Figure 10.16

Mangrove forests. (A) Mangrove forests are found mostly between 30° north and south latitude along coastal shorelines. Mangrove tree species diversity is greatest in Southeast Asia. (B) Mangroves on Nusa Lembongan Island, near Bali, Indonesia. Mangrove trees are the only trees that can grow immersed in salt water. They have several adaptations to cope with high salinity, including the ability to exude salt from pores on their leaves.

(A. Spalding, M., Kainuma, M., Collins, L. (2010a). World Atlas of Mangroves. A collaborative project of ITTO, ISME, FAO, UNEP-WCMC, UNESCO-MAB, UNU-INWEH and TNC. London (UK): Earthscan, London. 319 pp. Spalding, M., Kainuma, M., Collins, L. (2010b). Data layer from the World Atlas of Mangroves. In Supplement to: Spalding et al. (2010a). Cambridge (UK): UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. URL: data.unep-wcmc. B. © Jason Edwards/National Geographic/Getty Images)