Mangrove Roots

[lwm]

Does anyone have, or can point me to, information on the rate of saltwater mangrove root growth?

 

Thanks in advance!

[CaptainPanic]

Somehow I'd be surprised if anyone ever measured it.

 

You want to know how fast the roots grow (in m/s? or kg/day or something?) of a mangrove forest that grows in salt water. And how would you express the fact that roots branch out? Do you want the speed of the tip of a root? The sum of all tips of a root? Does it include the thinnest parts, or only the bulky main roots?

 

It's probably a nightmare to set up an experiment to measure this... because digging up the roots is likely influence the measurement. I wouldn't know of any other way to measure it - digging it up will be the only way I guess? (Any biologist who knows this perhaps?)

 

I cannot answer it, but I'd say that there is no definite answer. Roots grow at very different speeds, depending on the soil, nutrients, temperature, etc.

One day a root can grow not at all, the next day some animal urinates next to the tree, and the roots shoot out to absorb the new nutrients.

 

Disclaimer: I am no expert, and I make things more simple than they are... and you should note that I use words such as "probably" and "likely", indicating some uncertainty.

Edited February 11, 2009 by CaptainPanic