Figure 17.5 Thematic map of mangrove leaf area  index (LAI) for mangroves on the north-west of  South Caicos Island. Mangrove LAI has been  categorised into 5 categories with progressively  brighter shades representing progressively higher  LAIs. Comparison of this figure with Figure 10.9   (Plate 11) indicates that LAI values of >8 were  only found in a few patches of tall Rhizophora  mangle, and that most of the tall Rhizophora and  tall mixed mangrove community had LAIs of 6-8.  Short, high density Rhizophora and much of the  Avicennia germinans stands had LAIs of 4-6.