Dr Grant Williamson presents ‘Mangrove change in a Darwin coastal swamp: Local and global drivers’, on Friday 29 February from 1pm to 2pm.
The system of coastal swamps to the east of Darwin, including Leanyer, Holmes Jungle and Micket swamps, have experienced significant environmental change over the last three decades.
Cyclone Tracy disturbed extensive areas of the coastal mangrove forests, drainage works for the purposes of mosquito control have significantly altered the hydrology of the system, and storm water runoff from the development of the northern suburbs has increased.
On top of these local factors, climate change-induced sea level rise may have a significant impact on vegetation in the system, which may be particularly sensitive to this change due to the low elevational gradients and the sensitivity of mangrove species to inundation frequency and salinity.
Models based on point classification of multiple aerial photography coverages show an increase in mangrove area further away from the coast and higher up the elevation gradient, with current mangrove area surpassing the pre-Cyclone Tracy extent. In his seminar Dr Williamson will explain the local and global factors driving this expansion.
This seminar takes place in room 1, building 22, Casuarina campus, Charles Darwin University.