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Saltmarsh and mangrove are common coastal wetland types and their ability to enhance deposition has been investigated extensively, but rarely compared directly. This study carried out in situ observations to compare the sediment transport processes between a bare mudflat, a mangrove stand and a saltmarsh stand within a subtropical estuary. Turbidity variations over the latter portion of a spring tide were recorded, alongside measurements of flow data, to estimate sediment trapping by hydraulic forces under similar hydroperiods. In addition, vegetation was transplanted to compare the direct sediment trapping by high-standings and short-seedlings. The suspended sediment concentration (SSC) time series showed an overall reduction between the bare mudflat and the vegetated flats. Suspended sediment flux estimates revealed that a considerable amount of sediment was trapped by the saltmarsh and the …