Marine Biology

Survival in the anoxic soil

In red mangrove, Rhizophora, the root mass is kept above the loose, anoxic soils so as to have contact with air for respiration as against keeping the roots below the soil in other plants. In black mangroves, the presence of respiratory roots or pneumatophores extending above the anoxic mud surface of the mangrove habitats so as to have gaseous exchange is a special adaptation for efficient respiration mechanisms.