This name game is confused even further by Pseudotsuga, which means false hemlock. The tree is not a fir, a hemlock, or a pine, but rather its own distinct genus. Mangrove Mangrove forests live in the harsh and unpredictable interface between land and sea. They are composed of taxonomically diverse, salt-tolerant tree and other plant species and they provide critical habitat for marine and terrestial life. Their shallow intertidal reaches offer refuge and nursery grounds for juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps, and mollusks.
Mangrove forests are also prime nesting and migratory sites for hundreds of bird species.
In Belize, more than 500 species of birds have been recorded in mangrove areas. Mangroves are also useful in treating effluent, as the plants absorb excess nitrates and phosphates, thereby preventing contamination of nearshore waters. These complex ecosystems are found between the latitudes of 32 degrees north and 38 degrees south, along the tropical coasts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. Mangroves vary in height according to species and environment, from mere shrubs to 120-foot trees. Mangrove ecosystems have been exploited heavily by local populations for the production of tannins, fuel wood, and construction materials.