Mangroves in the Bahamas

Typical mangrove stand bordering a large tidal creek in the Bahamas. This stand is on the east end of Grand Bahama, about 4 miles south of Sweetings Cay, and is about 15 feet tall. Note the prop roots of the red-mangrove (Rhizophora mangle L.) trees that line the water's edge, and the yellow leaves on the red mangroves. These senescent leaves are near the point of falling into the channel. The tree with lighter leaves in the center of the slide, behind the red mangroves (their typical relative position) is black mangrove (Avicennia germinans Stearn); black mangroves have characteristic pneumatophores (oxygen-obtaining root projections) surrounding their bases, projecting some 5-20 cm out of the sediment. Photo from old ASLO slide collection; taken by S. Newell; background information provided by S. Newell; scanned by K.L. Schulz.