Dọc theo bờ biển phía đông bắc nhiệt đới của Queensland là một trong những sinh học xuất sắc hệ sinh thái trên thế giới, Great Barrier Reef (GBR), chứng thực là chỉ sinh học cấu trúc trên thế giới có thể nhìn thấy từ không gian. Loạt bài này phức tạp của các cộng đồng rạn san hô dựa trên các polyp san hô nhỏ và tích luỹ của bộ xương cacbonat của họ sâu hơn niên kỷ. Rào cản sóng biển đã tạo ra một rộng lớn và tương đối có mái che đầm phá ven biển, trong đó các hệ sinh thái. | 6 Muddy Coastal Waters and Depleted Mangrove Coastlines Depleted Seagrass and Coral Reefs Norman C. Duke and Eric Wolanski CONTENTS The Importance of Water Clarity in GBR Loss of Catchment Vegetation More Mud in Estuarine Mud Accumulation and New Mangroves in Downstream Parts of Estuaries and Nearshore The Cost of Ignoring the Role of A Consequence of Catchment and Mangrove Degradation The Loss of Conclusion A Holistic INTRODUCTION Along the tropical northeastern coast of Queensland is one of the outstanding biotic ecosystems in the world the Great Barrier Reef GBR attested to be the only biotic structure in the world visible from space. This complex series of reef communities is based on tiny coral polyps and deep accumulations of their carbonate skeletons over eons. The resulting barrier to ocean waves has created a vast and relatively sheltered coastal lagoon in which other complex biotic tropical ecosystems have flourished in association with coral reefs. Two types of ecosystems dominate these sheltered waters namely the mostly sub-tidal seagrass meadows in the extensive coastal lagoon and mangrove and salt marsh growing along the upper intertidal zone and within all estuaries. These ecosystems are highly dependent not only on each other but also on prevailing environmental conditions in a dynamic equilibrium. It is also of fundamental importance that each of these biotic communities is based on plants for the provision of both their physical living structure as well as via complex trophic food webs which support a myriad of associated organisms. In this 77 2001 by CRC Press LLC 78 Oceanographic Processes of Coral Reefs way mangroves salt marsh seagrass and reef-building corals provide primary production by photosynthesis and fixation of atmospheric carbon a function and role which extend well beyond their mere presence and benefit as habitat. Accumulation of carbon
