Mangrove litter fall data from Hinchinbrook Island and northern Cape York, Queensland (1975-1978)

Mangrove litter collections were made over three years from March 1975 to June 1978. Most litter collection sites were situated in Missionary Bay, Hinchinbrook Island. Stations were established at sites in Coral Creek, the Wet Desert, South Creek, Bisshop Creek and Deep Creek. Other sites were located in the Hinchinbrook Channel nearby, and some minor collections were made at Jacky Jacky Creek, Cape York.

Stations were grouped in areas or along transects, as logistics permitted. The litter collection receptacles, referred to as catchers were 2m², made from 'Sarlon' shade cloth (~50% shade), suspended on tubular frames, and of cone-shaped construction. Litter catchers were hung from trees at a height that would allow the collected litter to remain untouched by maximum tides. Collection periods varied, although they never exceeded 47 days and were mostly 30 days or less. Once collected, the litter was air dried then sorted into components (leaves, stipules, wood, reproductive parts and debris).

The sorted components were placed in paper bags, labelled and dried in an 80°C oven for approximately three days until they attained constant weight. Component weight, some component counts and some taxonomic identifications were recorded for each collection date at each litter station. Calculations of gross monthly litterfall rates (g dry wt/m²/day) were made for each station.

Six tide gauge stations were also established within Coral Creek. These were spaced at approximately 1000m intervals from the mouth to the upper parts of the creek.