Though just a minute percentage of land
around the world, and are steadily declining, the mangroves of Florida provide
some of the most vital mechanisms for the marine and estuarine environments surrounding
them. Defined as, “a tree, shrub, palm or ground fern, generally exceeding
one half meter in height, that normally grows above mean sea level in the
intertidal zone of marine coastal environments and estuarine margins “mangroves impact Earth’s ecosystems considerably despite their small
size. (1)Ranging from
the Cedar Keys of North Western Florida, down to the Florida Keys and Bahamas, the
mangroves of Florida are approximated to constitute 225,000 Ha or 555,000
acres. Specifically in Southern Florida, mangroves provide some of the best
species, nutrient, and biodiversity support making this ecosystem one of the
most biologically productive ecosystems in the world(1). Housing
over 1300 species world wide, many of which endemic to those locations,
mangroves limited intertidal and saltwater mix makes this ecosystem even more
unique and important.
