Author(s): Erik Horstman; Rik Gijsman; Andrew Swales; Thorsten Balke; Pim Willemsen; Daphne Van Der Wal; Kathelijne Wijnberg
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Ecosystem engineering; Hydroperiod; Bed shear stress; Sediment accretion; Seedling establishment
Abstract: Mangrove forests can provide a nature-based solution to mitigate increasing coastal flood risks and adapt to rising sea levels in the (sub-) tropics (Temmerman et al., 2023). Mangroves reduce wave energy with their above-ground biomass, while they increase soil binding and stability of intertidal flats with their below-ground biomass. This way, mangroves also stabilize shorelines and create sheltered conditions for forest recovery and development (Gijsman et al., 2021). Mangrove seedling establishment and survival is key to the long-term mangrove forest dynamics, providing the forest with its capacity to recover from storm damage and to adapt to climate change impacts (Gijsman et al., 2021). Whilst the Windows of Opportunity approach by Balke et al. (2015) offers well-established hydro- and morphodynamic limits for successful seedling establishment, it does not represent spatio-temporal variability in hydro- and morphodynamics in relation to the natural variability in seedling properties. This study aims to quantify mangrove ecosystem engineering effects with a new biophysical model combining a process-based model of hydro- and morphodynamics with an individual-based model of mangrove seedling dynamics.
Year: 2024