Page 134 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

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MANGROVE-LINED CHANNEL
Here, parallel stands of red mangrove
line a shallow offshoot channel of
Florida Bay in the southern part of the
Everglades National Park.

Mangroves occupy a ANHINGA their large prop roots, red mangroves
ATLANTIC OCEAN WEST
large, roughly triangular This diving bird hunts fish, are crucial to the Everglades ecosystem,
Everglades area at the southwestern frogs, and baby alligators in acting as a nursery for many species
tip of southern Florida, the Everglades mangroves. of fish, as well as shrimp, mussels,
PRINCIPAL SPECIES where a maze of islands sponges, crabs, and other invertebrates.
Red, black, and white
Mangroves along the coast is intersected by The dominant species along the edges The other principal mangrove species
mangrove-lined channels. Here, where of the sea and the numerous channels in the Everglades are the black
AREA Mangroves only:
600 square miles the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico is the red mangrove—water within mangrove and white mangrove. Both
(1,500 square km) and Florida Bay meets fresh water that the channels is normally stained of these grow closer to the shore than
has traveled from Lake Okeechobee in brown from tannin contained in the red mangroves, so they are in contact
LOCATION Southwestern Florida, US central Florida, is the largest area of leaves of this species. In addition to with seawater only at high tide. The
mangrove swamps in North America. their role in stabilizing shorelines with Everglades swamps provide a feeding

and freshwater marshes; it was declared flamingos, jabiru storks, and 15 species
ATLANTIC OCEAN WEST ATLANTIC OCEAN WEST
a World Heritage Site by UNESCO of heron. The swamps are also home
Alvarado Mangrove Sian Ka’an in 1987. The mangroves are protected to West Indian manatees and two
Coast Biosphere Reserve from the energy of the Caribbean Sea endangered crocodiles: the American
by a barrier reef growing along the
crocodile and Morelet’s crocodile.
coast. However, the reserve’s terrestrial The explosion of tourism in the
PRINCIPAL SPECIES PRINCIPAL SPECIES
Red, white, and black Red, black, white, and part is between 20 and 75 percent nearby resort of Cancún poses several
mangroves button Mangroves flooded, depending on season. Sian threats to the area. Unregulated
AREA 200 square miles AREA Ka’an’s mangrove systems are some development has increased pollution
(500 square km) 400 square miles of the most biologically productive in and altered the distribution and use
(1,000 square km)
the world and their health is critical of water in Sian Ka’an, compromising
for the survival of many species in the the health of the mangroves.
LOCATION To the southwest of Veracruz, Mexico, LOCATION Eastern coast of Yucatán Peninsula,
on southwestern Gulf of Mexico eastern Mexico, 90 miles (150 km) south of Cancún western Caribbean region. Hidden
between the massive mangrove roots BOAT TOUR
The Alvarado Mangroves Ecoregion Stretching for 75 miles (120 km) along live oysters, sponges, sea squirts, sea Because a large part of Sian Ka’an is flooded
in southern Mexico is an extensive Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the Sian anemones, hydroids, and crustaceans. for much of the year, there are few roads into
area of mangrove swamps mixed in Ka’an Biosphere Reserve contains a Bird species found here include the area, so much of it can be reached and
with other habitats such as reed beds mixture of mangrove swamps, lagoons, roseate spoonbills, pelicans, greater explored only by boat.
and palm forests. The mangroves grow
on flat coastal land interspersed with
brackish lagoons fed by several small
OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS roots, whose tangled network protects
rivers. The swamps are brimming with
life, from rays gliding in the calm
waters to snails climbing the mangrove
many fish and invertebrates from
predators. Bird life in and around
the swamps includes the keel-billed
toucan, reddish egret, wood stork,
and several species of herons and
kingfishers, while the mammalian
inhabitants include spider monkeys
and West Indian manatees. Some large
areas of mangroves in the region have
been destroyed, and those that remain
are under pressure from logging,
agricultural expansion, oil extraction,
and frequent oil spills.