Structural Analysis of Mangrove Communities on the Central Queensland Coastline

Abstract

The mangrove communities of the Central Queensland coastline are structurally and floristically intermediate between the relatively simple, temperate mangrove communities to the south, and the more complex and luxuriant communities to the north. Climatically the central Queensland coastline is subtropical with a low (1011 mm) annual rainfall, falling mainly in the summer months; evaporation rates are high, particularly in winter. As a result of a four-metre tidal range and a gentlysloping depositional coastline, the areal extent of mangroves is large and most topographic and physiognomic types are represented. Twelve species of mangroves occur in the study area and although zonation is recognizable, the zones are neither constant nor discrete. In the Port Curtis area, three large plots (500 m2 have been established in which all mangroves have been numbered and tagged since January 1975. The results of the initial investigation of the plots are presented together with some of the changes noted on re-examination after 12 months.

Ghosts of dry seasons past: Legacy of severe drought enhances mangrove salinity tolerance through coordinated cellular osmotic and elastic adjustments

“…4.4 | Severe but nonlethal dry season conditions lead to greater leaf salinity tolerance in the subsequent dry season, consistent with ESM When mid-dry season samples were collected post-drought, freshwater conditions occurred at the Upper and Middle estuarine sites (Table 2) likely due to increased freshwater discharge from the watershed following the wet season. Despite leaf growth mainly occurring over the much lower ranges of salinities during the wet season (Saenger & Moverley, 1985), post-drought measurements of both π FT and ψ TLP were lower while ε was greater at all three sites in both A. corniculatum and R.…”