Investigation of Bara-Baruga (mangrove) ecosystem recovery after a hail storm in Boambee Creek, Gumbaynggirr, NSW

Kirsten Benkendorff; Robert Briggs; Stefano Caraco; Jesse Shilling; Muhammad Islami; Adam Davey; Elani Boland-Hoskins; Ashley Dowell

doi:10.1071/MF23250

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 76(6)

Investigation of Bara-Baruga (mangrove) ecosystem recovery after a hail storm in Boambee Creek, Gumbaynggirr, NSW

Kirsten Benkendorff

^A ^* , Robert Briggs ^B , Stefano Caraco ^A , Jesse Shilling ^B , Muhammad Islami ^A ^C , Adam Davey ^D , Elani Boland-Hoskins ^B and Ashley Dowell ^E

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.

^B Gumbaynggirr Rangers, Niyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.

^C Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia.

^D Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia.

^E Southern Cross Analytical Research Services, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: kirsten.benkendorff@scu.edu.au

Handling Editor: Laura Parker

Marine and Freshwater Research 76, MF23250 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23250

Submitted: 15 December 2023 Accepted: 18 March 2025 Published: 9 April 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Understanding the causes of decline in mangrove forests requires on-ground investigations, which are best conducted in collaboration with Traditional Knowledge Holders.

Aims

To compare the ecological communities and contaminants in an unhealthy and healthy mangrove forest in Boambee Creek.

Methods

Nearmap Imagery identified the timing of mangrove die-back. On-site surveys included quadrat counts of pneumatophores, seeds and seedlings, timed searches and benthic cores for invertebrates. Samples were collected for nutrient analysis of water, elemental analysis of sediment and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for volatile contaminants in pneumatophores.

Results

A hail storm in 2021 coincided with the mangrove die-back. Chemical analysis showed ongoing eutrophication, and high concentrations of sediment mercury, carbon disulfide and toxic hydrocarbons in pneumatophores at the unhealthy site. Invertebrate species richness and density of pneumatophores, seeds and seedlings were significantly lower at the unhealthy site. Infauna richness decreased at the unhealthy site compared with an historical baseline in 2006, but did not change at the healthy site.

Conclusions

These surveys confirmed contamination and a loss of ecological integrity at the unhealthy mangrove site.

Implications

Intervention may be required at the unhealthy site to assist natural recovery and restoration of mangrove ecosystem services.

Keywords: benthic invertebrates, contaminants, cultural values, eutrophication, Indigenous research, infauna, mangrove die-back, multiple stressors.

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