Project 8 - Australian Mangrove Species

Mangroves form a readily recognizable vegetation type, contain many diverse kinds of plant and animal species and have high ecological and conservation significance. In Australia , mangrove communities cover 11,600 square kilometres and are found along 22 per cent of the coast. We have some of the best preserved, most extensive and species-rich mangroves in the world. They present a logical and compelling focus for a national multidisciplinary biodiversity documentation project.

Challenges

The aim of this collaborative project is to create species level content for projects such as the Atlas of Living Australia and for research, education and public information. It will build on existing biodiversity information management activities, resources and expertise around the nation and beyond. Information on the plant and animal species found in Australian mangroves will be collated, with emphasis on taxonomy, appearance, identification, biology, distribution and ecology. The project will focus on developing active and inclusive partnerships to provide freely available on-line access to information using current biodiversity information management technologies. This particular project is being planned to be the nucleus of a larger and self sustaining national project documenting the species of Australian mangrove communities.

Seeking solutions

Links will be developed with mangrove researchers, experts and other collections and institutions to facilitate the development of species lists and profiles for plant and animal taxa occurring in Australian mangrove habitats. The approach is to begin with the obligate core mangrove species in order to develop the collaborations, methodologies and technology, and the content format. As the information builds and the system is established, the project will expand to incorporate the facultative, transient and marginal species of the mangrove community.

A comprehensive species list of plants occurring in mangrove habitats will be compiled and detailed profiles written for each species. These profiles will include nomenclature and taxonomy, a concise summary, botanical description, distribution, ecology, biology and images. An online key to Mangrove plant species will be built, initially focusing on about 40 arborescent obligate species.

Data and information will be delivered as part of the CERF Taxonomy Research and Information Network contributions and will be available through portals of the Australian National Herbarium and the Australia 's Virtual Herbarium (plant only), the On-line Zoological Catalogue of Australian Museums (animals only), the Atlas of Living Australia, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

The project will be guided by a national advisory committee of experts in mangrove biology providing overall project direction and input for the management team oversighting day to day operations and project delivery.

Benefits

This project will create the most comprehensive and sustainable online resource for Australian mangrove communities. The information will be incorporated into the Atlas of Living Australia and will provide a model for future projects.