For several weeks now, a striking fuchsia pink hue has been coloring part of the Biodiversity Mangrove Nursery and the Griselle pond, near the Salines d'Orient pond.

This natural phenomenon, as spectacular as it is ephemeral, is not not linked to pollution but under specific conditions favoring the proliferation of naturally occurring organisms present in these environments.

The lack of rain recorded in recent weeks leads to a increase in salinity and limits water renewal. These parameters can promote the development of photosynthetic bacteria and microorganisms producing pink or purple pigmentsresponsible for this unusual coloration. Already observed in Guadeloupe and MartiniqueThe phenomenon was studied by Ifremer and the University of the Antilles.

A fragile balance

The mangroves are essential ecosystems for island territories: they protect the coasts against erosionThey filter the water and support significant biodiversity. However, their balance can be temporarily disrupted. disturbed due to several factors, such as high salinity, high temperatures or an accumulation of organic matter. In the Antilles, the Sargassum strandings can sometimes promote these conditions by limiting the oxygenation of the waters. With the return of the rains and improved water circulationConditions gradually return to normal and the coloration disappears naturally. The “pink mangrove” currently observed in Saint-Martin should therefore remain a temporary spectacle, testifying to the richness but also the fragility of these protected environments.

See also: https://www.faxinfo.fr/environnement-une-nouvelle-vie-pour-la-mangrove-des-salines-dorient/