The lunar nodal cycle controls mangrove canopy cover on the Australian continent

Neil Saintilan; Leo Lymburner; Li Wen; Ivan D. Haigh; Emma Ai; Jeffrey J. Kelleway; Kerrylee Rogers; Tien Dat Pham; Richard Lucas

doi:10.1126/sciadv.abo6602

The lunar nodal cycle controls mangrove canopy cover on the Australian continent

Neil Saintilan^*, Leo Lymburner, Li Wen, Ivan D. Haigh, Emma Ai, Jeffrey J. Kelleway, Kerrylee Rogers, Tien Dat Pham, Richard Lucas

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Natural Sciences

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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.

Original language	English
Article number	eabo6602
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
Journal	Science Advances
Volume	8
Issue number	37
Early online date	14 Sept 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abo6602
Publication status	Published - 16 Sept 2022

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Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

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Cite this

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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.",

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AU - Wen, Li

AU - Haigh, Ivan D.

AU - Ai, Emma

AU - Kelleway, Jeffrey J.

AU - Rogers, Kerrylee

AU - Pham, Tien Dat

AU - Lucas, Richard

N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

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Y1 - 2022/9/16

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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The lunar nodal cycle controls mangrove canopy cover on the Australian continent

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