Mangrove influence on Coastal Erosion EarthCache
Mangrove influence on Coastal Erosion
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Coastal Erosion is a problem world wide
Here at the Phil Hill Environmental Park you can see first hand why Mangroves are helping to save our coastlines
The boardwalk takes you to a small sandy area at the end of the island ,it is wheel chair accessible but way to ground zero from the boardwalk is not ,although those in a wheel chair should still be able to obtain answers to the questions .
Note that there are no mangroves at ground zero but if you look further along the coastline and boardwalk you will see the mangroves and how they have an affect on that part of the coast
To log this cache you must send answers to the questions ,after doing so you are free to log the cache
Causes of coastal erosion
1-Waves
2-Storm Surges
3-Tsunamis
4-Erosion
5-Sea Level rise
The role of mangroves in coastal risk reduction
1-Wind and swell waves are rapidly reduced as they pass through the mangroves ,lessening wave and storm damage
2-Wide mangrove belts ,ideally thousands of metres across ,can be affective in reducing the flooding impacts of storm surges occuring during major storms (cyclones ,typhoons and hurricanes )This can significantly reduce flood extent in low lying area .Narrower mangrove belts ,hundreds of metres wide will still be able to reduce wind speed ,the impact of waves on top of the surge and flooding impact to some degree.
3-Wide areas of mangrove can reduce tsunami heights ,helping to reduce the loss of life and damage to properties in areas behind the mangroves
4-The dense roots of mangroves help to bind and build soils .The above ground roots slow down water flows ,encouraging deposition of sediments and reduce erosion
5-Over time mangroves can actively build up soils ,increasing the thickness of the mangrove soil which may be critical as sea levels rise
Coastal Defence
Mangroves don't always provide a stand -alone solution ,they may need to be combined with other risk reduction measures to achieve a desired level of protection If they are integrated appropriately mangroves can contribute to risk reduction in almost every coastal setting ,ranging from rural to urban and from natural to heavily degraded landscapes.
What is a "Mangrove Forest"
Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone .There are about 120 species of tropical trees or shrubs found in marine swampy areas .Its silt -like aerial roots,which arise from the branches and hang down into the water produce a thick undergrowth,useful in the reclaining of land along tropical coasts All these trees grow in areas with low -oxygen soil,where slow moving waters allow fine sediments to accumulate .
Plants and animals you may see as you walk the area
Mangroves
Many mangrove species are present close to the boardwalk.
Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina)
Stilt Mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa)
River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum)
Milky Mangrove - uncommon (Excoecaria agallocha)
Saltmarsh
Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa )
Marine Couch (Sporobolus virginicus)
Sea Purslane - one plant growing in a mangrove tree! (Sesuvium portulacastrum)
General Vegetation
Saltcouch, sedges, samphires
Coastal She Oak (Casuarina equisetifolia)
She or Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca)
Sea Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus)
Birds
Pale faced herons
Pied oystercatchers
Invertebrates in the mud
There are lots of crab holes in the sandy substrate.
Crabs (Uca, grapsids, soldier, sand)
Whelks and other molluscs
Mudskippers
Invertebrates in the vegetation
Butterflies (sp to be identified)
The odd spider
Rare/ Endangered Biota
Waterlife
Very clear water makes it easy to spot fish and other fauna.
Toadfish
Questions
1-At ground zero can you see any type of erosion ,If so what type of erosion may have occured ?
If so if there were mangroves here do you think it would have happened
2-Has man attempted to help with coastal erosion here and if so how ?
3-What conditions are needed for mangroves to grow
Information gathered for this cache were obtained from
-Australian Institute of marine science
-Mangrove watch Qld
-Encyclopedia.com
We hope you have enjoyed the area as you explored the mangroves
Congraulations Monkey Maker on FTF
Additional Hints
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