The Hidden World of Mangroves.

Mangroves are a completely different world. They are habitats flourishing with life. A mangrove is a shrub or small tree that grows on coastal lines. A mangrove forest is a grouping of mangroves, all of these trees grow in areas with low-oxygen soil, where slow-moving waters allow fine sediments to accumulate. Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. They are protected areas because of their structure and this allows for many organisms to live there. Snails, barnacles, bryozoans, tunicates, mollusks, sponges, polychaete worms, isopods, amphipods, shrimps, crabs, and jellyfish all live either on or in close proximity to mangrove root systems. Mangroves are rich in biodiversity and they can protect against natural hazards. A mangrove forest can be more protective than a man made sea wall. This is why we need to protect and conserve mangroves. Because of rising sea levels, caused by climate change, mangroves are struggling to survive. Mangroves need stable water levels to live. Another factor that is killing mangroves is oil in sea water. The oil pollution can smother mangrove roots and suffocate the trees. We need to protect mangroves so that we can protect the land from natural hazards and so we can keep mangrove biodiversity alive. Mangroves offer a safe space for animals to lay eggs, build shelters, and hide from predators. Ways the average person can conserve mangroves is to stop eating farmed shrimp and fish from mangrove areas.