The lunar nodal cycle controls mangrove canopy cover on the Australian continent
The lunar nodal cycle controls mangrove canopy cover on the Australian continent
Long-phase (interannual) tidal cycles have been shown to influence coastal flooding and sedimentation, but their role in shaping the extent and condition of tidal wetlands has received little attention. Here, we show that the 18.61-year lunar nodal cycle, popularly termed the “lunar wobble,” is a dominant control over the expansion and contraction of mangrove canopy cover over much of the Australian continent. Furthermore, the contrasting phasing of the 18.61-year lunar nodal cycle between diurnal and semidiurnal tidal settings has mediated the severity of drought impacts in northern bioregions. Long-phase tidal cycles regulate maximum tide heights, are an important control over mangrove canopy cover, and may influence mangrove ecosystem services including forest productivity and carbon sequestration at regional scales.
Saintilan, Neil
da7ec0a3-88c6-4a17-9ae0-ee5087309640
Lymburner, Leo
8ef975e6-3b38-40b5-ab58-d7768b7e7cec
Wen, Li
0bcfa5dc-8d69-4eb8-a435-14654ca1c8f2
Haigh, Ivan D.
945ff20a-589c-47b7-b06f-61804367eb2d
Ai, Emma
ea8f546c-74f0-4783-bd84-851f579b3074
Kelleway, Jeffrey J.
342c56d9-8433-481e-8e09-d2892b2e5865
Rogers, Kerrylee
03b62eb0-86e6-4740-b083-d75e43eed714
Pham, Tien Dat
b16c3a66-e11f-48b9-8bd8-9c5d92170399
Lucas, Richard
ebe42102-7d60-4a83-bfc2-5c3387ae8e40
16 September 2022
Saintilan, Neil
da7ec0a3-88c6-4a17-9ae0-ee5087309640
Lymburner, Leo
8ef975e6-3b38-40b5-ab58-d7768b7e7cec
Wen, Li
0bcfa5dc-8d69-4eb8-a435-14654ca1c8f2
Haigh, Ivan D.
945ff20a-589c-47b7-b06f-61804367eb2d
Ai, Emma
ea8f546c-74f0-4783-bd84-851f579b3074
Kelleway, Jeffrey J.
342c56d9-8433-481e-8e09-d2892b2e5865
Rogers, Kerrylee
03b62eb0-86e6-4740-b083-d75e43eed714
Pham, Tien Dat
b16c3a66-e11f-48b9-8bd8-9c5d92170399
Lucas, Richard
ebe42102-7d60-4a83-bfc2-5c3387ae8e40
Saintilan, Neil, Lymburner, Leo, Wen, Li, Haigh, Ivan D., Ai, Emma, Kelleway, Jeffrey J., Rogers, Kerrylee, Pham, Tien Dat and Lucas, Richard
(2022)
The lunar nodal cycle controls mangrove canopy cover on the Australian continent.
Science Advances, 8 (37).
(doi:10.1126/sciadv.abo6602).
Abstract
Long-phase (interannual) tidal cycles have been shown to influence coastal flooding and sedimentation, but their role in shaping the extent and condition of tidal wetlands has received little attention. Here, we show that the 18.61-year lunar nodal cycle, popularly termed the “lunar wobble,” is a dominant control over the expansion and contraction of mangrove canopy cover over much of the Australian continent. Furthermore, the contrasting phasing of the 18.61-year lunar nodal cycle between diurnal and semidiurnal tidal settings has mediated the severity of drought impacts in northern bioregions. Long-phase tidal cycles regulate maximum tide heights, are an important control over mangrove canopy cover, and may influence mangrove ecosystem services including forest productivity and carbon sequestration at regional scales.
Text
sciadv.abo6602
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 28 July 2022
Published date: 16 September 2022
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 511583
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511583
ISSN: 2375-2548
PURE UUID: 6507b9f5-58d2-450b-bd66-4521825516ec
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 21 May 2026 16:43
Last modified: 22 May 2026 01:41
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Neil Saintilan
Author:
Leo Lymburner
Author:
Li Wen
Author:
Emma Ai
Author:
Jeffrey J. Kelleway
Author:
Kerrylee Rogers
Author:
Tien Dat Pham
Author:
Richard Lucas
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
