What Are Mangroves?
Mangroves are fascinating ecosystems with a very unique shape. The term “mangrove” refers to both the individual plant as well as the ecosystem, because of how intrinsic they are to one another. Mangroves are also one of the most biologically complex and productive ecosystems in the world. They are forested areas on the coastline overcome by seawater with the ocean tides. This can be permanent or at specific times of the day. Mangrove trees’ iconic roots, which are partially above water and partially buried in the soil, have the incredible ability to extract oxygen from the highly mineral water.
This is one of the defining and most important characteristics of mangroves. In fact, most trees classified as mangroves are not genetically related to each other. Rather, they share a series of characteristics—among them ocean water consumption, salt excretion, and root aeration—that put them together in the same classification. Salt excretion is a particularly unique one! When a mangrove is a “secretor,” it uses special pores or salt glands that make the leaves “sweat” saltwater. As the salty water evaporates, salt crystals form in the leaves. No other type of ecosystem has plants that do this. It’s no wonder that mangroves are also known as salt forests.
Characteristics of Mangroves: A Tight-Knit Community
If mangroves sound like they are a close-knit group, it’s because they are. When a mangrove tree’s flowers are pollinated, the flowers turn into seeds that immediately begin to germinate while still attached to the parent. When it eventually falls from the tree, the current of the water takes it away, where it finds a new home. There, it can grow roots and become a mangrove tree in its own right. But always within the same community!
Even though mangroves are not everywhere, they aremore common than you might think. They cover between 53,000 and 77,000 square miles of terrain around the world, but only in tropical and subtropical areas. Usually, they extend a few miles inland, but in some locations, they can become truly dense forests.
Costa Rica has about 0,002% of the mangroves of the planet. 99% of those mangroves are located on the Pacific coast and the remaining 1% in the Caribbean. The mangroves on the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica are among the largest, best developed, and most diverse in Central America. Not bad for a small country!
Why Are Mangroves Important
Biological diversity is one of the main reasons why mangroves are important. They are invaluable feeding grounds for thousands of species. Not only do they act as a nursery for several types of fish, but they also provide for the carnivores and herbivores in the tree canopy. Even decomposers depend on mangroves, eating the decaying leaves from the trees. And it goes beyond that, too. For example, there are some species, such as decapod crustaceans, which depend on the floating mangrove leaves as a transport mechanism to move from one place to another.
In addition, mangroves act as filters between the ecosystems of land and sea. They take care of sediments, nutrients, and even certain forms of pollution. The mangrove retains, redistributes, and removes these elements, allowing more balance for inland plants and animals. For humans, the benefits are also direct. Mangroves serve as protection against storms from the sea, and many of their fish species have primary and secondary commercial importance.
Human Impact in Mangroves
Some scientists consider mangroves more endangered than even coral reefs or tropical rainforests, because of how specific they are. Deforestation, sedimentation, and climate change are some of mangroves’ biggest threats. In Costa Rica, mangroves have been threatened by agricultural activities like banana, cacao, and oil palm cultivation. Charcoal production is also a big reason why many mangroves have been cut down in the past.
When mangroves are drained to use the land for economic activities, this destroys the balance of the ecosystem, and the trees could die. Mangroves are also cut down to obtain construction materials and to build evaporation ponds for businesses like shrimp farming. If a lot of human activity happens near mangroves, sedimentation can also be a big problem. It clogs the soils of the mangrove and disturbs its natural rhythms.
Variations in carbon dioxide and ocean acidity because of climate change affect mangroves deeply. Increased temperatures mean reduced leaf production, which means reduced photosynthesis. Rain frequency also changes, and this affects plant growth and reproduction. As sea levels rise, the impact on mangroves is significant, especially if the plants and animals of the ecosystem can’t move further inland due to human constructions.
In recent years, the destruction of mangroves has slowed down in Costa Rica. Many of them are fiercely protected by national parks or reserves. However, more work is needed to ensure their survival. If you visit a mangrove, make sure to be respectful of the environment. Only use reputable tour operators and minimize your impact. Never leave anything behind in a mangrove that doesn't belong there, and never take anything away that's not allowed, only great memories!
Where to Find Mangroves in Costa Rica
Most mangroves in Costa Rica are located on the Pacific coastline. They are divided into three clear regions. The first is in Guanacaste, around the Gulf of Nicoya. The central region goes from Nicoya to locations such as Manuel Antonio and Quepos. The southern zone includes the Térraba-Sierpe mangroves near Drakey Bay and the Osa Peninsula. On the Caribbean coast,Tortuguero National Park, with its natural canals, is your best bet.
These mangroves are all fantastic if you’re a wildlife enthusiast or a birdwatcher. Capuchin, howler, and the rare squirrel monkey all live in this ecosystem. Amphibians and reptiles also populate these areas. As crucial nesting spots, mangroves are also home to macaws, falcons, hummingbirds, shorebirds, and even migratory birds.
Kayaking or stand-up paddling along the quiet waters of the mangroves is the best way to explore them. These activities allows you to come close to the ecosystem to truly admire. Sometimes, hiking trails across national parks will let you walk among the mangrove’s lush forestry too. In Tortuguero, a boat tour is one of the best ways to explore it. Mangroves may be quiet and unique places, but they are perfect for adventurous hearts in search of connecting with nature.
