Dispersal and coastal geomorphology limit potential for mangrove range expansion under climate change
Date
2022Author
Raw, Jacqueline L.
Van der Stocken, Tom
Rajkaran, Anusha
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Latitudinal range limits for mangroves on high-energy,
wave-dominated
coasts
are controlled by geomorphological features and estuarine dynamics. Mangroves
reach a southern global range limit along the South African coastline, but the
distribution is patchy, with stands occurring in only 16% of the estuaries in the
region. Yet, the persistence of forests planted >50 years ago beyond the natural
distribution limit suggests that additional estuaries could support mangroves.
Understanding regional drivers is necessary to inform global-scale
estimates for
how this important ecosystem is predicted to respond to climate change.