Today we went on a kayaking trip in the mangroves in Abu Dhabi.It was really cool and there were lots I learned about this ecosystem.The mangroves are very importannt because they are where fish lay eggs and baby fishes learn to fend for themselves before going out into the ocean, the mangroves also protect the shore. it is sad that in Abu Dhabi the mangroves were dredged to make channels for boats which disturbed the water and wildlife. Our guide showed us some tunnels which were made by a pack of arabian red foxes who had been forced to move when the channels were dredged they went to another part of the mangrove, but the water level at high tide went into their tunnels and the guides didn't see them again - this is sad. The foxes had special webbed feet so they could swim - I did not know foxes could swim or even that they liked water.The other cool thing were the roots of the mangrove trees they poke out of the muddy sand and this is how the tree breathes in oxygen because they cannot get it from the sticky mud which is full of saltwater. At low tide they get the oxygen they need, then the trees get rid of the salt through their leaves, the salt can be seen on the leaves when it dries in the sun. This reminded me of the science work we've been doing on filtration, and different states of matter and how water can be seen in different forms.
I got to hold and release a sea bream that a fisherman caught, and a swimmer crab which had very spiky nippers! I also tried stand up paddle boarding - it was awesome.I want to do the trip again it was great fun but I hope that the dredging has now stopped so that more wildlife comes back.
Joe G
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