Nature's Nautical Nurseries - Mangrove wetlands

I'm a mudskipper and I live on mudflats in and near mangroves. Although I'm a fish, I can live for short periods out of the water because I have special gill chambers which hold water and keep my gills wet so I can breathe. You may see me frolicking on the mud, but you'll have to be sneaky as I am very quick and don't stray far from my burrow.

In the background of this picture is a white mangrove. All marine plants have evolved special ways to deal with their harsh environment. The white mangrove has special pneumatophores growing from their roots, poking out of the mud. These are like little snorkels which the tree breathes through when the tide is out.



	Theme 1: Habitat introduction Fact Sheet: Mangrove wetlands
HOME Protecting our nautical nurseries Fact Sheets Activity Sheets Extra Activities Teacher's Resources Glossary Contact Related Links
	for related fact sheets see Theme 1: Habitat introduction
	Mangroves live in shallow water where the tides go in and out. They have special breathing roots. The peg or snorkel like roots are called pneumatophores (nu-mat-o-fors). Mangrove mud processes enormous amounts of dead animal and plant material because it contains very special types of organisms called bacteria. Billions of bacteria can live in a teaspoon of this mud. Most of the oxygen is used up in the first few centimetres at the surface. Mangrove mud contains millions of other small marine animals called invertebrates, which provide food for young fish and crabs. A mudskipper is an example of an animal that lives off this food.	Mud in marine wetlands is so thick and wet that oxygen can't get much deeper than the first couple of centimetres. The bacteria that live here must be able to live without oxygen and we call them "anaerobic" bacteria. They produce sulphur dioxide or "rotton egg" gas. You can tell the difference in the mud by poking a stick in it and smelling the different mud layers on the stick. The anaerobic mud smells like rotton eggs (sulphur dioxide).
	I'm a mudskipper and I live on mudflats in and near mangroves. Although I'm a fish, I can live for short periods out of the water because I have special gill chambers which hold water and keep my gills wet so I can breathe. You may see me frolicking on the mud, but you'll have to be sneaky as I am very quick and don't stray far from my burrow. In the background of this picture is a white mangrove. All marine plants have evolved special ways to deal with their harsh environment. The white mangrove has special pneumatophores growing from their roots, poking out of the mud. These are like little snorkels which the tree breathes through when the tide is out.
	See Fact Sheet: Muddy shores For related activity sheets see Theme 1: Habitat introduction Top of page

Theme 1: Habitat introduction Fact Sheet: Mangrove wetlands

Theme 1: Habitat introduction
Fact Sheet: Mangrove wetlands