Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand

Coastal Dune Ecosystem Reference Database

The ecology and management of temperate mangroves Technical Report

Author
Morrisey, D.J., Swales, A., Dittmann, S., Morrison, M.A., Lovelock, C.E., Beard, C.M.
Year
2010
Journal / Source
Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review
Volume
48
Pages
43-160
Keywords
Mangroves, Temperate regions, Species diversity, Management, Sedimentation, Productivity, Review
Summary
This review covers the information available on the ecology of temperate mangroves, with emphasis on productivity, response to increased rates of sediment accumulation from human activity, and potential effects of climate change. THREATS IDENTIFIED AND/OR DESCRIBED: Increased sedimentation SCOPE OF SPECIES, HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS IMPACTED: Mangroves, Avicennia marina SPATIAL EXTENT OF THREAT STUDIED: Northern New Zealand TEMPORAL EXTENT OF THREAT STUDIED: DATASETS USED IN THE ANALYSES: Review of existing information METHODOLOGY USED TO IDENTIFY AND DETERMINE SEVERITY OF THREAT: Descriptive summary of existing information KEY FINDINGS OF THE ANALYSIS: Productivity generally declines with increasing latitude, but there is overlap in the range of reported values between temperate and tropical regions and considerable within-region variation. Management of temperate mangroves needs to be on a location basis. Historical loss of temperate mangroves in New Zealand estuaries has followed the construction of causeways and structures that restrict tidal flows or elevate water levels, marina development, stock grazing, stormwater pollution, dredging, reclamations for ports, waste landfills, airports, agriculture, industrial and urban development, harvesting for timber and charcoal manufacture and excessive sedimentation. Large-scale loss of mangrove habitat occurred in New Zealand prior to the 1960s