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TIMES EVOKE ‘Submerged are scientific wonders — and home to rich ’ n ocean. And a . It might seem that when two such forces of nature meet, one Graeme P Berlyn is EH Harriman Professor of Forest Management and Physiology of Trees at Yale University’s School of water roots. These vertical roots are Aoverwhelms the other. However, the op- called pneumatophores because they posite is true. When oceans and forests meet, Forestry and Environmental Studies. Writing for Times Evoke, the distinguished environmental expert discusses the complex contain pores (lenticels) on their sur- their worlds mingle and merge together in science of submerged , spread across coastlines from Africa to Asia — and home to thousands of species: face that can take up oxygen. They extraordinary harmony. The balance achieved Photos: Getty Images also produce less developed seedlings between these elements then creates a stunning angrove forests comprise on their branches. These are shed and panorama of life. Submerged forests feature the the interface between wet- can float for a time but these will not world’s greatest biodiversity, each layer blossom- lands and grass mead- complete seedling development un- ing with living beings, from bacteria and phyto- Mows along a vast expanse less they find muddy or solid ground. , and worms, all sheltered within of tropical shorelines all over the Black mangrove roots can only filter wet woods, to shorebirds and migratory flocks world. They also occur along bays, es- out about 90% of the salt in its envi- nestled in branches and over-ground roots, to tuaries or mouths of rivers by these ronment, but it can expel the extra animals, from tiny tree-climbing to mighty shores. Mangroves have a tremendous salt on its leaf surfaces. tigers, hiding and prowling in the sediments and environmental impact — mangrove The third group of classic man- sands, the thick foliage of a submerged forest. forests are one of the greatest sources groves is the white mangrove (Lagun- The amazing biodiversity of such sunken of biodiversity on this planet. They cularia racemosa). This family gener- jungles then becomes a marvel of science itself. have a rich underwater component, a ally grows inland from black man- At its tiniest level, the bacteria it shelters reju- surface component and an aerial com- groves and above the high tide line. venates an entire submerged forest, breaking ponent. Mangrove com- White mangrove leaves have down leaves and branches in water and releasing munities include fish, two glands on the base of their nutrients into this . Underwater insects, shellfish, birds their leaf stalks (petioles) like sequester about 20 times as much of many species (like that secrete sugars — this carbon dioxide as terrestrial forests while the pelicans, egrets and attracts bees and makes the complex root systems of these wildernesses col- spoonbills), saltwater white mangrove a premier lect the sediments carried in by tides, guarding crocodiles, monkeys, honey tree. Thus, the man- the ground firmly against erosion. As Times and fungi. Many groves form an environmen- Evoke’s global experts explain, even an ancient organisms, especially fish, spend their tal sequence, with the red submerged forest, over 50,000 years old, holds early years in the protection of the mangroves closest to the within it answers to medicines humanity needs. mangroves and their intricate below- shore, then the black man- Significantly, such scientific miracles come and above-ground root systems. groves in sites that can be with an astonishing aesthetic world. The Mangroves, along with sea grasses periodically inundated, and depths and shallows of underwater forests and , comprise the ‘blue car- NEVER ALONE: From underwater to the surface and air, life teems at every level in mangrove then, the white mangroves throb with beautiful, vibrant forms of life, its bon’ ecosystem of stored carbon in above the high tide line. strata and dimensions nature’s palaces of shad- sediments along many tropical and ated by human activities. When man- There are over 100 species of trees and red mangrove is The mangroves do so ows and light. Times Evoke presents glimpses subtropical coastal zones. Their com- grove trees die of natural causes, they shrubs designated as mangroves. How- that its seeds germi- much for the planet — but from three kinds of submerged forests — man- plex aerial and submerged root sys- generally fall into the sea and the car- ever, there are three classic groups of nate while still on we are losing them very groves, kelp and ancient cypress. It is from tems moderate current flows and the bon may be stored in the sediment on mangroves — the red mangroves (Rhiz- the tree — if the disturbingly and rapidly to these wonders that we can learn about nature’s canopies moderate wind flow — they the sea floor for long periods of time. ophoraceae), the black mangroves seedlings are shed A 19th century engraving oil spills, and tapestry of life, and how we can fit more har- are the interface between the wetlands Mangroves are present worldwide (Acanthaceae) and the white man- into the water, they of a mangrove details shoreline development. moniously in this. Our attempts at overwhelm- and sea grass communities for the con- on various shorelines between approx- groves (Combretaceae). can float for many herons in its Still, it remains a wonderful ing nature are causing the destruction of mul- tinental flow of water and solutes into imately 25°N and 25°S latitude. The The most classic mangrove is the months until they experience to visit the man- tiple ecosystems, including submerged forests. the ecosystem. Mangroves also supply term ‘mangrove’ is used to refer to a red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). find a muddy or soil site to take root, grove ecosystems, but remember, if It is imperative that we now adopt harmony fuelwood and other forest products, like whole of trees and shrubs. Red mangroves have stilt roots that grow and mature on. you go down to these tropical shores — and awe — towards nature, crucial for the food and medicine, for people. And, in But the trees designated as mangroves arch above the water and provide sur- The black mangrove (Avicennia with birds and beasts galore, you bet- well-being of our home, the Earth. This is also addition to the nutrition they give us, are not closely related; they belong to faces with pores that allow the entry of germinans) generally occupies sites ter not go alone. Ferocious creatures crucial for our own well-being, for by emulating mangroves protect us — along with a number of different families. oxygen which compensates for the low interior to the red mangrove. It has a are gathered there simply because the the harmony of an ocean meeting a forest can other trees and forests, mangroves se- However, they have all adapted to harsh oxygen environment of the submerged unique adaptation for inundated sites mangroves are their natural home. we perhaps discover a new consciousness, quester a sizeable amount of carbon to coastal environments of saline, brack- portion of the complex root system. with low oxygen — it produces verti- Watch out for tigers, pythons, croco- submerged deep within us. offset greenhouse gas emissions cre- ish waters and low oxygen conditions. Another remarkable adaptation of the cal roots from its network of under- diles and much more.

