Current severe dieback in Moreton Bay: why do mangrove areas sink when trees become stressed or die? • back to student info Marine Blancher, Norm Duke *Marine Botany, Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072 commenced: July 2007 s4127705@student.uq.edu.au

An unusual and severe form of mangrove dieback, linked to unprecedented soil subsidence, is currently taking place in the Moreton Bay region. It appears to be rapidly extending and now affects 35% of the region's wetlands. The research intends to investigate this phenomenon and find the causes of soil subsidence and its effects on mangrove dieback. It will then help to develop improved guidelines for mangrove management, with a particular focus on preventing mangrove areas from sinking.