Mangroves undifferentiated

Long description

Intertidal vegetation on Quaternary estuarine deposits but infrequently inundated and dominated by mangroves, such as Aegiceras corniculatum, Ceriops australis, Excoecaria agallocha, Bruguiera spp. or Lumnitzera racemose. Can also include sparse trees such as Casuarina glauca, Melaleuca spp. and Eucalyptus tereticornis. May also include sparse shrubs such as Myoporum acuminatum and sparse ground covers such as Sporobolus virginicus, Vincetoxicum carnosum, Fimbristylis ferruginea, Cyperus scariosus, Cyperus polystachyos, Gymnanthera oblonga, Acrostichum speciosum and Centella asiatica[6].

Special values

Can provide some of the values associated with mangroves such as:

• physical coastal protection from erosion and flooding
• sediment trapping
• primary production
• (nutrient uptake)
• food source (Avicennia seeds) for Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)[7]
• food, shelter and breeding areas for a wide range of fauna, including birds, water mouse (Xeromys myoides) (landward margin), fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates[4][1][8][2]
• prey for fish, which tend to use the edge of the mangroves when foraging[9].

Diagnostic attributes

Inundation 'Intertidal – Lower low', 'Intertidal – Mid low', 'Intertidal – Upper low', 'Intertidal – Low undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – Lower medium', 'Intertidal – Upper-medium', 'Intertidal – Medium undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High', 'Intertidal – Undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High undifferentiated' although above mean sea level

Structural macrobiota 'Mangroves'

Qualifiers

No qualifiers mapped however Period and Trend are relevant as mangrove extent can be influenced by sea level rise.

Distribution

Worldwide there are about 65 recognised species of mangrove plants. Of which, 34 species, with three hybrids are known to occur in Queensland[4]. In Queensland, mangroves grow in tropical and temperate areas and diversity generally increases towards the equator. For example, there are 31 species of mangrove plants recorded in the Daintree region, eight species in south-east Queensland, and two species in southern temperate Australia. The north-east coast of Australia was close to the centre of mangrove origin and dispersal. The climate is similar to that under which they first evolved, and the sheltered shallow waters of numerous estuaries are ideal for growth[5][3]. Environmental influences include Inundation, wave energy, soils (waterlogging, unstable and oxygen-deficient), drainage and nutrient levels. Some species are more suited to each of these conditions than others, which has led to the clear zonation in mangrove forests.

The following relates to distribution of this ecosystem type within the Central Queensland mapping area:

• Includes mangrove ecosystems where dominant mangrove taxa is not mapped. In Bioregion 12 (southern part of Central Queensland mapping area), mangrove types 6 (Ceriops-dominated), 7 (Rhizophora-dominated), 8 (Avicennia-dominated) and 9 (mixed mangroves) are not distinguished and this type (mangroves undifferentiated) represents mangrove communities of Bioregion 12.

Comments

Other relevant attributes include Consolidation, Energy and Sediment texture as mangroves typically occur on unconsolidated muds and fine sediments in low energy environments.

Additional Information

• Moreton Bay mangroves and associated communities interactive map viewer - WetlandInfo
• Mangroves - WetlandInfo
• Common mangroves - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• MangroveWatch
• Mangrove Challenge
• Mangrove community dynamics - OzCoasts
• Mangroves and associated communities of Moreton Bay - WetlandInfo
• Serious Dieback of Mangroves around Mackay - University of Queensland

References

1. ^ Danaher, K, Rasheed, M & Thomas, R (2005), The intertidal wetlands of Port Curtis, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
2. ^ Duke, N (2006), Australia’s Mangroves: the authoritative guide to Australia’s mangrove plants, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
3. ^ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (2006), State of the Great Barrier Reef report., Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Qld..
4. ^ a b Lovelock, C (1993), Field guide to the mangroves of Queensland, AIMS.
5. ^ Queensland Government (2019), Mangroves - WetlandInfo. [online] Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/flora/mangroves/.
6. ^ Queensland Herbarium & Environmental Protection Agency, B (2005), Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD). Version 5.0. [online], Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. Available at: https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/regional-ecosystems/.
7. ^ Read, A & Limpus, C (2002), 'THE GREEN TURTLE, CHELONIA MYDAS, IN QUEENSLAND: FEEDING ECOLOGY OF IMMATURE TURTLES IN MORETON BAY, SOUTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND', Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
8. ^ Sheaves, M (2005), 'Nature and consequences of biological connectivity in mangrove systems', Marine Ecology Progress Series. [online], vol. 302, pp. 293-305. Available at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v302/p293-305/ [Accessed 15 March 2019].
9. ^ Sheaves, M, Johnston, R & Baker, R (10 May 2016), 'Use of mangroves by fish: new insights from in‑forest videos', Marine Ecology Progress Series. [online], vol. 549, pp. 167-182. Available at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v549/p167-182/ [Accessed 31 May 2019].

Last updated: 22 July 2019