Salinity tolerance along an aridity gradient: linking physiological processes with morphological constraints on leaf function in mangroves

拟议的研究将提供深入了解的生理和形态特征，控制生产力的红树林跨越宽梯度的盐度和干旱。这方面的核心是确定提高耐盐性和耐旱性的植物性状，这将有助于开发适合澳大利亚条件的植物品种。研究结果还将有助于发展基于过程的模型，以更好地预测红树林植被对气候变化的响应。深入了解影响红树林生长和生存的过程，对于可持续渔业和保护依赖沿海生态系统的野生动物至关重要。

The proposed research will provide insight into the physiological and morphological features that control the productivity of mangrove forests across broad gradients in salinity and aridity. Central to this is this identification of plant traits that increase salt and drought tolerance, which will assist in the development of plant varieties suited to Australian conditions. The results will also contribute to development of process-based models to better predict the response of mangrove vegetation to changing climate. A deep understanding of the processes that influence the growth and survival of mangroves is of fundamental importance to sustainable fisheries and protection of wildlife reliant on coastal ecosystems.