Comparison between tidally driven groundwater flow and flushing of animal burrows in tropical mangrove swamps

Susilo, Adi, Ridd, Peter V., and Thomas, Severine (2005) Comparison between tidally driven groundwater flow and flushing of animal burrows in tropical mangrove swamps. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 13 (4). pp. 377-388.

[img] PDF (Published version)
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11273-004-016...
 
32
1


Abstract

Tidal groundwater in a mangrove swamp can return to the mangrove creek by one of two mechanisms: (a) it can either flow through the swamp soil due to the water table difference between the creek and the groundwater in the swamp; or (b) it can flow via tidal flushing of animal burrows. This paper compares the magnitude of these two mechanisms for different regions of a mangrove swamp. Direct groundwater flow rates resulting from water stored in the sediment as a consequence of infiltration, especially during and after tidal inundation, were calculated for every square meter in the surface of a mangrove forest from piezometer data. Flow rates of water due to burrow flushing were determined based on published surveys, by estimating the burrow volume and the percentage of the burrow water that is flushed at each tidal inundation. Although direct groundwater flux was found to decrease further away from the creek compared to close to the creek, it was also found to have a similar range as burrow flushing flow. Specifically, direct groundwater flow ranged from 0.004 to 0.04 m3/m2/day, whilst burrow flushing flux ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 m3/m2/day.Considering the errors involved in the experiments and calculations, these ranges can be considered as being the same and neither of the two processes can be considered as negligible compared to the other. As a consequence, surveys of groundwater processes in mangrove areas, and more generally in swamp and tidal areas where animal burrows are present, will need to consider both mechanisms. Investigations of the influence over flushing mechanisms of different residence times of the water in burrows and in the sediment body would also be recommended in order to establish salt and nutrient budget in mangrove swamps.

Item ID: 7247
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1572-9834
Keywords: burrow flushing; groundwater flow; hydrological modeling; mangrove swamp; piezometer
Related URLs:
Date Deposited: 16 Mar 2010 01:58
FoR Codes: 04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience > 040603 Hydrogeology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9609 Land and Water Management > 960999 Land and Water Management of Environments not elsewhere classified @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page