Abstract
AbstractDespite low plant diversity and structural simplicity, mangroves offer various ecosystem services to local human communities, including sheltering coastal social‐ecological systems from high‐energy storm damage. The expected increasing intensity of hurricanes due to climate change raises questions concerning the capacity of mangroves to resist and recover from such disturbances. Herein, this study contributes to a better understanding of (1) the relation between storm intensity and damage to mangrove vegetation, (2) the contributions of species‐specific as well as stand‐specific components of mangrove vegetation to ecosystem resistance, and (3) the recovery of pre‐hurricane forest structure through time. The first two issues have been addressed using a stand‐level approach implemented at two east Caribbean mangrove sites in response to three storm events. The third was addressed through a 23‐yr survey of forest recovery following the passage of a high‐energy storm across one of the two study sites. Generally, hurricane damage was primarily controlled by wind velocity, followed by the hydro‐geomorphic context of mangrove forests and species‐specific composition, respectively. The relationship between damage to trees and wind velocity evidenced a sigmoidal trend, with a maximum slope at a wind velocity averaging 130 and 180 km/h for higher vs. lower canopy stands, respectively. The red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, was significantly less resistant to hurricane damage than was the black mangrove, Avicennia germinans. Unlike the fringe and scrub stands, inner, tall‐canopy stands fully recovered by the end of the study (23 yr). These stands were more resilient because of their growth performances. Finally, the time for east Caribbean mangroves to recover from high‐energy storms seems to fall within the range of the average return time of such disturbances. This may prevent such ecosystems from ever reaching a steady state.
Highlights
Mangrove forests are commonly found along tropical shores and estuaries
Mangroves characteristically have low plant diversity and structural simplicity at the stand level (Janzen 1985, Tomlinson 1986, Snedaker and Lahmann 1988). This results from highly selective conditions that are required for mangrove persistence: salted groundwater, periodic flooding, and hypoxic low-nutrient substrates (e.g., Chapman 1976, Feller et al 2010)
This study provides a better understanding of mangrove resistance and resilience with respect to hurricane disturbances in the Caribbean
Summary
Mangrove forests are commonly found along tropical shores and estuaries. They offer various goods and services to local human communities including food supply, wood products, and shoreline protection (e.g., Ewel et al 1998, QuocTuan Vo et al 2012). Mangrove forests are commonly found along tropical shores and estuaries They offer various goods and services to local human communities including food supply, wood products, and shoreline protection Mangroves characteristically have low plant diversity and structural simplicity at the stand level (Janzen 1985, Tomlinson 1986, Snedaker and Lahmann 1988). This results from highly selective conditions that are required for mangrove persistence: salted groundwater, periodic flooding, and hypoxic low-nutrient substrates (e.g., Chapman 1976, Feller et al 2010). Hurricanes that periodically cross the Caribbean enhance structural heterogeneity within mangrove ecosystems through various kinds of impact on soils and vegetation, such as windthrow, storm surge, salt spray, and sediment transport (Smith et al 2009)
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