Atlas · Burundi / Knowledge Base
With data in Atlas
Angolafull · 18 datasets Beninfull · 14 datasets Cameroonfull · 47 datasets Comorosfull · 16 datasets Côte d'Ivoirefull · 14 datasets Democratic Republic of the Congofull · 44 datasets Djiboutifull · 15 datasets Egyptfull · 18 datasets Equatorial Guineafull · 13 datasets Eritreafull · 15 datasets Gabonfull · 28 datasets Ghanafull · 16 datasets Guineafull · 15 datasets Guinea-Bissaufull · 14 datasets Kenyafull · 344 datasets Liberiafull · 13 datasets Madagascarfull · 18 datasets Mauritaniafull · 16 datasets Mauritiusfull · 9 datasets Mozambiquefull · 35 datasets Nigeriafull · 16 datasets Republic of the Congofull · 41 datasets Senegalfull · 15 datasets Seychellesfull · 9 datasets Sierra Leonefull · 14 datasets Somaliafull · 13 datasets South Africafull · 26 datasets Sudanfull · 16 datasets São Tomé and Principefull · 14 datasets Tanzaniafull · 170 datasets The Gambiafull · 14 datasets Togofull · 15 datasets Algeriareference · 5 datasets Botswanareference · 32 datasets Burkina Fasoreference · 2 datasets Burundireference · 2 datasets Central African Republicreference · 2 datasets Chadreference · 2 datasets Ethiopiareference · 2 datasets Kingdom of eSwatinireference · 1 datasets Lesothoreference · 2 datasets Libyareference · 3 datasets Malawireference · 2 datasets Malireference · 2 datasets Moroccoreference · 6 datasets Namibiareference · 56 datasets Nigerreference · 1 datasets Republic of Cabo Verdereference · 1 datasets Rwandareference · 7 datasets South Sudanreference · 1 datasets Tunisiareference · 3 datasets Ugandareference · 29 datasets Western Saharareference · 1 datasets Zambiareference · 54 datasets Zimbabwereference · 31 datasets
Compare all countries
KNOWLEDGE BASE

Mangrove zonation: why different species grow in bands

Tide, salt and mud decide which mangrove species grows where, so forests form bands from sea to land.

All knowledge base Ask the analyst about this
Beginner 2 min read ecologyspeciesformationsLamu

Walk from the sea edge of a mangrove forest towards dry land and the trees change. This banding is called zonation, and it is why Atlas maps mangrove not as one block but as species formations.

What drives it

  • Flooding. The seaward edge is flooded on almost every tide; the landward edge only on the highest spring tides.
  • Salt. Evaporation concentrates salt in the soil on the landward side, which only a few species tolerate.
  • Soil. Soft, fine mud close to the water and firmer, sandier ground further back suit different root systems.

A typical East African pattern

  1. Sonneratia alba and Avicennia marina on the open seaward fringe.
  2. Rhizophora mucronata (stilt roots) in the regularly flooded middle zone.
  3. Ceriops tagal and Bruguiera gymnorhiza in the drier inner zone.
  4. A salt flat or bare "sand and mudflat" behind the trees where only salt-loving plants survive.

In Atlas the Lamu map has seven formation classes such as "Rhizophora dominant" and "Mixture of Ceriops & Rhizophora". "Almost pure stand" means one species makes up nearly all of a patch; "dominant" means it leads but others are present; "mixture" names two leading species.

How to interpret it

A change in the formation mix over time is an early warning: it can show changing salinity or flooding before trees die.

Limits. Zones shift with local conditions, so the pattern above is a guide, not a rule.

Related reading

How mangroves store carbon in their soil

Waterlogged mud keeps dead roots and leaves from rotting, so mangrove soils hold most of the ecosystem's carbon.

The mangrove species of East Africa

Nine true mangrove species occur along the East African coast; four dominate the Lamu map.

Why mangroves matter

Mangroves store carbon, protect coasts, feed fisheries and support millions of people.

More in Knowledge Base

Still have a question?

The AI analyst answers from these articles and from the data.

Ask Atlas
Guest preview · 171s left Explore until the timer ends. Then you’ll be asked to log in or create an account (about two minutes) to keep going.
Log in Create an account
Ask Atlas