Mangroves

Mangroves are a group of plants that are all adapted to live in the intertidal zone (the area between high and low water marks). They include a wide variety of species including trees, shrubs, palms, ground ferns, climbers and grasses.

Mangroves are important because they:

  • protect our coastline by creating a buffer from storms and reducing soil erosion, filtering pollutants from land run off, and trapping silt and sediment.
  • are important nursery areas for many marine animals.
  • form the base of rich food webs based on the breakdown of detritus – mostly leaf litter and mangroves themselves.

In Western Australia, mangroves are most common in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, Exmouth, and Shark Bay.