Photos: Getty Images

A vital coastal ROOKERIES AND NURSERIES TIDAL MOVERS PREDATORS barrier against The thickets of the mangrove High tides bring From estuarine storms and fl oods, roots and its sprawling nesting marine fi sh and sea crocodiles to stingrays a protector against areas house multiple organisms, snakes to mangroves and lemon sharks, the soil erosion and a from fi sh and molluscs like while low tides waters of the mangroves crucial carbon sink, oysters to and other see hermit crabs, are rich with predators. mangroves are also crustaceans, small birds like turtles, raccoons In addition, the home to diverse kingfi shers, long-legged wading and land-adapting Sundarbans mangroves kinds of beings birds like spoonbills, migratory amphibious fi sh like resound with the roar of fl ocks and like pelicans mudskippers emerge the famed Bengal tiger Hermit Spoonbill Mangrove Kingfisher Lemon Sharks ‘The African sea forest is a magical world ‘An ancient sunken forest — its animals taught me about life and love’ can give us vital medicines Craig Foster is a well-known natural history filmmaker and founder of the Sea Change Trust, working to protect the Great African Sea Forest. Speaking to Srijana Mitra Das at — and climate lessons’ Times Evoke, Foster discussed why this astonishing forest is so crucial, how we can help conserve it — and his unique underwater friendship with an octopus: Daniel L Distel is Director of the Ocean Genome Legacy Center

Photos courtesy: The Sea Change Project at Northeastern University. Having recently led a famous scientific What is the African sea forest like? expedition into an ancient sunken forest off the coast of Alabama, This is a 1,200 kilometre-long stretch Distel tells Times Evoke why this quest was so important — of underwater kelp forest, all along the west coast of the tip of Africa and and the secrets this submerged forest holds within it: some of the east coast. It’s an enor- Photo courtesy: Daniel Distel mous ecosystem, based on an extraor- ear the modern coast dinary process called — the of Alabama, a bald wind drives colder, rougher waters cypress forest once up the continent and deep, nature- Nsprang up. It likely rich volumes come up in the shallows. flourished for tens of thousands At the heart of such waters are great of years, with new trees grow- forests, which provide food and shel- ing over the fallen trunks of ter for thousands of species. predecessors. At some point, Entering such an underwater conditions changed — the sea forest is a three-dimensional expe- level rose and the stumps and rience. You have a canopy of leaves FOREST OF WONDERS: fallen trunks and branches be- on top. The light pours in through The African Sea came inundated and covered shafts in those canopies. You’re in Forest is rich in kelp with a thick layer of peat and a daunting, magical world. There which stores carbon, sand. They then remained bur- are also layers of animals living mitigates ocean ied for some 50,000 to 60,000 from inside the undergrowth all the acidification and years, before being uncovered way up to the canopies. It’s one of offsets emissions in 2004 by the huge waves of the greatest and most magnificent Hurricane Ivan. ecosystems on this planet. Once uncovered, the exposed ing our own practices, we can I had the privilege of an extraor- wood attracted a variety of A DEEP ANTIQUITY: In December 2019, scientists led by Daniel L Distel Why do you say this ecosys- bring about positive change. dinary friendship with a female organisms that used the sunken unearthed an underwater cypress forest, possibly 60,000 years old tem is ‘living science’? We shouldn’t even be looking octopus — she taught me how to live trees for food and shelter. Simi- Nature’s most biodiverse at extraction from nature. We in the water, how to watch quietly, lar submerged forests have been cells of animals, the compounds Our first day at the Alabama places are the life support should be looking at regen- how to , how to calm my found along the coasts of Eng- that these symbiotic bacteria sunken forest site was cold, system of our planet. Every eration. Our whole attitude entire nervous system. She intro- land, Wales, Sweden, Germany produce may be preselected to windy and raining, an unexpect- second breath we take is has to change. duced me to species I didn’t even and . These forests initiate have low toxicity to animals and ed storm coinciding with our because of the phytoplank- know existed — I saw the shrimp an explosion of growth as the so, these may be a good source dive schedule. Visibility was ter- ton in these oceans making You’ve become friends with an species thanks to her because she wood constitutes a major source for drug leads. They also belong rible, ranging from zero to one oxygen — the Amazon rain- octopus. A shrimp variety, Het- allowed me with my camera inside of nutrition and shelter. Sites to a group of bacteria that is meter. Yet, our researchers man- forest in comparison makes eromysis fosteri, is named after her den where they were all living, like these are relatively rare — relatively recently discovered. aged to collect many pieces of only a tiny bit. We couldn’t you. Please tell us about your simply because she trusted me. If but with , we can For that reason, the compounds ancient wood, bringing these live without that phyto- interactions with these beings? they trust you, animals in the sea expect to see rising sea levels, they