Mangrove Rehabilitation Crabs and Coir Practical Findings

This poster present the case study, the findings and how to use this in other mangrove rehabilitation projects. Mia Dalby-Ball & Andre Olson Dragonfly Environmental

Summary

Natural Regeneration

The purpose of the study was for mangrove rehabilitation and

monitoring at Edwin Street Mortlake conducted for Jemena Asset
Management. The study area was disturbed for connection to a gas
pipeline. The aim of works was to have mangroves established and
grown in the currently cleared area at a density similar to those of
adjacent areas. The rehabilitation and study was conducted over a 24
month period.
Restoration of mangroves was a success due to the use of coir logs and
other introduced substrates. A two year monitoring program revealed
that under natural conditions less than 5% of mangrove seeds were
taking root in the substrate. Those not rooted eventually rotted or
otherwise left the site.

Rehabilitation Area February 2010 after

Rehabilitation Area February 2012 with
first planting. NB yellow is a marker
over 200 Young Mangroves.
showing where transplanted seedlings were
planted.

Mangroves that naturally established were from those seeds that

wedged in a location such that the tide, or Stormwater inputs, didnt
shift their position. This was usually in areas of existing
pneumatophores or partly embedded rubbish.

Monitoring
Each month data was collected from six 1m2 quadrats
randomly placed within the site area. This data
recorded plant height, number of plants per quadrat,
number of leaf pairs. It is noted that to analysis this
data each variable will have to be tested separately
(rather than in a multivariate analysis) as all three
variables data was collected from the same quadrat.
The monthly monitoring data has not been analysed
however the raw data shows that plants increased in
height and number of leaf pairs over time.

While the cleared area had no pneumatophore to catch seeds it did

have coir logs that had been installed top manage erosion from
Stormwater entering onto the mudflat. Seeds were placed into the Coir
logs to observe what would happen.
Seeds quickly established, the plants grew and all indicators (number of
leaf pairs, plant height and branching) rapidly outdid all other plants (i.
naturally established, ii. planted seeds and iii. planted seedlings). Crabs
were also found to use the coir and were more abundant in the coir-logs
than other areas.
This poster present the case study, the findings and how to use this in
other mangrove rehabilitation projects.

Outcomes

Despite abundance seed accumulating in the area

establishment of mangroves through natural
regeneration was poor (only three seeds took root and
only one of these grew to its first true leaf-pair). Seeds
were observed to establishing in surrounding areas
where they took root amongst the existing
pneumatophores of mature trees. Seeds were planted
at the rehabilitation site. Those with the greatest
establishment success were planted into decomposing
coir logs. It is noted that this was not a properly
replicated experiment and data here is based on the
field observations and measurements only.

Seeds planted into coir logs. November

2010. NB Pool with many small fish. Small
crabs abundant in coir coil.

Mangrove seedlings establishing well into

coir log. Feb 2011

Over two hundred mangrove seedlings are growing in the rehabilitation

area. This is approximately 120 more mangroves established and
growing than were required as the minimum for success, as per the
approvals. All but 3 were planted as either seeds or seedlings.
Natural Regeneration on the site was poor (3 plants naturally
colonising). This is expected to change now that other plants have
establishes and are creating areas where propagules can lodge and
grow.
Mangrove seedlings are now 80+ cm in height with some over 1 m and
branching. Larger plants also have pneumatophores at their base and
in some places pneumatophores are extending under the sediment.
Rain, including very heavy rain events, has occurred recently and
erosion has not been an issue with mangroves continuing to grow well.
Tidal inundation continues to cover the whole site with every tide cycle
depression holding water have no mosquito larva and frequently
contain many small fish.
Crab holes are abundant with 10 to 50+ in a 1m2 area. Crab species in
the rehabilitation area include Semaphore Crabs and Red Fingered
Crabs.
New knowledge was gained in methods for successful mangrove growth,
including the use of decomposing coir logs. Papers and presentations
were presented at the 20th NSW Coastal Conference Tweed Heads
(2011) and are in a book chapter on rehabilitation of estuarine
environments (Estuary Plants South-East Australia by Sainty and
Associates 2012).

Planted seeds with protective mesh (debris

found within Mangrove Forest). November
2010.

Seeds under wire February 2011. NB wire

is disintegrating now (2012 and plants are
well established).

The Mangrove
rehabilitation site at the
end of Edwin Street
Mortlake has an abundance
of Mangrove Seedlings
which are increasing in
height, number of leaf
pairs and are now
branching. Mangroves now
growing in the
rehabilitation area are
expected to grow to
maturity.

Conclusions

The use of coir logs and

other natural and or
artificial structures to
settle and establish