Describe what benefits do mangrove swamps provide for coastal areas?

Answer 1

Mangrove are a natural nitrogen filtration system, helping to eliminate nitrates, phosphates, and some other toxins from the coastal waters. They are similarly used in recreational saltwater fish tanks.

Answer 2

Once established, the roots of the mangrove plants provide a habitat for oysters and help to impede water flow; thereby enhancing the deposition of sediment in areas where it is already occurring. It is usually the case that the fine, anoxic sediments under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which are scavenged from the overlying seawater by colloidal particles in the sediments. In areas of the world where mangroves have been removed for development purposes, the disturbance of these underlying sediments often creates problems of trace metal contamination of seawater and biota.

It is often stated that mangroves provide significant value in the coastal zone as a buffer against erosion, storm surge and tsunamis.