Mangrove die-offs in north Queensland could have a disproportionate effect on the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

A huge area of mangrove forest on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast experienced a die-off in late 2015 and early 2016, affecting about 1000 kilometres of coastline.

A huge stretch of coastal mangrove forest in Queensland's Gulf of Carpenteria died in late 2015. Credit:Norman Duke

Southern Cross University researcher Luke Jeffrey conducted physical studies following the die-off to assess the level of methane being emitted by the trees.

He found an unexpected result - the dead trees were giving off much more methane than the living ones.