The Habitats of Hays Inlet are all connected and contribute to the productivity of the surrounding marine environment.
These habitats support a variety of wildlife including international waders and many of the local fish that ends up on our dinner plates.
When you look at the mangrove forests of Hays Inlet you will notice they are dominated by one species Avicennia marina or the Grey Mangrove. This tree, a pioneer species, is the most widely distributed of all mangroves probably due to its tolerance of cooler climates and can be found on the coastlines of all of our states except Tasmania.
They tend to form the frontline of the forests on the seaward side of estuaries including Hays Inlet and are well adapted to coping with the tough conditions found on our estuary shorelines. They can cope with varying levels of salinity, exposure to tides, varying amounts of rainfall and can grow in mudflats, sand, reef flats and even in rocky embayments. They can do this because of a special root system comprised of peg roots which are also known as pneumatophores. These roots not only stabilize the mangrove in soft mud but are used to provide oxygen to the tree during low tide. The Grey Mangrove also has special glands in the underside of their leaves which exude excess salt from the plant.
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