Stradbroke Island Essay

Stradbroke Island is approximately 40km East of Brisbane and forms part of the Eastern boundary of Moreton Bay in South East Queensland. The island is 38km long and 12km at its widest point (Natural and Human Environment, 2014). It is filled with a diverse range of ecosystems and has a rich variety of fauna and flora, including the mangrove ecosystem at Myora Springs. Myora Springs is a wetland site, located north of Stradbroke Island, with freshwater springs directly connected to the mangrove community (Restoring a special place at Myora Springs, 2012). This is the perfect environment for the mangrove as there is rivers present to carry their sediment load into the sea, and there is shelter from high wave action and strong currents to carry the sediment.

1.2 The issue

With the island’s proximity to Queensland there is an

It is a significant habitat for many marine species and they are among the most productive natural systems (Restoring a special place at Myora Springs, 2012). This is indicated by the dense plant growth and high diversity of organisms that use this ecosystem for breeding, nursery and feeding areas.

They provide costal stabilization and food chain support, and play a valuable role in foreshore protection, reducing erosion and lessening the impact of storm surges. They are a diverse group of trees that share the ability to live in waterlogged saline soils, which is actively affected by tides. They can create new land by water spreading out and the sediment from the trees settling to the bottom being trapped by the roots. Eventually they grow out and find dry land. However, the environment is a harsh place to live due to many contributing abiotic facts, but they have adapted to be able to grow in such environmental conditions.

2.2 Biotic