Julia Lawlor
Allison Vilardi
Soil Composition of the Florida Mangroves
Research Proposal
Background
The mangrove ecosystem is vital to the intertidal community. The complex root systems of the mangroves protect the coastline from erosion and function as a natural water filter. The roots work to trap chemicals, organic matter, heavy metals and cycle nutrients back to sea. The mangroves also serve as a nursery to various aquatic organisms, some of which assist in the filtering process (Chen & Twilley, 1999).
Mangroves have the ability to modify their environment to adjust to the harsh conditions of the intertidal zone. They facilitate the deposition of various sediments which change the terrain or elevation of the coast over time (Ken W. Krauss et al, 2014).
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Each species has different root structural traits which may correlate with the soil types among them. The specific root length (SRL; root length per biomass) had been shown to correlate with higher soil volume. The larger the SRL, the higher the volume. One study found R. mangle to have an SRL of 0.55mg, 1.05mg for A. germinans, and 1.70mg for A. racemosa (Ken W. Krauss et al, 2014). This information supports the predictable zonation patterns of mangrove species.
R. mangle is located on the coastline, easily identified by its prop roots and smooth bark which extend from the water. A. germinans choose to live on the edge of land and is identified by its characteristic air root pneumatophores. L. racemosa primarily lives on dry salty land and excretes salt through its leaves, giving them a white underside. Its roots are not visible above the