Life in the Mangroves During Spring Tides
In Life in the Mangroves During Spring Tides, narrator Sir David Attenborough examines what happens in the sea-grass bed and mangrove forest when a large tide comes in. Learn how one animal, the tarpon, has adapted to living in an ecosystem that has low levels of oxygen. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
Lesson Express
Q: What happens to tides during the equinox?
A: During the equinox, the tides are much higher than normal.
Q: What do predators do during this very high tide?
A: Predators go farther inland, including as far as the mangroves where schools of small fish usually find a safe haven from predators.
Q: How has the tarpon adapted to surviving in the mangrove forests once the tide recedes and the water level drops?
A: The tarpon goes above water to breathe oxygen from the air.