There are three important abiotic characteristics in mangrove ecosystems: salinity, temperature, and oxygen. With salitity, mangroves have adapted many ways to prevent salt intake. Some excrete salt through their leaves, and some have root systems that are too small for salt particles, but just big enough for water to pass through.

Temperatures, that is of the water, are usually tropical temperatures (on average about 65 degrees) and is just right for the mangroves. Temperature is measured with a datalogger (right).

Lastly, since there is a lack of oxygen where the mangroves are located, black mangroves have created an adaptation known as a pneumatophore, which is a root protrusion coming from the water or the soil. Since there is poor oxygen intake anywhere, these pneumatophores collect and store oxygen for times when the oxygen is needed.