Where mangrove diversity is high, mangrove species show clear patterns of vertical zonation relative

The mangrove trees of different species are usually distributed according to height within the intertidal zone. For instance, in mangrove forests near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the mangroves growing nearest the water belong to the genus Rhizophora. At this level in the intertidal zone, Rhizophora is inundated by average high tides. Above Rhizophora grow other mangroves such as Avicennia, which is flooded by the average spring tides, and Laguncularia, which is touched only by the highest tides. Figure 3.27 shows zonation within a mangrove forest.