Florida's native haven Mangroves, one of Florida's native trees, are a common and very important part of Florida's estuarine ecology and economy. Mangroves help protect our coastlines from storm damage.
Many animals find shelter either in the roots or branches.
Mangrove branches are nesting sites for coastal waterbirds such as brown pelicans, herons, ibis, egrets and roseate spoonbills. They provide protected nursery areas for fish, crustaceans, shellfish and food areas for many marine species such as snook, snapper, tarpon, jack, sheephead, oysters and shrimp. Plant life grows along the station's warm water discharge canal, which is typical of salt marshes native to Florida. These water passages are known as estuaries. Florida's estuaries can be subdivided into open water and salt marshes.