Satellite view of the Indus River delta and surrounding coastline in Pakistan and India   Southern Asia: Coastal India and Pakistan Mangroves   2,200 square miles (5,800 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware Critical/Endangered

· Standing up to Salt
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Standing up to Salt

Mangroves provide a transition from the fresh inland waters to the salty Arabian Sea. These trees are well adapted to surviving in a saline environment. Their roots keep large amounts of damaging salt from entering the treeās system, and their leaves can get rid of the salt that does manage to enter.

Special Features

This ecoregion lies in the delta of the Indus River. As the river flows to the Arabian Sea, it passes through one of the largest deserts of the world, the Thar. There its waters pick up heavy loads of salt, and carry them into the mangrove habitat. In addition to the extra salt, this region also experiences extremes of temperature -- from below freezing in winter to incredibly hot in summer -- and very little rainfall (less than 2 in or 5 cm) per year).

	Fishing cats are good swimmers. They have been observed diving into water in pursuit of fish and swimming fully submerged to grab the legs of unsuspecting waterfowl sitting on the water.

Wild Side

Like mangrove habitats elsewhere, this ecoregion serves as a nursery for numerous species of fish and other aquatic animals. A "food web" exists here that begins with the nutrients brought in by both the river and the sea. Mangrove leaves and twigs add more nutrients to the mix as they fall into the water and decompose. Young fish, crustaceans, and other creatures thrive on this food; they, in turn, become food for larger aquatic species. The fishing cat--an olive-green, stocky, short-legged cat with black spots--is strongly associated with wetlands. Fishing cats primarily eat fish but also dine on crustaceans, frogs, snakes, and birds.

Cause for Concern

All of this ecoregion is getting dirtier from the industrial pollution of the city of Karachi. Itās also getting saltier: As water is diverted from the Indus River, the riverās salt content rises, and more salt ends up in the mangrove habitat. Outside protected areas, mangroves are cut for fuel, food for livestock, and for lumber.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.