Salinity of mangroves
Mangroves are halophytes (salt tolerant plants) due to the fact that their main water source is derived from the ocean. There are three main ways in which mangroves control the salt absorbed from the water. These include:
Accumulation in which salt is stock piled in certain parts of the plant for example leaves until it reaches a high concentration and the portion of the plant is shed.
Excretion is the process by which salt is removed from the plant via the salt glands on the upper surface of the plants leaves.
Exclusion occurs in the membranes in the root systems of some mangroves, these membranes disunite the salt from the water allowing the plant to absorb the water whilst excluding the majority of the salt.
Accumulation in which salt is stock piled in certain parts of the plant for example leaves until it reaches a high concentration and the portion of the plant is shed.
Excretion is the process by which salt is removed from the plant via the salt glands on the upper surface of the plants leaves.
Exclusion occurs in the membranes in the root systems of some mangroves, these membranes disunite the salt from the water allowing the plant to absorb the water whilst excluding the majority of the salt.