First-of-its-kind freshwater mangroves discovered in Brazil’s Amazon Delta

[UngulateNerd92]

• Researchers on an expedition in the Amazon River Delta have found mangroves growing in freshwater — a phenomenon never before documented in deltas or coastal mangroves anywhere else in the world.
• The mangroves, overlooked by previous satellite mapping efforts, increase the known area of mangroves in the region by 20%, or an additional 180 square kilometers (70 square miles).
• Mangroves are a more effective carbon sink than other types of tropical forest, with more than 8% of all carbon stocks worldwide held in Brazil’s mangroves.
• Despite their many ecosystem services, mangroves are not well protected or funded in Brazil.

On an expedition in the Amazon River Delta, researchers found mangroves growing in water with little to no salinity and overlapping with freshwater forested wetlands — a phenomenon never before documented in deltas or coastal mangroves anywhere else in the world.

Mangroves are hardy trees and shrubs that have adapted to live primarily in saltwater in the changing intertidal zones along marine coasts. National Geographic explorers Angelo Bernardino and Thiago Silva found these unique freshwater mangroves in April 2022 during a two-week expedition that was part of the larger, two-year National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition.

The mangroves had been overlooked by previous satellite mapping efforts. Their identification increases the known area of mangroves in the region by 20%, or an additional 180 square kilometers (70 square miles). The findings were published July 20 in the journal Current Biology.

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...roves-discovered-in-brazils-amazon-delta/amp/

 

[KevinB]

• Researchers on an expedition in the Amazon River Delta have found mangroves growing in freshwater — a phenomenon never before documented in deltas or coastal mangroves anywhere else in the world.
• The mangroves, overlooked by previous satellite mapping efforts, increase the known area of mangroves in the region by 20%, or an additional 180 square kilometers (70 square miles).
• Mangroves are a more effective carbon sink than other types of tropical forest, with more than 8% of all carbon stocks worldwide held in Brazil’s mangroves.
• Despite their many ecosystem services, mangroves are not well protected or funded in Brazil.

On an expedition in the Amazon River Delta, researchers found mangroves growing in water with little to no salinity and overlapping with freshwater forested wetlands — a phenomenon never before documented in deltas or coastal mangroves anywhere else in the world.

Mangroves are hardy trees and shrubs that have adapted to live primarily in saltwater in the changing intertidal zones along marine coasts. National Geographic explorers Angelo Bernardino and Thiago Silva found these unique freshwater mangroves in April 2022 during a two-week expedition that was part of the larger, two-year National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition.

The mangroves had been overlooked by previous satellite mapping efforts. Their identification increases the known area of mangroves in the region by 20%, or an additional 180 square kilometers (70 square miles). The findings were published July 20 in the journal Current Biology.

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...roves-discovered-in-brazils-amazon-delta/amp/

Incredibly interesting to read about. Thanks for sharing.

New discoveries like this are one more reason why the ongoing destruction of the Amazon basin - accelerated by the current Brazilian government - are such a shame and a crime.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Incredibly interesting to read about. Thanks for sharing.

New discoveries like this are one more reason why the ongoing destruction of the Amazon basin - accelerated by the current Brazilian government - are such a shame and a crime.

Thank you for your interest. I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[Zooplantman]

I admit, I was annoyed that the linked article never mentioned what species of mangrove they were talking about nor why, exactly, this occurrence was rare. Fortunately the link in the article to the published study offered better info.