Effects of mangrove removal on benthic communities and sediment characteristics at Mangawhai Harbour, northern New Zealand Technical Report
- Author
- Alfaro, A. C.
- Year
- 2010
- Journal / Source
- ICES Journal of Marine Science
- Volume
- 67
- Number
- 6
- Month
- September
- Pages
- 1087-1104
- Keywords
- Avicennia marina australasica, Benthic fauna, Biodiversity, Estuarine ecology, Mangrove removal, Sediment characteristics
- Summary
- This study investigated the effect of mangrove removal on the community ecology of mangrove stands and adjacent habitats within Mangawhai Estuary, northern New Zealand, between March 2004 and September 2006. The vegetation, benthic macrofauna, and sediments were sampled within habitats (marshgrass, mangrove stands, pneumatophore zones, sandflats, and channels) at a treatment site (mangroves removed) and two undisturbed sites, before and after mangrove-removal activities. THREATS IDENTIFIED AND/OR DESCRIBED: Mangrove spread and removal SCOPE OF SPECIES, HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS IMPACTED: Mangrove forest, associated macrofauna, sediments SPATIAL EXTENT OF THREAT STUDIED: Experimental study sites <1 ha TEMPORAL EXTENT OF THREAT STUDIED: 30 month study DATASETS USED IN THE ANALYSES: Private datasets on outcome of BACI experiment held by the author METHODOLOGY USED TO IDENTIFY AND DETERMINE SEVERITY OF THREAT: Experimental removal of mangroves using BACI design KEY FINDINGS OF THE ANALYSIS: Mangrove eradication was followed by immediate changes from a muddy to sandier environment, which favoured an overall increase in the abundance of crabs, snails, and bivalves