Breakdown of leaf litter under different environmental conditions in a tropical mangrove

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences

article

Lage-Pinto, F.¹  Pessoa, E. C.¹  Bernini, E.¹ 

[1] Laboratory of Coastal and Ocean Ecology, Federal University of Paraiba,Campus TV, Litoral Norte

关键词: leaf decomposition;    Avicennia schaueriana;    Laguncularia racemosa;    Rhizophoramangle;   

DOI  :  10.54451/PanamJAS.18.1.1

学科分类：天文学(综合)

来源: Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences

【 摘 要 】

This study evaluated the decomposition process of leaf litter of Avicenniaschaueriana Stapf & Leechm. ex Moldenke，Laguncularia racemosa (L.)C.F.Gaertn andRhizophora mangle L. in the mangrove forest of the Mamanguape River estuary，Brazil.Senescent leaves were placed in litterbags and submitted to three experimental conditions:supratidal, not subjected to tidal inundation(SUP), intertidal 1, on the forest floor and subjectedto inundation(INT1) and intertidal 2, on the bottom of a tidal creek (INT2). The leaf materialshowed rapid loss of mass in the first 30 days, followed by slower decay until the end of theexperiment. The treatment effect was greater than the differences among species. Leaf littersubjected to flooding exhibited higher decomposition rates and lower half-life (tsx） and 95%lifespan (tos%) values compared to leaves exposed to air. In the SUP treatment，tso% and tes%values indicated that mass loss was significantly slower in R. mangle，intermediate in L.racemosa, and more accelerated in A. schaueuriana.Under conditions of higher tidal inundationfrequency (INT2), decomposition rates were faster for R. mangle leaves,intermediate for A.schaueriana， and slower for L. racemosa. The results found in the present study suggest thatenvironmental factors may have more influence on decomposition rates than speciescharacteristics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND