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Mangroves

2022 NOV 19

Preliminary   > Geography   >   Biogeography   >   Mangroves

Why in news?

  • A study conducted on the condition of mangroves in India by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences(BSIP) states that by 2070, Indian mangroves will further reduce and shift by around 50%, especially in southern India, due to a decline in suitable habitats along the east and west coasts of India.

What are mangroves?

  • Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone.
  • They occur worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S.
  • Mangroves are restricted mainly to the tropical areas as they cannot tolerate the extreme cold events typical of the temperate zone.

Features of mangroves:

  • Mangroves are adapted to surviving in waterlogged and anoxic soil, including slow-moving and brackish water due to some of its distinct features.
  • Halophytes: Mangrove species survive by filtering out as much as 90% of the salt found in seawater as it enters their roots. Some species excrete salt through glands in their leaves.
  • Water retention capacity: Mangroves store fresh water in thick succulent leaves. A waxy coating on the leaves of some mangrove species seals in water and minimizes evaporation.
  • Pneumatophores: Some mangroves grow pencil-like roots that stick up out of the ground like snorkels and take in oxygen from the air. These roots allow mangroves to cope with daily flooding by the tides.
  • Prop roots: Many mangrove trees have dense intertwined aerial roots that descend from their trunks and branches that stabilize and support them from battering waves and shifting tides.
  • Lenticellated bark: Besides the root, oxygen enters a mangrove through lenticels, thousands of cell-sized breathing pores in the bark and roots. This helps them adapt to the low oxygen conditions.
  • Viviparous: Seed pods germinate while on the tree, so they are ready to take root when they drop.

Mangroves in India:

  • According to the India State of Forest Report, 2021 >> the mangrove cover in India is 0.15% of the country's total geographical area.
  • Among the states and UTs, West Bengal has the highest percentage of area under total Mangrove cover followed by Gujarat and Andaman Nicobar Islands.

The Sundarbans is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. Its name derives from the dominant mangrove species sundari (Heritiera fomes).

  • Mangrove areas of the country are represented in the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, Bhitarkanika, Coringa, Nelapattu, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuaries, Pirotan National Park and other areas.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. Mangrove cover in India is approximately 5% of country’s total geographical area

2. Among the states in India, Gujarat has the highest percentage of area under total mangrove cover

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

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