On these days, these snails don't even come down and instead, climb even higher. Some crabs also clamber up the trees, some even forage for insects there. So most of green food is found in the canopy. Many leaf-eaters are thus found in this layer. The mangroves provide additional safety from land-bound predators.
Few predators can negotiate the unstable mud and slippery, poky mangrove roots.
The thicket of mangrove branches and leaves also provide shelter from strong coastal winds. Mangroves are thus are ideal nesting sites for birds, within easy reach of the rich buffet in the water and mud but protected from large predators. Many birds have developed special beaks, feet and behaviour to specialise in one item of the buffet. Mangroves also provide food for migrating birds. Indonesian mangroves are visited by millions of migrating birds that travel from Australia and the Pacific Islands to China and Siberia.