Holocene Coastal Dynamics and Mangrove Ecosystem Responses

The Holocene epoch has been characterised by significant sea-level oscillations following the last glacial maximum. Coastal systems worldwide responded to these changes through alternating phases of transgression and regression that reshaped shorelines, estuaries and tidal flats. Mangrove ecosystems, occupying the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coasts, have exhibited dynamic landward and seaward migrations in response to relative sea-level rise and fall, sediment supply fluctuations, climate variability and, more recently, human impacts. During mid-Holocene highstands, many coastal plains were inundated, enabling mangrove progradation onto newly formed tidal flats. Subsequent late-Holocene sea-level falls led to peat accumulation and mangrove contraction, while renewed transgression phases prompted landward retreat and ecosystem expansion onto elevated terraces. Sediment fluxes from rivers and wave-driven longshore drift have modulated estuarine infilling, channel morphology and the distribution of benthic biofacies, influencing habitat mosaics and carbon sequestration. In recent centuries, anthropogenic interventions—ranging from dam construction to aquaculture—have altered hydrodynamics and sediment budgets, yet mangrove forests have displayed notable resilience by recolonising disturbed areas under favourable conditions. Understanding these coupled coastal–vegetation dynamics is crucial for forecasting ecosystem responses to ongoing sea-level rise and for guiding conservation and restoration strategies that harness the accretionary and carbon-storage capacity of mangrove belts.

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Holocene Coastal Dynamics and Mangrove Ecosystem Responses publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in holocene coastal dynamics and mangrove ecosystem responses across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Holocene: Geological epoch spanning the last ~11,700 years, marked by post-glacial warming and sea-level rise.

Relative sea-level (RSL): The local sea-surface elevation relative to land, influenced by global sea-level change and vertical land movements.

Transgression/highstand/regression: Phases of shoreline movement: landward advance during sea-level rise (transgression), peak elevation (highstand) and seaward retreat during sea-level fall (regression).

Palynology: The study of fossil pollen and spores to reconstruct past vegetation and environmental conditions.

Biofacies: Assemblages of biological remains within sediment layers that characterise specific depositional environments (for example, mangrove versus open-marine).

Tidal flat: Low-lying coastal area periodically inundated by tides, providing substrate for mangrove colonisation and sediment accumulation.

References

1. Assessment the Impacts of Sea-Level Changes on Mangroves of Ceará-Mirim Estuary, Northeastern Brazil, during the Holocene and Anthropocene. Plants (2023).
2. Anthropogenic Pressure on Hydrographic Basin and Coastal Erosion in the Delta of Paraíba do Sul River, Southeast Brazil. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (2022).
3. Mid- to Late-Holocene estuarine infilling processes studied by radiocarbon dates, high resolution seismic and biofacies at Vitoria Bay, Espirito Santo, Southeastern Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2010).