Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 132-142.doi: 10.11978/2025061CSTR: 32234.14.2025061

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal succession of the exotic mangrove Sonneratia apetala in the Maowei Sea tidal flats, Beibu Gulf

XIE Xiaokui1(), LI Xingrong2, WANG Riming1, DAI Zhijun3(), GONG Shouji4, PANG Wenhong5, ZHANG Shangyu2   

  1. 1 Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Disaster Processes and Ecological Protection Technology /College of Resources and Environment, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
    2 CCCC-FHDI Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510230, China
    3 State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Costal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
    4 College of Food Engineering, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
    5 Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Disaster Processes and Ecological Protection Technology / College of Marine Sciences, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
  • Received:2025-05-08 Revised:2025-05-26 Online:2025-11-10 Published:2025-12-03
  • Contact: DAI Zhijun. email:
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation Key Program of China(41930537); National Natural Science Foundation of China(42366009); Open Fund Project of the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf Research(2021KA02); Qinzhou Scientific Research and Technology Development Program(20223623)

Abstract:

The non-native mangrove species Sonneratia apetala (S. apetala) poses a serious threat to regional native mangroves by occupying the habitat of indigenous species and expanding rapidly. This study takes the Maowei Sea Mangrove Nature Reserve in Guangxi, China, as a case study and investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics and key driving factors of the exotic mangrove from 2000 to 2023, using multi-temporal remote sensing imagery, UAV aerial photography, field surveys, and machine learning. The primary findings are summarized as follows: (1) From 2002 to 2023, the distribution area of S. apetala gradually increased from zero to 1076.77 hm². Between 2002 and 2015, it expanded slowly at a rate of 11.43 hm²·a-1, reaching 138.20 hm² by 2015. From 2015 to 2023, the expansion accelerated to 116.46 hm²·a-1. (2) S. apetala exhibited a distinct gradient distribution pattern across the Maowei Sea: clustered in the west, interspersed with native mangroves in the central tidal flats, and scattered point occurrences in the east. Its expansion progressed in two stages: from 2002 to 2014, it spread from the western Kangxiling tidal flats along the banks of the Dalan River, followed by crossing the river and establishing itself in the central Maowei Sea by 2015, with subsequent eastward expansion between 2015 and 2023. (3) Artificial planting and mangrove conservation efforts within the reserve were the direct drivers of the establishment and continued expansion of S. apetala in the Maowei Sea. Sediment carried by riverine runoff contributed to tidal flat accretion, providing space for its expansion. Meanwhile, the Coriolis force, which causes a rightward deflection of tidal currents, was the primary factor driving the eastward spread and upstream migration of S. apetala along the river. This study offers theoretical insights and data support for controlling the rapid spread of S. apetala in the Maowei Sea and preserving the health and biodiversity of the native mangrove ecosystem.

Key words: Sonneratia apetala, exotic species, mangroves, Maowei Sea

CLC Number: 

  • Q948