The mangrove is a type of tree that lives along coasts, with its roots growing in highly saline water (water with lots of dissolved salt). Scientists have recently learned that mangroves are able to undergo a process similar to reverse osmosis in the tips of their roots. As a result, the water entering the mangrove's body is significantly less salty than the water surrounding its roots.
As opposed to artificial reverse osmosis, which uses pressure generated by pumps to force water through a membrane, the mangrove's "passive" reverse osmosis uses negative pressure generated by water evaporating from the mangrove's leaves to pull fresh water through membrane-like structures in its roots. Technology based on the red mangrove's version of "reverse osmosis" is already being developed, and there is hope it may lead to a much less energy-intensive method of desalination (removing salt from water).
Develop a potential explanation as to why it would be advantageous to the mangrove to desalinate the water entering its body. Include the following concepts in your answer: concentration gradient, osmosis, solutes, plasma membrane.
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