@article{fdi:010035642,
  title = {{S}tructural effects of tidal exposures on mudflats along the {F}rench {G}uiana coast},
  author = {{F}iot, {J}{\'e}r{\^o}me and {G}ratiot, {N}icolas},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}etting and drying cycles on intertidal mudflats vary considerably with altitude, modifying the physical characteristics of surface sediment in ways favoring (or not) plant colonization. {I}n this context, sediment properties were investigated by means of laboratory experiments and field surveys on a wide range of fluid to desiccated muds from the highly dynamic coastline of {F}rench {G}uiana. {C}hanges in physical parameters, such as sediment erodability (yield stress), water loss and pore water salinity indicated a long term compaction of mudflats as well as fluctuations related to the successive wetting and drying cycles. {M}uderacks constituted a spectacular feature representative of the contractional stress. {T}hey (re)opened after a few days of dewatering and (re)healed during the subsequent wetting. {F}rom the analysis of field data, the trapping of {A}vicennia germinans propagules in ephemeral mudcracks turned out to be responsible of 95% of the sprouting on the coastal fringe. {T}hus, desiccation process, usually considered as a typical feature of erosion, revealed herein to be a major mechanism of colonization. {T}his mechanism undoubtedly affects the 1600 km long {A}mazon coastal system and is believed to exist in many other tropical environments submitted to important siltation. (c) 2006 {E}lsevier {B}.{V}. {A}ll rights reserved.},
  keywords = {{A}mazon ; {F}rench {G}uiana ; coastal dynamics ; mudflat ; desiccation ; mangrove},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {G}eology},
  volume = {228},
  numero = {1-4},
  pages = {25--37},
  ISSN = {0025-3227},
  year = {2006},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.margeo.2005.12.009},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010035642},
}