Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 58-67.doi: 10.11978/2016017CSTR: 32234.14.2016017

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ecological and biological characteristics of Myoporum bontioides, a semi-mangrove plant in China

SUN Jian1, 3, XU Huimin1, 4, ZHAO Wanyi1, ZAN Qijie2, CHEN Li’e2, LIAO Wenbo1, 3   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, SUN Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China;
    2. Administration Bureau of Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, Shenzhen 518048, China;
    3. Shenzhen Institute of SUN Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518057, China;
    4. College of Life Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2016-02-23 Revised:2016-06-12 Online:2016-11-30 Published:2016-12-15
  • Contact: LIAO Wenbo. E-mail: lsslwb@mail.sysu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovational Project (JCYJ20150624-165943509); Shenzhen Urban Management Bureau Project (33000-71020106, 33000-71020146); Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve Ecological Monitoring Project (33000- 71020008)

Abstract: Myoporum bontioides (Sieb. et Zucc.) A. Gray, an evergreen shrub growing in the tropical and sub- tropical coastal high tide line, usually appears in the mangrove bund near the land, which is listed as a semi-mangrove plant. M. bontioides not only has high ornamental value but also has good ecological function of windbreak, sand-fixation and dike dam. SoM. bontioides plays an important role in the restoration of coastal ecological environment. This research mainly focused on the wild populations, soils characteristics, leaf characteristics, and reproductive characteristics of M. bontioides, and on their the ecological and biological characteristic. Based on the analysis of their population and soil characteristics, we found that M. bontioides belongs to a single-dominant species communities. The population distribution had good correlations with organic matter content and soil electrical conductivity, and poor correlations with pH and salinity. On morphological characteristics, the upper and lower epidermis of M. bontioides have porosity and salt gland, which reveals that M. bontioides is a secrete salt plant. Based on the blade feature analysis of leaf area, specific leaf area, mass-based leaf carbon concentration, mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration, area-based leaf nitrogen content as well as leaf development cost, we found that the Gaoqiao population of Guangdong has the highest mass-based leaf development cost followed by Zhangpu population of Fujian, and the lowest is Quanzhou population of Fujian, mass-based leaf development cost of Zhejiang Ximen Island, Fujian Jiulongjiang Estuary, Guangxi Gaopo and Guangxi Shankou showed no significant difference. The relative low area-based leaf nitrogen content of M. bontioides, partly indicated that salt resistance of M. bontioides is not strong. On reproductive characteristics, M. bontioides bloom twice every year. By different methods of cutting, we found that the propagation rooting of M. bontioides needs about 8-10 days. Since 90.0% of fruits of M. bontioides are destroyed by pests, the seed propagation is largely limited.

Key words: Myoporum bontioides, semi-mangrove plant, ecological and biological characteristics, propagation