Mangrove Roots Up Close

Dip your head below the water's surface in a mangrove forest and an entirely new ecosystem is revealed. The twisting mangrove roots, which appear to float unrooted in the water, support a great diversity of life—including sea anemones, brittle stars, and sea urchins. The roots also serve as a nursery area for fishes and other organisms: the twisting roots provide hiding places for young fish, and the roots and organisms living upon them provide nutrients and particulate food.