rhizophora stylosa red mangrove or stilted mangrove from ... of the... · mangrove has to be the...
TRANSCRIPT
The Red, or Stilted
Mangrove has to be the
most iconic of all
mangroves from Australia’s
tropical north. Mention of
mangroves automatically
brings to mind the massive,
tangled, arching roots of
this ubiquitous species
which is widespread across northern
Australia, throughout south-east Asia,
the Pacific, Myanmar, China, Taiwan,
Japan and the Philippines.
Mangroves, tsunamis, cyclones and storm surges
The combination of pneumatophores (vertical ‘breathing’ roots) and
tangled, arching, aerial roots certainly benefits the Queensland coast,
reducing wave energy and ocean current speed, trapping sediments,
reducing siltation and removing and recycling agricultural chemicals1.
However, much has been written in recent years about the role
mangroves play in protecting coastlines and coastal communities from
catastrophic destruction from tsunamis, cyclones and storm surges. The
Rhizophora stylosa Red Mangrove or Stilted Mangrove from Australia’s tropical north
protection provided by mangroves depends very much on the magnitude
of a tsunami, the destructive force of a cyclone and the height and
timing of a storm surge. However, ground surveys and image analysis
from Tamil Nadu, both before and after the devastating December 2004
tsunami, show that broad expanses of well-developed coastal mangrove
forests can limit destruction to communities which are located behind
them but villages located along rivers or tidal inlets have little or no
protection2.
Fierce creatures in tropical mangrove forests Mangrove swamps were once regarded as foetid, sand fly infested
swamps – remember the iconic film African Queen? In this enlightened
age, we value them for the role they play as fish hatcheries. Boardwalks
with interpretative signs have been constructed in mangrove communities
in many parts of Australia. However, in tropical north Queensland, when
planning an expedition, in addition to everyday practicalities such as
wearing sturdy shoes, a hat, using insect repellent and sunscreen, it is a
good idea to consider some of the fierce creatures that share the
mangrove forests with prawns, mud skippers, fish, crabs and numerous
species of birds –
Salt water crocodiles Mangrove Snake
Sea snakes White-bellied Mangrove Snake
Pythons Little File Snake
Rusty Monitor………..
1 Catherine Lovelock, Field Guide to the Mangroves of Queensland:
http://www.aims.gov.au/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=c9dcfc2e-6018-4302-8818-
5ab3fe01f91f&groupId=30301 2 Daniel M Alongi, 2008, Mangrove forests: Resilience, protection from tsunamis and responses to global
climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 76:1-13
Map of Australian distribution of Rhizophora stylosa, Atlas of Living Australia:
http://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?q=lsid:urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:75
937#mapView
Alison Downing, Brian Atwell, Kevin Downing, Muhammed Masood &
Ray Duell,
Department of Biological Sciences, 3rd June 2013
When you venture into the mangroves of northern Australia, keep an eye
out for Spiny Ant Plants, Myrmecodia antoinii, which grow in the
branches of mangroves. These bulbous plants host colonies of ants
(Phedale myrmecodiae) in chambers inside their swollen spheres.
Mangroves along the Daintree River in far North Queensland.