Mangrove trees can be distantly related and are grouped together for their

shared characteristics rather than true genetic ties. Boos wala ko kahibaw unsay nindut
na transition ari ibutang.. Some individuals will grow to be no more than stunted shrubs
while others will grow to be up to 131 feet (40 meters) tall.

According to Lugo and Snedaker (1974), a mangrove forest is categorized into five
types of forest-based upon its surrounding geography. (magbutang ug picture, ikaw lang
buot asa ibutang, diraa ba or sa appendix.)

1. Fringe mangrove forest. Fringe mangrove forests are the typical and classic
mangrove zonation pattern. These forests along open bays and lagoons that
experience full sun. Thus, fringe mangrove forests are directly exposed to the tides
and sea waves and therefore exposed to storms and strong winds. Compared to
the riverine forest, fringe mangrove forests receive less amount of nutrients for
those are flushed daily by tides. This explains why trees here are shorter to adapt
to poor nutrient supply and with an average height of 20-25 meters.
2. Overwashed mangrove forest. An overwash forest is similar to a fringe forest
except the entire forest is an island that becomes flooded at high tide and therefore
wash away organic matter. Normally these islands are dominated by Rhizophora
species but also other very salt tolerant mangrove species can be found as
Avicennia for example. Furthermore, mangroves on growing in overwashed
mangrove forests normally reach a height between 2 to 7 meters.
3. Riverine mangrove forest. Riverine mangrove forests are within river floodplains
by the coast and are heavily influenced by the changing seasons. Sometimes they
are inundated with fresh river water, while during summer droughts the soil can
become exceptionally salty when the fresh river water is almost nonexistent. The
sheltered areas where mangroves are not exposed to sea waves and storms. This
is why the growing conditions are perfect for mangroves, it has more productive
trees and has a higher average height of 30-35 meters.
4. Basin mangrove forest. Basin mangrove forests extend far inland and occur in
inlets, deep bays, and coves. During dry season, the water level in the basin like
a pond continues to decrease very slowly caused by the groundwater flow
discharging to open sea due to water level difference between the basin and the
open sea, making the salinity is the soil high.
Mangroves growing in basin forests are often stunted and are often located
in interior of swamps or drainage depressions. The water in basin forests is
stagnant or just very slowly flowing. Most of the time basin mangrove forests are
dominated by Avicennia and Rhizophora species.
5. Dwarf mangrove forest. Dwarf, or scrub, mangrove forests fringe mangrove
forests appearing in colder climate and/or sediments with little amount of nutrients
which making them only attain canopy heights of less than 5 feet (1.5 meters)
although they contain the same species as the other types of forest. The stunted
growth is often attributed to a lack of nutrients, temperature, high salinity, and rocky
soils. Only Avicennia marina and Kandelia candel is able to survive under such
conditions.