Fort Myers & Sanibel/Lee County Traveler's Guide 2008 - (Page 54) ®® T H E M A N G R O V E E C O S Y S T E M - A D E L I C AT E B A L A N C E e cologists talk about the importance of dynamic ecosystems, and there’s no better example on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel than mangrove estuaries, which rival rainforests as one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. The health of area waters, THE LIFE including Pine Island Sound and Estero Bay, depends on each species playing its part. See some of the intricate web that makes up this fascinating, self-perpetuating cycle here – and on Lee County’s shores. For more aquatic information about the mangrove ecosystem, see page 33, or visit www.fortmyers-sanibel.com. Detritus Energy from the sun is photosynthesized by the mangrove. Detritus is formed by the action of bacteria and fungi on fallen leaves, bark, fruit and flowers, which in turn feeds small fish and crustaceans. Mollusks Some mollusks, such as the king’s crown, spend the first few years of their lives on the estuary floor around mangrove trees. OSPREY Crustaceans Shrimp scavenge the estuary floor and are in essence recyclers of nutrients that pass through their systems and further enrich the detritus. Birds Spoonbills swing their prodigious, flat beaks back and forth to “feel” in the mud for shrimp and other crustaceans. REDFISH MANGROVE SNAPPER PAGE 54 http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com
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