Today is the first official World Oceans Day and as you can imagine this is a day for celebration at Shellbelle's Tiki Hut!
The Ocean Project has ask two things of us today. First, wear blue in honor of the ocean. Secondly, tell people two things they likely don't know about our ocean and how they can help.
Here in Florida we have mangrove trees and they play an important role in preserving our coastlines and the inhabitants of the world's oceans. There are three species of mangroves in Florida: Rhizophora mangle (Red Mangrove), Avicennia germinans (Black Mangrove) and Laguncularia racemosa (White Mangrove). Yesterday I was hiking at Weedon Island and took this picture of the distinctive roots of the red mangroves and the black mangroves.
Red mangroves live closest to the water and are actually in the water at high tide. The roots of the red mangrove drop down from their branches and embed themselves in the sediment below. These are called prop roots and they have the ability to take in water while keeping out the salt. The appearance of the prop roots of the red mangrove have given them the nickname of walking tree, because they appear to be walking on water. This tree takes in oxygen through pores on its bark called lentices.
Black mangrove roots are just as distinctive as those of the red mangrove. The black mangrove grows behind red mangroves and its root system sends out finger-like projections called pneumatophores, which extend upwards through the sediment, allowing the tree to take in oxygen. Black mangroves remove salt by excreting it through their leaves.
White mangroves cannot survive in the water, so they grow the furthest from the coastline. They have neither prop roots or pneumatophores, but their leaf stems have two bumps that remove the salt taken in by their roots.
So, now you're asking yourself what all this information has to do with World Oceans Day, right? All food chains start somewhere and one of these chains begins in mangroves. The leaves of mangrove trees fall into the water, where they decompose into a substance called detritus. Detritus is ingested by critters, such as small crabs and young shrimp, which in turn are eaten by fish, who are then eaten by bigger fish, who end up in the bellies of mammals, such as dolphins, thus completing the food chain.
The mighty mangrove doesn't stop at food chains in aiding our coastal ecosytem! The tangled roots of mangroves also provide a habitat for many marine organisms and protect the young of many larger species. Mangroves also serve as nesting sites for many of our beautiful birds. Mangroves protect our coastlines against erosion, they filter pollutants from river runoff and they're just darn beautiful! Unfortunately, mangroves are being lost. The good news? You can help!
Visit the Mangrove Action Project to help reverse the degradation and loss of mangrove ecosystems worldwide.
As I wrote earlier, mangroves play an important part in a food chain, but there is something that that does not belong in our oceans — something that has been ingested by precious creatures and something that ultimately led to their deaths. What is this you ask? Garbage! We've all seen it on our beaches — plastic bottles, fast-food containers, tangled fishing lines and more. The garbage was thrown there or washed ashore from some unknown location. What are people thinking? Animals eat this crap or they get caught in it and they die. They die.
Did you know that an estimated 100,000 mammals and 2 million seabirds die every year after eating or getting caught in plastic? So, wherever you are or whatever you're doing, don't leave your trash behind. Take it with you and dispose of it properly. Please. Thank you.
Aim to be carbon neutral by reducing and offsetting your energy consumption.
Upgrade to Energy Star appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Rethink what you need, purchase “green” products, and buy locally grown foods and sustainable seafood.
Let your friends, family, colleagues, and the local media know about the impact of climate change on the ocean.
Walk, bike, carpool, and take public transportation to cut down your coral-reef harming carbon emissions.
Get active as a volunteer with a local watershed or ocean group.
Take part in a World Ocean Day activity near you or plan your own.
For more World Oceans Day posts visit CrazyCris @ Here There and Everywhere who is hosting the Oceanic Blog-A-Thon!
Thank you for all your "C" worthy words. There is such delight in this celebration. Thank you for stopping by. May your sails be set free this day in shared joy.
I love the seven "C"s - AWESOME!
Great post! Thanks for the all the great information. I'm certainly wearing blue today! I even told the video store guy what day it was today! Spread the word!
It's a sad testimony... Everywhere on the planet, life forms are suffering because of our careless actions. Thanks for your story. Happy Oceans Day!
It's nice to see the mangroves getting some appreciation! I had so much fun around them as a teenager visiting Veracruz and the Florida Keys... hiking around mangrove coasts is a very rewarding challenge, just teeming with wildlife!
great post! lived in FL for a few years. your cycle of life was a cool take on the day. each piece playing its part. happy Oceans Day!
What a lovely, enjoyable read. I can tell you put much care and thought into it. Thank you for the great call to action.
Thank you all for celebrating World Oceans Day with me and thank you Chris for hosting the Oceanic Blog-A-Thon.
I'm happy to see you all enjoyed learning more about Mangroves. Kathy, there are about 50 species worldwide, isn't that amazing?
You were right Rose, I did enjoy your post Sometimes Real Sometimes Pretend . I have always held seashells in awe, ever since my grandmother told me the mermaids left them on the shore while I was sleeping. They remind me of her and all that can be.
Hi Shellbelle, I love your blog, it is Awesome!
I also enjoyed this informative post about our world of oceans. They really are our lifeline and we need to protect and care for them.
Mangroves do play an important part in Florida, that is why they are protected from being cut down and uprooted.
Hi Rhonda, love your blog and I will be "following" you. I've not been in FL too long but learned alot about mangroves from your blog.
Noticed on the side about the Sand Scultpting Festival, I've already marked it in my calendar! There's another down in Ft. Myers in November, I believe. Thanks for all the info and a belated Happy World Oceans Day!
Thanks for visiting my blog and when I'm up your way I'll be visiting the Florida Botanical Gardens.
BTW Rhonda, where do I find Rose' blog and her post Sometimes Read, Sometimes Pretend. Sounds like it might have something to do with shells and I am getting into that.
I am so grateful for all the people who speak up and try to raise awareness about the ocean and the planet in general. It's so hard to read all this..., how we humans behave toward nature. There is such a disconnect... And it wasn't too long ago that I didn't even know about the great Pacific garbage patch.
Lovely themes, gorgeous photo and a detailed write up to celebrate the World Oceans Day. I can see you have put your heart and soul in making this fantastic, educative post.