UK (6 Feb 2004) -- The world's threatened mangrove forests provide important nurseries for coral-reef fish, according to a new study conducted around Belize and Mexico. These partially submerged trees act to protect juvenile fish from predation, says UK marine biologist Peter Mumby. His team tracked more than 100,000 fish from 64 species in coral reefs with and without adjoining mangrove habitats. They told the scientific journal Nature that fish species were more abundant on the reefs that had attached mangroves. It has long been suspected that the dense forests on the tidal wetlands in the tropics acted as fish nurseries but this study is said to be the first to show the extent and importance of the link. "Mangroves are trees that live in shallow water and provide a fascinating environment," said Dr Mumby, from Exeter University's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. "However, these swamps have their fair share of biting insects, crocodiles and snakes. In other words, they are thought to be no great loss when there are local pressures to build shrimp farms, new houses or tourist resorts. "Everyone sees the point in preserving coral reefs and the creatures that live on them because they are beautiful. Until now, the conservation of mangroves has received much less support." Urgent action Mumby's team tells Nature that mangrove forests are an important staging post for the fish as they journey from seagrass beds to their eventual adult habitat. | 
