Revealing Our Roots - Virtual Tour Sugei Buloh Mangroves

These climate types are EXCLUSIVELY where mangroves can be found.

• Tropics

  (between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, but nearer the Equator)

• Subtropics

  (Within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, but further from the Equator)

• Cold climates

• Warm temperate climates (locations just north of the Tropic of Cancer, and just south of the Tropic of Capricorn.)

Answer explanation

This is the spatial distribution of mangroves.

Singapore has ​ (a)   species of mangrove plants. Sungei Buloh has​ (b)   of them! Worldwide, there are only​ (c)   to ​ (d)   mangrove tree species! So we can actually see about 50% of the world's mangrove tree species in Sungei Buloh.

• 35
• 30
• 60
• 70

How do mangrove plants adapt to the high salt content of the waters in mangrove forests?

• Mangrove plants may have salt-secreting / salt-excreting leaves.

• Mangrove plants may have salt excluding roots.

• Mangrove plants may live near coastal areas.

Answer explanation

Mangrove plants adapt to the high salinity of the waters in mangrove forests:

Option 1: They may possess salt-secreting / excreting leaves that remove salt from the saline water that their roots have absorbed.

Option 2: They may also posses salt-excluding roots that prevent salt from entering the plant.

Option 3: While mangrove plants grow in coastal areas, this refers to the spatial distribution of mangrove plants, rather than its adaptation.

Why do mangrove plants need to grow special root adaptations to breathe and stabilise itself in the mangrove forest environment?

• The coastal waters contain high concentration of fine sediment.

• The fine sediment in coastal waters cause the waters to lack in oxygen.

• The environment that mangrove plants grow in tend to be waterlogged (saturated with water).

The roots of some mangrove plants can take in oxygen directly from the air around it.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Yes! This is true! Mangrove plants are amazing because some species are able to take in oxygen directly from the air around it, through their roots!

What kind of roots do mangrove plants like the sonoracio quesolaris have that allow them to take in oxygen directly from the air around it?

• Cone roots that stick straight up

• Wide spreading roots that makes the tree more stable

• Salt-secreting leaves that makes the plant more salt tolerant

Answer explanation

Cone roots known as pneumatophiles allow the roots of some mangrove plants to take in air directly from the atmosphere.

Mangrove plant species like the rhizophora genus have _______ _______ that make them more stable in tidal conditions. Their exposure during low tide also allows them to take in oxygen directly from the air.

This type of root that some mangrove plants possess play a similar function to stilt roots - they help with stability and also allow the roots to take in oxygen from the air around it.

• Buttress roots

• Knee roots or knee-bent roots

• Wide spreading roots

We humans also benefit from the mangrove ecosystem. These benefits that human receives from nature are known as ___________ ___________

What are some of the uses of mangrove forests?

• Habitat of local wildlife

• Source of food for people

• Protection against floods and soil erosion

• Take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during photosynthesis

• Stores away carbon and is thus important in our fight against climate change