Structure and productivity of inland mangrove stands at Lake MacLeod, Western Australia

Abstract

Lake MacLeod has the largest area of inland mangroves in the world, where communities of stunted Avicennia marina (Forsk) Vierh occur isolated from coastal mangroves. These mangroves exist in extremes of environmental stress, mainly related to high salinity, as a consequence of the extreme environment associated with their location on the margins of a non-tidal salt lake in an arid climate. Characteristics of this unique mangrove system are described, showing an annual productivity of 855 g dry wt m-2 and an average biomass of 121.3 t ha-1. These are equivalent levels to open coastal mangroves in sub-tropical Eastern Australia. Phenological patterns showed a maximum production of 3-4 g m-2 d-1 associated with fruiting during late summer, and minimum leaf loss during the winter period June to September.