Mangroves - Natures Nursery
When people think of coral reefs, we often don't think of how those beautiful and brilliantly colorful fish got there. We often don't think of what those fish needed to survive and prosper.
A specific habitat is responsible for a large number of the marine organisms people see when diving, swimming, or just visiting the oceans. These habitats are Mangrove Forests. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in the saline, coastal conditions of the tropics and subtropics. These trees and shrubs extend their roots into the water, creating a network of tree limbs underneath the surface waters.
What people don't know is that these root networks are prime nursery grounds for the sought after reef fishes. Reef fish migrate to the coast to lay their clutches of eggs within the root habitat of Mangrove Forests. This provide protection from predators and gives juvenile fish a place to grow up before, they too, migrate to their future reef homes. Without Mangroves, reef fish as we know them would disappear.
Mangroves represent yet another of natures most magical occurences. Marine fish, invertebrates, and other organisms depend on these coastal forests to ensure the survival of future generations. Coastal birds also depend on the Mangroves for nesting.
Mangroves, like so many other miracles of Mother Nature, are natures nursery. Humans build day care centers. Nature created its own. That's inspiration.
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