How Mangroves Combat Sea Level Rise Sarah Rogers University of South Florida School of Geosciences: Environmental Science & Policy Defense: Mangrove forests use their ability to trap sediment as one protection against sea level change (Day, et al., 2008). The processes of sediment deposition and expanding subsurface roots increase the height and volume of the soil (surface elevation) (McIvor, et al., 2013). If the soil surface does not grow with the level of tidal increase, it could mean the death of the mangrove trees. Sea Level Rise: Rising temperatures caused by climate change are raising sea levels from sea water thermal expansion and polar ice cap/land ice melt (Cazenave, et al., 2008). Monitoring of sea levels demonstrate that during the last century, sea levels rose mm/year (Day, et al., 2008). Averages of scientific models predict that sea levels will rise cm by the end of the twenty-first century (Day, et al., 2008). Measuring Sediment Elevation: The Rod Surface Elevation Table (RSET) method, was developed to measure the elevation surface change in wetlands. It measures with an accuracy of ±1.3 mm which is a localized accuracy that cannot be achieved by satellite (Webb, et al., 2013). Problem: Sea level rise will cause mangrove ecosystem reduction or destruction. To ensure that mangrove forests maintain their important position in the ecosystem, while hindering their invasion of other vital habitats, wetland scientists need to know how sea level rise will affect the mangrove’s survival. Mangrove Ecosystem Vital Services: Mangroves are a natural barrier shielding the coast from natural disasters such as hurricanes, or tsunamis by absorbing storm surge and strong winds (Kuenzer, et al., 2011). Mangroves break up waves reducing coastal erosion (Krauss, et al., 2011). They also support food webs for fish and other aquatic organisms. They provide shelter habitat for larvae and other juvenile marine life, as well as shell fish (US Geological Survey, 2004). Mangroves provide habitat for a bio-diverse communities of birds, insects, reptiles, fungi and sea grass (Kuenzer, et al., 2011). Mangrove ecosystems provide biological processes like water filtration, sedimentation, nutrient transformation, and carbon storage (Kuenzer, et al., 2011). Ecosystem biodiversity when mangroves are present versus mangrove absence Image From: Mangrove sediment deposition may combat sea level rise Image From: The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International Field Scientist reading an RSET monitor Image From: Nature Climate Change Vital Services provided by Mangrove Habitats Image From: Marine Spatial Ecology Lab Graph of Observed Mean Sea Level Image From: Comptes Rendus Geoscience References: A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise [Journal] / auth. Webb Edward L. [et al.] // Nature Climate Change. - April Consequences of Climate Change on the Ecogeomorphology of Coastal Wetlands [Journal] / auth. Day John W. [et al.] // Estuaries and Coasts. - [s.l.] : C, July : Vol pp abus/ch11_ecosystems/ecosystem_wp/2008/vince/ prod.html [Online] / auth. Lisa Peck // Shorecrest. - bus/ch11_ecosystems/ecosystem_wp/2008/vince/pr od.html. Mangrove Illustration [Online] // Marine Spatial Ecology Lab. - content/uploads/2010/11/mangrove- cartoon_small.jpg. Present-day sea level rise: A synthesis [Journal] / auth. Cazenave Anny, Lombard Alix and Llovel William // Comptes Rendus Geoscience. - November : Vol pp Sea-Level Rise and Landscape Change Influence Mangrove Encroachment Onto Marsh in the Ten Thousand Islands Region of Florida, USA [Journal] / auth. Krauss Ken W. [et al.] // Journal of Coastal Conservation. - [s.l.] : Springer Netherlands, November : Vol pp The Response of Mangrove Soil Surface Elevation to Sea Level Rise [Report] / auth. McIvor A. L. [et al.]. - [s.l.] : The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International, p