Question

what adaptation allows the mangoove to survive in the highly saline environment?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Mangroves can also restrict the opening of their stomata (these are small pores through which carbon dioxide and water vapour are exchanged during photosynthesis). This allows the mangrove to conserve its fresh water, which is an ability that is vital to its survival in a saline environment.

Answer 2

• In order to survive in excessively saline and unstable environments, mangroves make various adaptations in body and behaviour. The salt is regulated through filtration, storage and excretion.

• Mangroves have long underground cable roots that absorb nutrition and form a dense network contributing to its support mechanism. Many species have pneumatophores (breathing roots) to absorb atmospheric oxygen to overcome its deficiency in soil. Some have buttress roots at the base to offer support in loose soil. A few species have stilt roots that start from the trunk base and fall into the soil providing support to the plant.

• Many mangroves have lenticel glands allowing exchange of gases between plant and atmosphere. Some have leathery leaves coated with wax to reduce loss of fresh water through leaves during transpiration.

• Unlike terrestrial plants, mangroves use unique 'vivipary' mechanism to ensure reproduction in hostile environment. Seeds germinate on mother plants developing propagules with basic root and shoot system. These propagules fall, fixing themselves in the soil below and subsequently grow into mature trees.