Abstract
The characteristic location of mangroves at the interface between marine and terrestrial habitats makes them vulnerable to regional environmental change. The monsoonal climate of tropical Asia, where mangrove forests are broadly distributed along the coastal zone, differs from that of the other tropical regions. Therefore, mangrove development in tropical Asia is likely related to the evolution of the Asian monsoon and related environmental changes. As a case study, mangrove development was retrospectively studied using the contribution of mangrove-derived organic matter (CMOM), combined with the total pollen concentration of mangrove species, in bulk sediments of the Yingluo Bay, northern Beibu Gulf (SW China) over the last 2000 years. The results clearly show that mangrove development (flourishing or deteriorating) is primarily controlled by the changes in the air temperature and rainfall, which are controlled by the Asian monsoon. The three mangrove flourishing stages (~2.0–1.6 cal. ka bp, ~1.4–0.8 cal. ka bp, and from ~140 years bp to present) result from warmer and wetter climates during the intensified Asian summer monsoon. In contrast, the two deteriorating stages (~1.6–1.4 cal. ka bp and from ~0.8 cal. ka bp to 140 years bp) result from colder and dryer climates during the intensified Asian winter monsoon. Unexpectedly, the relative sea-level changes, regional seawater salinity, and tidal current, as well as human activity have not imposed notable effects on extension, flourishing/deterioration, and succession of the mangrove forest over the last 2000 years in the Yingluo Bay.
Published Version
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