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.