Banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis) detection at Ruakaka estuary before, during, and after mangrove (Avicennia marina) removal

Use of public Earth observation data for tracking progress in sustainable management of coastal forest ecosystems in Belize, Central America

Unlike many parts of the world, mangrove coverage has been steadily increasing in Aotearoa,New Zealand since the 1900s. Intentional mangrove removal in Aotearoa New Zealand is often motivated by a desire to remove muddy sediment from sites that were once sand-dominated. Mangrove removal can result in geomorphic and ecologic evolution over decadal timescales, yet monitoring of removal sites is often limited to a few years. This study presents the result of over a decade of monitoring in Waikaraka Estuary, a quiescent embayment where mangroves were removed between 2003 and 2012. Surface elevation was monitored between 2006 and 2019, and sediment cores and surface samples collected in 2019 were analysed for grain size, total organic content, and root biomass to assess geomorphic change. Remaining mangroves areas and benthic macrofauna were surveyed throughout the estuary to assess ecologic change. Despite initially rapid movement of mud out of cleared areas, the estuary has experienced little bed-elevation change over a decade. The upper estuary remains muddy, and much of the root biomass has not decomposed. However, the region near the mouth of the estuary has become sandier with the return of bivalve species Austrovenus stutchburyi (cockles) and Macomona liliana. These long-term measurements demonstrate the slow pace of recovery following mangrove removal in quiescent embayments. Without major changes to hydrodynamics, mud is unlikely to be flushed out and bivalve habitat is unlikely to be restored even after a decade. Site-specific characteristics should be assessed when evaluating the efficacy of mangrove removal for estuary restoration, to moderate community expectations.

This study aimed to evaluate the growth of grey mangrove Avicennia marina seedlings under Libyan environmental conditions. The experiment involved importing grey mangrove seedlings from the United Arab Emirates in two phases. The imported seedlings were planted at the study site, specifically in the municipality of Tajoura. A soil mixture of sand and peat moss at a ratio of 3:1 was used, with well-drained containers provided. The seedlings received necessary nutrients through NPK fertilizer at a ratio of 20:20:20, and were gradually irrigated with saline water of increasing concentrations. These measures supported the emergence of new leaves and the stabilization of the seedlings during the initial months.The results showed that the duration and conditions of transportation had a significant impact on the success of the seedlings. In the first trial, the seedlings were transported for 12 days without sufficient irrigation, leading to the death of most of the seedlings. In the second trial, the transportation period was reduced to six days and greater care was provided, resulting in successful outcomes with a survival rate exceeding 80%. Morphological changes in the first batch of seedlings were monitored and documented for approximately five months, while those in the second batch were observed for two months. Monitoring results indicated continued seedling growth, including the emergence of new leaves and noticeable root branching, despite some differences between the two batches in morphological traits such as seedling height, stem diameter, leaf area, and root size. The second batch showed improved morphological traits, except for root size, which was greater in the first batch. Overall, the study demonstrated that the seedlings adapted well to Libyan environmental conditions. Keywords: Mangrove seedlings, Coastal environment, Climate change, Sustainable development, Bioindicators

Although the cold-resistant ability of mangroves varies greatly with species, the physiological mechanism remains unclear. The chilling stress effects on morphological changes, photosynthetic pigments, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and several antioxidants, were studied in leaves of three mangrove seedlings (Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina). Results showed that both K. obovata and A. corniculatum exhibited lighter chilling damage, lower chilling injury rates and higher survival rates compared to A. marina. Reductions of chlorophylls (Chls) were observed in all the three mangroves, and the highest was detected in A. marina. Significant increases in content of ROS (hydrogen peroxide, H2O2; hydroxyl radicals, OH⋅) and MDA were observed in both A. marina and A. corniculatum, whereas chilling stressed K. obovata showed a decrease in H2O2 content, constant OH⋅ level and instantaneous increase of MDA. The contents of proline and water-soluble protein exhibited similar stress-time dependent increases in all mangroves, while A. corniculatum showed the highest increase of proline and relatively higher increase of water-soluble protein. The catalase activities significantly decreased with stress time in all mangroves, while K. obovata showed the least reduction. An increase in ascorbic acid (AsA) content and activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also detected in all the three mangroves, while K. obovata showed the highest increases. These results indicate that chilling-tolerance of mangroves is associated with the efficiency of antioxidants, as confirmed by principal component analysis. The AsA, APX and POD in K. obovata may play more important role in control of oxidative stresses than those in the other two species. Furthermore, the higher cold-resistance of A. corniculatum compared to A. marina may be partly associated with its higher proline accumulation. The results indicate that enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (POD, APX, AsA, proline and Car) play key roles in scavenging of excess ROS in mangroves. Further studies focusing on these stress-responsive genes will enable better understanding of the cold-resistance mechanism from molecular level.

