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Mangroves

What Are Mangroves? 

Why Are Mangroves Important?

Mangrove tree Identification

Mangrove Removal Regulations

Mangrove Pruning Regulations 

Links

References


WHAT ARE MANGROVES?

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Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical tidelands throughout the world. Mangroves grow in areas that are frequently inundated with salt water due to tidal activity of gulfs, seas and oceans. Mangroves are able to thrive salt water inundation because of specialized rooting structures (such as prop roots and pneumatophores), specialized reproduction (vivipary or live birth) and the ability to exclude or excrete salt. Mangroves grow exclusively in these tidal areas in large stands or groves to where these areas are referred to as their own ecological community, collectively called mangroves.

In Florida, mangroves include four tree species: red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus). Each mangrove species has a different level of salt tolerance, which in part determines its location in tidal zones.


WHY ARE MANGROVES IMPORTANT?

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The mangrove community is valued for its protection and stabilization of lowlying coastal lands and its importance in estuarine and coastal fishery food chains. Mangrove forests protect uplands from storm winds, waves, and floods. The amount of protection afforded by mangroves depends upon the width of the forest. Mangroves can help prevent erosion by stabilizing shorelines with their specialized root systems.

The relationship between mangroves and their associated marine life cannot be overemphasized. Mangroves provide protected nursery areas for fishes, crustaceans, and shellfish. Seventy-five percent of the game fish and ninety percent of the commercial species in south Florida are dependent on mangrove ecosystems (Law and Pywell FRC-43). They provide food for a multitude of marine species such as snook, snapper, tarpon, jack, sheepshead, red drum, oysters, and shrimp.

Many animals find shelter either in the roots or branches of mangroves. Mangroves serve as rookeries, or nesting areas, for beautiful coastal birds such as brown pelicans and roseate spoonbills.


MANGROVE TREE IDENTIFICATION

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Red Mangrove

Black Mangrove

White Mangrove

Buttonwood


MANGROVE REMOVAL REGULATIONS

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Mangrove trees along natural and many artificial water bodies are protected from removal. Mangrove trees are protected from removal by Dock and Shoreline regulations, the natural waterway buffer requirement and the Tree Protection Code. In many cases, mangrove trees can not be removed without first obtaining a vegetation removal permit from Lee County. Mangroves are typically located in wetlands. Impacts or removal of mangrove wetlands may require permits from state and federal agencies.


MANGROVE PRUNING REGULATIONS

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Since July 1, 1996, Lee County has generally not been involved in the regulation of mangrove tree pruning. Below are state agencies that permit mangrove pruning per the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act (Florida Statutes Sections 403.9321-403.9333) - www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - (DEP)

South Florida District Office
2295 Victoria Avenue, Suite 364
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Telephone (239) 332-6975
Fax (239) 332-6969
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/

LINKS

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Florida Department of Environmental Protection

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - Mangroves


REFERENCES

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1. Argo, V. 1963. Root growth claims soil from the sea. Natural History 72: 52-56.

2. Chapman, V.J. Mangrove Vegetation. Strauss and Cramer GmBH, Germany, 1976.

3. Craighead, Frank C. 1964. Land, mangroves and hurricanes. Fairchild Tropical Garden Bulletin 19(4). 4. Davis, J.H. 1940. Ecology and geologic role of mangroves in Florida. Carnegie Institute 22: 303-412.

5. Division of Forestry. "Coastal Plants of Florida - A Key to Good Land Management." 1979.

6. Elias, T.S. (1980) Trees of North America. Outdoor Life/Nature Books, New York, 1980.

7. Gore, R. "The Tree Nobody Liked." National Geographic v. 151(5), 1977. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.

8. Harrar, E.S. and J.G. Harrar. Guide to Southern Trees. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1962.

9. Jimenez, J.A. and A.E. Lugo. (1985) "Rhizophora mangle L. - Red Mangrove." SO-ITF-SM-2. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1985.

10. Jimenez, J.A. and A.E. Lugo. "Avicennia germinans (L.) L. - Black Mangrove." SO-ITFSM-4. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1985.

11. Law, Beverly E. and Nancy A. Pyrell Mangroves-Florida’s Coastal Trees Forest Resources and Conservation Fact Sheet FRC-43 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA/Cooperative Extension Service/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

12. Myers, Ronald L. and John J. Ewel Ecosystems of Florida Univerity of Central Florida Press/Orlando (1990)

13. Rabkin, R., and Rabkin, J. Nature Guide to Florida. Banyan Books, Miami, 1978.

14. Snedaker, S.C. "Mangroves: Their value and perpetuation." Nature and Resources. v. 15(3): 6- 13. Unesco: Paris, France, 1978.

15. Snedaker, S.C. and M.S. Brown. "Mangrove Misconceptions and Regulatory Guidelines." Proc. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Workshop on Coastal Ecosystems of the S.E. U.S., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., 1981. p. 61-67.

16. United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, "26 Ecological Communities of Florida." 1985.

17. Van Tine, Melissa and Samuel C. Snedaker. 1974. A bibliography of the mangrove literature. Resource Management Systems Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. No pagination. (Prepared for the International Symposium on Biology and Management of Mangroves, October 8-11, 1974, Honolulu, Hawaii.)

18. Workman, R.W. (1980) Growing Native. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc., Sanibel, 1980.

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