Mangrove Distributions in North-East Australia

Abstract

We describe the distributions of mangroves recorded in fifty-six coastal rivers, estuarine inlets and island byas in N.E. Australia between Rock-hampton and Cape york. the floristic diversity of this region is substantially greater than indicated in the earlier literature. The new records suggest a close relationship with Papua New Guinea, though the restricted or disjunct distributions of some species suggest a relict situation. Numerical analysis, using classificatory and graph-theory techniques, suggests a relation between freshwater influence and floristic richness; the relative importance of river-flow and rainfall is discussed.