Abstract. Yulma, Adiwilaga EM, Wardiatno Y. 2013. Contribution of organic material from white mangrove (Avicennia marina) to evaluate mangrove ecosystem management: Case Study of Labuhan Maringgai, East Lampung. Bonorowo Wetlands 3: 12-29. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential contribution of organic matter (C, N, and P) of mangrove forest litter production in Labuhan Maringgai, East Lampung, to the marine environment, as well as evaluate the mangrove rehabilitation program conducted by the Lampung Mangrove Center program of the University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung. Lampung Mangrove Center (LMC) provides litter productivity of 4.53 g/m2/day with the most significant contributor from leaf litter and twigs, while flowers and fruit are not found. The dry weight of the remaining mangrove leaf litter on day 56 ranged between 5-2.5 g. LMC has the potential production of organic material that can be used litter amounted to 0.76164 GC/m2/day; 0.00628 GN/m2/day; 0.00331 GP/m2/day. Mangrove rehabilitation involving three parties, including the Government of East Lampung District, University of Lampung, and the community, is very effective in conserving mangrove forests in LMC within 1,000 ha of mangrove ranges.

The growth of six mangrove seedlings under varying salinity was studied concerning the habitat zonation. Healthy and mature propagules and seeds of selected mangroves, Rhizophora apiculata, R. stylosa, Ceriops tagal, Avicennia marina, A. alba, and Acanthus ilicifolius were collected from North Sumatran mangroves. Mangrove seedlings were grown for three months in 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 3.0% salinity concentration. The growth of mangrove seedlings emerged to show variation among the species. The growth of two salt secretor species of A. marina and A. alba were increased in the occurrence of salt with maximum activation at 2.0%. This escalation was reduced once salt concentration was increased above 2.0%. By contrast, two non-salt secretor species of R. apiculata and R. stylosa significantly expanded to 1.5% salinity, at that moment decreasing by accumulative salts. A salt secretor species of Ac showed the less salt tolerant of mangrove species. ilicifolius and a nonsalt-secretor of C. tagal, which their optimum growth was at 0.5% salinity. The tolerance of mangrove species to salt concentration tracked the sequence of Av. marina and Av. alba (most foreshore species) >R. stylosa and R. apiculata>C. tagal>Ac. ilicifolius (most landward species), which is following the natural species distribution and habitat zones.

Sediment properties and surface erodibility following a large-scale mangrove (Avicennia marina) removal

Gurltia paralysans and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus are neglected metastrongyloid nematode species which infect domestic and wild cats in South American countries and in Chile, but no epidemiological studies on concomitant infections have been conducted in Chile so far. The aim of this study was not only to evaluate the occurrence of concomitant infections, but also to identify epidemiological risk factors associated with of G. paralysans and A. abstrusus infections in urban domestic cats (Felis catus) from Southern Chile. Blood samples from clinically healthy domestic cats from three cities of Southern Chile—Temuco, Valdivia, and Puerto Montt—were analyzed by an experimental semi-nested PCR protocol. A total of 171 apparently healthy domestic cats in Temuco (n = 68), Valdivia (n = 50), and Puerto Montt (n = 53) were sampled and analyzed. A total of 93 domestic cats (54.4%) were positive for G. paralysans, and 34 (19.9%) were positive for A. abstrusus infections. From those animals, 34 (19.9%) were co-infected. Cats positive with G. paralysans were found in all three cities; 47.2% in Puerto Montt, 48% in Valdivia, and 64.7% in Temuco. Levels of infection for A. abstrusus in the population under study were 4% (Valdivia), 10% (Puerto Montt), and 32.4% (Temuco). The present large-scale epidemiological study confirmed the presence of these neglected nematodes in domestic cat populations in Southern Chile, and described the possible risk factors associated with feline gurltiosis and aelurostrongylosis.