produce are likely to be carefully to the surface. In the plankton. I believe a huge These friendships happened forest reach out, touch you, look increasing storm intensity and novel. It’s a long shot that the end, we collected over 350 speci- biological brain, many IN ITS OWN WORLD: An octopus in the undergrowth slowly. In the first four years of into your eyes. When they look at flooding, all of which will intro- Photo courtesy: Daniel Distel mens. Despite the difficult condi- times more complex than going into the sea forest every- you, you realise each of these ani- duce massive amounts of wood tions and the stress, this was an the human brain, is at work in this ing fauna are facing severe danger day, I started using tracking skills mals is an individual, super-intel- into marine environments. So, incredibly exciting expedition. world. The creation of oxygen is just due to over-fishing and poaching. for animals I’d learnt from master ligent, and has very deep feelings. studying sites like this gives us We saw species that we had not one of the thousands of crucial sci- We can all help change this. Peo- trackers in the Kalahari. Very slow- You realise how precious they a window into the future of worked with before and isolated entific roles these ecosystems per- ple can research where certain ly, I earned the trust of some animals are. They’re living these extraordi- coastal environments. nearly 100 bacterial strains in form. Yet, we keep plundering our goods are coming from. To help who realised I wasn’t going to harm nary lives with so much to teach us, Importantly, such sites also pure culture, most being new to own life-support systems. marine ecosystems, we shouldn’t them. They started going about their not just about and aid the search for new medi- science. All these specimens This is extremely dangerous for buy fish coming out of the ocean. daily lives before me — and these chemistry, but also about ways of cines, which is otherwise both were added to the public biore- us. The Earth will always survive. We should ask what the source is animals became my master teachers. thinking. They nurture their young slow and risky. Most drug candi- pository at the Ocean Genome It’s our species that is very fragile. and whether it’s viable. If we spend They showed me things about living to the point of sacrificing their lives dates fail, either because they Legacy Center (OGL) at North- This planet is actually very small a little time researching and chang- that no book could. for them. It teaches you so much prove ineffective or because they eastern University, a public DNA and held together by one great liv- about love. Their lives are precari- cause more harm than good — and tissue bank that provides ing system. So, whether an ocean is ous. Just about 3% of octopus reach for example, many compounds samples to researchers around in Africa or Europe, despoiling it full adulthood, for example. Life that kill bacteria (antibiotics) the world. They were also dis- FULLY ONLY 3% OF OUR OCEANS will impact people around the 52% spans are often just a year and a half are also harmful to animals and tributed to our various labs for EXPLOITED ARE PROTECTED, COMPARED world. We don’t even realise how TO ABOUT 12% OF — but they have more adventure in so, are not useful as drugs. But further scientific study. vulnerable we are. The Covid pan- PROTECTED LAND that time than most humans have among the groups of organisms FROM BARK TO LAB: While these studies continue, Shipworms to bacteria, demic is showing us just a fraction Almost 80% of in their entire life. It’s another world that colonise underwater wood a point worth noting is that this of what could actually happen if where time is much more precious. are wood-boring clams called submerged forests are site is ephemeral. The wood is we keep treating nature in this way. the world’s fi sh 1% When I met these beings, I kept shipworms — they digest wood home to tiny organisms rapidly being consumed. With stocks are over- RECOVERING thinking how we humans were de- with the aid of enzymes pro- crucial to modern medicine time, it will be gone without a What endangers the African sea forest exploited. Around signed to live close to nature, and duced by symbiotic bacteria that trace. The animals we saw (all — and how can ordinary people help? 90% of large 7% how incredibly far we have come. live inside their cells. compounds we discover in this ) would soon die as Plastic and chemical pollution, Such reconnections can be painful. It turns out that these bacte- search will find their way into they totally consume their wood- 20% DEPLETED warming climates and ocean acidi- predatory fi sh You understand what is happening ria are very good at producing the pharmacy — but mankind based ecosystem. So, there is an fication are problems. Then, there’s stock are gone MODERATELY to this incredible natural world. potential antibiotics. We reason would have no drugs at all if it urgency to learn about this sub- EXPLOITED 17% tremendous over-fishing. Reef fish, OVER-EXPLOITED And you realise how much sensitiv- that because they have evolved were not for scientists who were merged forest, and its beings, , multiple varieties of amaz- Graph courtesy: Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iForest, a New Delhi-based global environmental NGO ity and magic we humans have lost. for millions of years within the willing to take long shots. while we can.