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Aug 14, 2023 · Florida's estimated 600,000 acres of mangrove forests contribute to the overall health of the state's southern coastal zone and beyond. This ecosystem traps and cycles various organic materials, chemical elements and important nutrients.
The Florida mangroves ecoregion, of the mangrove forest biome, comprise an ecosystem along the coasts of the Florida peninsula, and the Florida Keys. Four major species of mangrove populate the region: red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove, and the buttonwood.
May 4, 2020 · Mangroves stabilize Florida’s coastline, prevent erosion and absorb storm surges during hurricanes. Mangroves also provide habitat for many species of fish and birds. Mangrove forests protect Florida's coast from storm surges & erosion, and provide space for wildlife & recreation.
Jan 31, 2019 · In Peninsular Florida, red mangroves occur from Cedar Key in the Gulf of Mexico and Daytona Beach in the Atlantic, southward through the Florida Keys. Red mangroves also occur from the St. Marks to St. Joseph Bay in the panhandle, mostly on the baysides of the barrier island system.
Florida’s mangrove forests primarily consist of four tree species: red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus). Red mangrove is found closest to and often growing in the water.
Mangroves love salty and brackish environments and are found in tidal estuaries and along sheltered shorelines all across Florida’s coast. The most significant mangrove forests in Florida are near Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic coast and Cedar Key on the Gulf coast.
Nov 27, 2020 · Twenty-nine species of ducks, grebes, loons, cormorants, and gallinules have been observed in the mangrove habitats of south Florida. These floating/diving birds feed on fishes, plant materials, and invertebrates.