Mangrove’s rhizospheric engineering with bacterial inoculation improve degradation of diesel contamination

Mixed heavy metals tolerance and radial oxygen loss in mangrove seedlings

Litter fall was measured in a mixed mangrove community in which Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. was dominant over Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam. Mean litter production was 1.24 g dry matter m - 2 day - 1 or 4.51 tons ha - 1 yr - 1 over a 3-year period. Mean annual leaf yield comprised approximately 72% of total litter. Generally greater leaf fall occurred in the summer than in the winter. In both A. marina and B. gymnorrhiza propagule production was variable from year to year. In both species, reproductive material was present on the trees almost throughout the year. This behaviour and the low litter yields appeared to indicate that the community is approaching its southern limits. From the 14 ha of mangroves in the estuary it is calculated that total litter production is 50.7 tons yr - 1 , of which approximately 36.8 tons yr - 1 is leaf litter. The total litter production of the larger stands of mangroves in Transkei’s estuaries was calculated. Mangrove litter is considered to provide a significant input to these systems.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of endoparasites in domestic cats (Felis catus) in the city of Sousa, state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. A total of 207 samples of fresh feces were randomly collected from domestic and semi-domiciled cats. The samples were analyzed by simple centrifugation and centrifuge-flotation in sucrose solution for the diagnosis of helminth eggs and enteric protozoan oocysts and cysts. Epidemiological information was obtained to determine risk factors related to infections. Among the samples collected, 81.6% (169/207; 95% CI: 77.4-83.8) were positive for at least one parasite genus. Ancylostoma spp. was the most prevalent, at 67.1% (139/207), followed by Taenia spp. at 28.5% (59/207), and Spirometra spp. and Platynosomum sp., both at 17.3% (36/207). The variables associated with helminth infection were a historic lack of deworming (Odds ratio = 12.25) and the presence of dry fur (Odds ratio = 2.15). No risk factors were observed for enteric protozoa infection. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of endoparasites in domestic cats in the city of Sousa, state of Paraíba, and associated risk factors, thus establishing an overview of the main helminths and protozoa that affect cats in this region.

Photosynthetic Pigments and Peroxidase Activity as Indicators of Heavy Metal Stress in the Grey Mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh.

Batticaloa Lagoon (Sri Lanka) is subjected to significant pollution as a result of anticipated unplanned development works since the cessation of a civil war in May, 2009. This paper presents the effectiveness of Avicennia marina(Forsk.) Vierh in the phytoremediation of Pb and the variation of Pb in sediments and water in the intertidal zone under drier weather conditions. Four pristine areas and 4 mangroves cut areas within the Manmunai North Divisional Secretariat Division / Batticaloa Municipal Council areas were investigated. Pb levels in the sediments and plants were negligible at all locations (i.e., below the method detection limit of the AAS for sediments and plants which is 0.25 mg/kg dry weight and 0.5 mg/kg dry weight, respectively). However, the water environment showed significant contamination (0.17–0.29 mg/L and 0.26–0.34 mg/L in pristine areas and cleared areas, respectively), hence Pb bioaccumulation is likely in fish and other biota. Avicennia marina is not effective to phytoremediate Pb under significant saline conditions.

Spatiotemporal partitioning between the endangered San Joaquin kit fox and a novel mesocarnivore community in the urban environment as revealed by camera traps