Dynamics of plant communities and the impact of saltwater intrusion on the floodplains of Kakadu National Park

By 2070, sea-level rise will convert 40 % of Kakadu’s floodplains into saline habitats, replacing freshwater vegetation with salt-tolerant mangroves and marsh species. High-resolution satellite imagery revealed that natural water-depth gradients already shape plant community patterns. Hydrodynamic modelling confirmed that increased saltwater intrusion threatens to alter both vegetation structure and the animal communities that depend on these floodplains. The study maps the salinity tolerance of key floodplain plants, providing a baseline for assessing future ecosystem shifts under climate change.

Pettit, N. E., Bayliss, P., & Bartolo, R. (2016). Dynamics of plant communities and the impact of saltwater intrusion on the floodplains of Kakadu National Park. Marine and Freshwater Research, 69(7), 1124–1133. https://doi.org/10.1071/mf16148