ENSO feedback drives variations in dieback at a marginal mangrove site

Research reveals that the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) significantly influences mangrove dieback and canopy condition at marginal sites, such as Mangrove Bay on Australia's Ningaloo Coast. The study, spanning 29 years, found strong correlations between the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), a measure of ENSO intensity, and seasonal minimum temperatures with live mangrove canopy area. Using remote sensing data from Landsat satellite missions, scientists identified that these climatic variables drive temporal heterogeneity in mangrove forests at their aridity range-limits, highlighting their sensitivity to climate variability. This discovery underscores the vulnerability of marginal mangrove ecosystems to ENSO-driven changes and calls for further investigation into similar regions to assess broader implications.

Hickey, S. M., Radford, B., Callow, J. N., Phinn, S. R., Duarte, C. M., & Lovelock, C. E. (2021). ENSO feedback drives variations in dieback at a marginal mangrove site. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87341-5