Mangrove seedling (underwater)

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

A mangrove seedling growing in an almost permanently submerged part of the Kali river mouth (Karwar, Karnataka), while Cerithidea snails plough the ground around it as they graze. Not sure about the mangrove species (I am very bad at mangrove ID) but it is probably either a Sonneratia or Rhizophora sp.

Mangroves live in the harshest of environments - they can withstand submergence in spite of being primarily terrestrial, cope with salinity fluctuationsthat kill most other plants, have developed strategies to respire in the most air-depleted soil, and successfully colonise some of the most weather-beaten coastlines. Mangrove forests form a barrier and soil anchoring system that stops surging tides from weathering the land; their complex root systems serve as fish nurseries that ultimately support countless human livelihoods (and stomachs); and of course, like all forests, they produce considerable amounts of breathable oxygen.

Why anyone would clear mangroves to make way for buildings completely baffles me.

GoPro Hero 4
FL 3mm (fisheye)
SS 1/850
Av 2.8
ISO 100
EC -0.5
Full frame

Pardon the low quality, this was originally photographed in low visibility, and I have subsequently edited it to bring out details.