lthough many species are not totally dependent halophytes some degree of salinity is required for optimum growth. Mangroves are essentially slow growing plants and cannot compete with faster growing more vigorous species.
Most plant species are very intolerant of saline conditions. Therefore, the real importance of salt in mangrove ecosystems is that it keeps large areas free of vegetation and allows for colonisation by the slow growing but salt tolerant mangroves.
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