 Sea Grapes are native to Florida. |
Mangroves, one of Florida's native trees, are a common and very important part of Florida's estuarine ecology and economy. They can tolerate wide ranges of salinity (salt content in water) and are found in fresh, brackish and saltwater coastal habitats. There are three main species of mangroves in Florida – red, white and black; all serve a specific function and are part of the Manatee Viewing Center landscape.
Mangroves help protect our coastlines from storm damage. Many animals find shelter either in the roots or branches. Mangrove branches are nesting sites for coastal waterbirds such as brown pelicans, herons, ibis, egrets and roseate spoonbills. They provide protected nursery areas for fish, crustaceans, shellfish and food areas for many marine species such as snook, snapper, tarpon, jack, sheephead, oysters and shrimp.
Big Bend is host to more than the manatee. Plant life grows along the station's warm water discharge canal, which is typical of salt marshes native to Florida. These water passages are known as estuaries.
Florida's estuaries can be subdivided into open water and salt marshes. Most of an estuary is made up of open water areas, such as Tampa Bay. The perimeter of Tampa Bay is mostly salt marshes and beds of inter-tidal rooted vegetation that are exposed to the daily rise and fall of the tide.
The salt marshes of Tampa Bay are dominated by the cordgrasses of the genus Spartina. Cordgrass quickly colonizes an area by sending out roots, also known as rhizomes, that extend laterally from the parent plant. Researchers and the surrounding community have successfully planted cordgrass in many formerly bare areas of Tampa Bay, providing new habitat for several small fish and invertebrate species that live in the salt marsh environment.
