Mangrove Communities Community Types Several major types of mangrove communities are described which result from differences in geological and hydrological processes. Generally, mangroves grow best in depositional environments with low wave energy. Primarily, these conditions exist along deltaic coasts or estuarine shorelines. When found on rock surfaces, it appears that they are growing in sediment trapped in cracks rather than directly on the rocky surface. Riverine forests are tall flood plain forests along flowing waters such as tidal rivers and creeks.
Conditions are favorable for extensive growth due to flushing by daily tides.
In addition, freshwater runoff and terrestrial nutrient influx enhance this type of mangrove community. Fringing forests exist as a relatively thin fringe along waterways. These forests appear to be flushed daily by tides, but do not receive then amount of terrestrial runoff as the riverine forests. Overwash forests exist as islands frequently washed over by tides. All species are present with the Red mangrove the dominant species.