Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2023, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 149-157.doi: 10.11978/2022119CSTR: 32234.14.2022119

• Marine Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Leaves, stems and roots stoichiometry characteristics of mangrove plants at different succession stages in the Shankou National Mangrove Nature Reserve, China*

QIU Jin1,2,3(), DAI Hongtao4, XING Yongze2(), HUANG Daji2,1(), Yin Qunjian2, CHENG Dewei2   

  1. 1. School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
    2. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development (Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources), Beihai 536015, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics (Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources), Hangzhou 310012, China
    4. Shankou National Mangrove Ecosystem Nature Reserve Administration, Beihai 536122, China
  • Received:2022-05-23 Revised:2022-07-28 Online:2023-05-10 Published:2022-08-02
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(42049911); National Natural Science Foundation of China(42141016); Scientific Research Fund of the Fourth Institute of Oceanography, MNR(202005); Research Fund Program of Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization(GKLMC-17A01)

Abstract:

Mangrove is one of the typical coastal wetland ecosystems. Studying its ecological stoichiometry characteristics is important to understand the nutrient utilization, distribution and environmental adaptation strategies of mangrove plants at different successional stages. In the present study, three typical mangrove species, Avicennia marina, Kandelia obovate, and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza were studied. The stoichiometry characteristics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in different organs and the sedimental organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the sediments were measured and compared. The ecological stoichiometry characteristics of different organs and sediment nutrients in three intertidal zones of mangrove plants were also analyzed. The results showed that the C, N, and P contents of the three mangrove plants were higher in the leaves and stems than those in the roots(P<0.05). The N and P contents in the leaves and stems of A. marina were significantly higher than those of K. obovate and B. gymnorrhiza (P<0.05). Mangrove plants have unique adaptation strategies to habitats in the different intertidal zones. At the early stage of succession, the plants were distributed in low tide with a competitive strategy. At the advanced stage of succession, the plants were distributed in high tide and the strategy was changed to defense. Correlation analysis showed that the P content in the stems and roots of K. obovate was negatively correlated (P<0.05), while the N and P contents in the leaves and stems were positively correlated (P<0.05). The contents of N and P in the leaves and stems were negatively correlated with SOC, TP and C:N. It was also found that with the succession of mangrove communities from the sea towards the land, the limiting element for the mangrove plants growth has changed from N to both N and P.

Key words: mangrove plant, succession, adaptation strategy, ecological stoichiometry