The bulk hydraulic conductivity of mangrove soil perforated with animal burrows

Susilo, Adi, and Ridd, Peter V. (2005) The bulk hydraulic conductivity of mangrove soil perforated with animal burrows. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 13 (2). pp. 123-133.

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Abstract

Flow of groundwater from mangrove swamp sediment to mangrove creeks is likely to be an important pathway in mangrove swamps, particularly for the removal of salt excluded at the mangrove root. The swamps are generally saturated with water, and are perforated with animal burrows, allowing significant groundwater flow to mangrove creeks to occur. The hydraulic conductivity of the sediment is thus an important physical parameter but is very difficult to measure in-situ. In this work, we describe a simple method for determining the hydraulic conductivity of mangrove sediment, including the effect of macropores such as crab burrows, which uses the existing animal burrows as piezometers. Experiments to measure the hydraulic conductivity of the sediment were carried out in a variety of mangrove forests. It was found that hydraulic conductivity varied from around 1 to 10 m per day, which is at least 10 times greater than would be expected if there were no burrows. In order to check the validity of the method, conventional piezometers were used to determine the free water table level in an area of mangroves fringing a creek. From these measurements, hydraulic conductivity was determined independently and found to be consistent with the new methodology.

Item ID: 7250
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1572-9834
Keywords: burrows; hydraulic condicutivity; mangroves; Piezometer
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Date Deposited: 19 Mar 2010 22:34
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%
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