Question

Mangrove forests grow in ________.
a. Saline water
b. River water
c. Deserts
d. Mountains

Answer 1

Hint: Mangroves grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Their ideal habitat is generally saline and swampy. They are found in deltaic regions or on shorelines where rivers meet the sea.

Complete answer: Let’s consider each option one by one:
Option a- Mangroves actually grow in marshes close to the sea, in deltas and sea shores. These areas are covered with salt water or saline water. Thus, this is the correct option.
Option b- Although mangroves grow in swamps with a good input of fresh water, it cannot grow just in fresh water itself. Thus, this is an incorrect option.
Option c- Mangroves require marshy lands which are wet in contrast to the desert soil which is extremely dry and incapable of supporting mangrove vegetation. Thus, this is an incorrect option.
Option d- Mangroves cannot tolerate freezing temperatures, or even cold temperatures which form the usual climate of mountains. Thus, this is not a correct option either.
Therefore, the correct answer is, ‘a. Saline water’.

Note: The example of the Sundarbans can be remembered. The Sundarbans is a mangrove area, located in the deltaic region at the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna. It is a thriving forest in the saline waters on the shore of the Bay of Bengal.