Evaluating Litter Yield and Decomposition for Re-Vegetated Mangroves in a Subtropical Mudflat

Anyi Niu,Chuxia Lin,Yifei Gao,Ting Zhou,Xiu Yang,Songjun Xu

doi:10.3390/app9163340

Anyi Niu, Chuxia Lin + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/app9163340

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Abstract

Field monitoring and incubation experiments were conducted to evaluate the litter yield and examine the decomposition of the litter of three representative mangrove species frequently used for mangrove re-vegetation in a subtropical mudflat on the South China coast. The results show that the litter yield of the investigated mangrove species varied significantly from season to season. The annual litter production was in the following decreasing order: Heritiera littoralis > Thespesia populnea > Kandelia obovata. Initially, rapid decomposition of easily degradable components of the litter materials resulted in a marked weight loss of the mangrove litter. There was a good linear relationship between the length of field incubation time and the litter decomposition rate for both the branch and the leaf portion of the three investigated mangrove species. Approximately 50% or more of the added mangrove litter could be decomposed within one year and the decomposed litter could be incorporated into the underlying soils and consequently affect the soil carbon dynamics. An annual soil carbon increase from 2.37 to 4.64 g/kg in the top 5 cm of the soil was recorded for the investigated mangrove species.

Highlights

Mangrove wetlands play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services [1,2,3]
Approximately 50% or more of the added mangrove litter could be decomposed within one year for either the branch portion or the leaf portion of the three investigated mangrove species
Litter yield of the mangrove species was subject to seasonal control

Summary

Introduction

Mangrove wetlands play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services [1,2,3]. Rapid coastal development in the past few decades has led to a large-scale destruction of mangroves around the world [4], with its adverse impact on coastal ecosystems becoming more and more evident [5,6]. Replanting mangrove trees in tidal zones is more challenging and usually involves larger capital and labor inputs, as compared to re-vegetation of terrestrial lands. Carbon credit is among the major benefits from restoration of mangrove wetlands [10]. While carbon being stored in the living parts of mangrove trees is important, carbon storage in mangrove soils plays an even more important role in carbon sequestration [11,12]

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