop off maternal plant
Float horizontally initially
Dispersal to novel environments ideally
Float vertically with appropriate environmental conditions
Rooting and growth
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

13. Mangal Habitat Types (from inland to oceanfront)
Riverine
Often found in river deltas
Constant influx of freshwater
Great changes in salinity levels
Basin Mangroves
Inland, behind coastal mangroves
Little change in tides, no wave action
Often higher salinity than others (evaporation)
Tide-Dominated
Coastal front habitats
Frequent sedimentation
Unstable morphology due to coastal erosion
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

14. Intraspecific Differences in Environmental Tolerances
Salinity variations and adaptations for excreting salt
Varies within and between species
Through growth stages
Tidal Inundation and adaptations for gas exchange
Pneumatophores and other aerial root extensions
Low soil stability, Shore morphology, and adaptations for rooting
Prop Roots
Sedimentation rates and types
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

15. Mangrove Species Zonation
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
Ceriops
australis
Rhizophora
stylosa
Avicennia marina
All increase toward shore
Salinity
Inundation
Decreasing Soil Stability
Sedimentation Rate
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

16. Most Common Species Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) Black Mangrove
(Avicennia germinans)
White Mangrove
(Laguncularia racemosa)
All are found throughout tropics
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

17. Bark Identification
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

18. Tree Characters
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

19. Pneumatophores
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

20. Epiphytes
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

21. For more information
Go to and read the ecology link
A clearinghouse on information on mangrove ecology is available at
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,

22. Mangroves of Australia
The mangrove plants of Queensland (from
Listed below are the true mangrove species that grow in Queensland. Hybrid plants are indicated by the use of an x in the scientific name (e.g. Lumnitzera x rosea).
AcanthaceaeAcanthus ebracteatus Acanthus ilicifolius
ArecaceaeNypa fruticans
AvicenniaceaeAvicennia marina
BignoniaceaeDolichandrone spathacea
BombaceaeCamptostemum schultzii
CaesalpiniaceaeCynometra iripa
CombretaceaeLumnitzera racemosa, Lumnitzera x rosea, Lumnitzera littorea
EbenaceaeDiospyros ferrea
EuphorbiaceaeExcoecaria agallocha
LythraceaePemphis acidula
MeliaceaeXylocarpus granatum
MyrsinaceaeXylocarpus mekongensis, Aegiceras corniculatum
MyrtaceaeOsbornia octodonta
PlumbaginaceaeAegialitis annulata
PteridaceaeAcrostichum speciosum
RhizophoraceaeBruguiera gymnorrhiza,Bruguiera sexangula, Bruguiera exaristata, Bruguiera parviflora, Bruguiera cylindrica, Ceriops australis, Ceriops decandra, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora x lamarckii, Rhizophora stylosa, Rhizophora mucronata
RubiaceaeScyphiphora hydrophyllacea
SonneratiaceaeSonneratia alba, Sonneratia x gulngai, Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonneratia lanceolata
SterculaceaeHeritiera littoralis
James A. Danoff-Burg, Columbia University,