Mangrove Research Articles

Analysis Of Mangrove Land Cover In The Sawo Marine Conservation Area, North Nias District

Sawo sub-district of North Nias Regency has a mangrove ecosystem that has been designated as a Regional Marine Conservation Area (KKLD) with an area of 29,230.85 ha. The 2005 earthquake and tsunami are reported to have caused damage to mangrove ecosystems due to rising land levels. The increase in land surface has resulted in the destruction of mangroves in this area. This has an impact on the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem in this region and is important to study. The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in mangrove land cover after the tsunami in 2006 to 2022 and to analyze the impact of changes in mangrove land cover. The results found that mangrove land cover continues to experience a reduction in area, in 2006 an area of 139.78 ha and continues to decline until the remaining 70.87 ha in 2022. This is due to the increasing population growth that causes mangrove forest degradation and land conversion into agricultural land, plantations and infrastructure. The increase in population is a driving force, land clearing for settlements and plantations is a pressure factor (Pressures), land use change is a factor of existing conditions (State), reduced mangrove land area is part of the impact (Impact) and coastal spatial planning, counseling to reforestation is a response (Response). Land conversion to other uses is a contributing factor to the continued loss of mangrove land in this area.Keywords: Mangrove, Land cover, GIS, DPSIR

Community perception toward mangrove restoration program in Kampung Nelayan Seberang, Medan

Indonesia has the largest mangrove forests in the world. However, Indonesia is also listed as the largest contributor to loss of the world's mangrove forests. Good mangroves will support the lives of coastal communities and vice versa. Mangrove forests in the area of Kampung Nelayan Seberang, Medan Belawan and its surroundings were also degraded. Therefore, degraded mangrove forests need to be restored through mangrove restoration activities with the involvement of the surrounding community. This community service activity through the Assisted Village Program will carry out mangrove restoration activities with the people of Kampung Nelayan Seberang. The success of restoration activities is determined by good understanding of the mangrove ecosystem and the commitment of the community to be involved in restoring it. The objective of this study was to identify understanding related to mangrove ecosystems and community perceptions of its restoration efforts. Collecting data was carried out by interviewing respondents who represented the population. Descriptive analysis is used to describe the socio-economic conditions, understanding and perceptions of the community regarding ecosystems and mangrove restoration. Generally, respondents understand the role of mangrove forests and agree that mangrove restoration must be done together. Amount of 53 - 83% of respondents agreed and understood that mangrove restoration is important for life and has an impact on income, social and cultural life. The results showed that 60 - 90% of respondents around the restoration area need a rehabilitation program and are willing to be involved in a mangrove restoration program with the parties.

Stand growth and carbon stocks of community-based mangrove rehabilitation in Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract. Astiani D, Roslinda E, Widiastuti T, Ekamawanti HA, Ekyastuti W, Dwianto W, Alfikri F, Ngidu EY. 2024. Stand growth and carbon stocks of community-based mangrove rehabilitation in Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2799-2805. The ability of tropical mangrove ecosystems to store carbon in the form of biomass is well-founded. The mangrove forest in Setapuk Besar Village, Singkawang City, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia has been managed by community members in response to the development of alluvial sediment land in recent years. The community's efforts in Setapuk Besar Village to rehabilitate and manage mangrove forests illustrate how essential mangrove forests are to the local ecology and should be applauded for their success. This study aims to investigate the growth and development, carbon stored and sequestered in mangrove forests planted by community in Setapuk Besar between 2015 and 2020. Field survey was conducted from July to November 2022 by mapping the sediment land that had expanded since 2015 and continued with the measurement of density and diameter of mangrove stands that were systematically planted in each planting year using sampling plot method. In addition, site factors such as pH, carbon content, nitrogen, phosphorus, CEC, and soil solution salinity were investigated. Our findings indicate that due to alluvial sedimentation, the coastline in Setapuk village is expanding by 3.3 to 4.6 ha annually, accumulating 24 ha throughout a six-year period. The mangroves planted in 2015-2016 are now thriving on the new land. The six-year-old trees diameter achieved an average of 6.80±0.13 cm, averaged 5.1 m in height, and increased from 0.45 to 2.2 cm in diameter. The total biomass (above and below-ground) of plants aged 4, 5 and 6 years was 250, 303 and 430 tons ha-1, with a potential to absorb carbon of 28-33 tons ha-1 year-1, correspondingly. Given that this mangrove area plays a crucial role in CO2 capture in nature and has a relatively high ability to absorb and store carbon, conservation efforts and best practices are necessary for this forest.

Management strategies for the potential and value of mangrove forest ecosystem services in the Panango area of south Bolaang Mongondow regency

The Panango area is an area that has mangrove forests in its coastal areas that are used for ecotourism, fisheries, and environmental conservation. Mangrove forests in the area have the potential and value of important benefits to the surrounding community which has been using them for a long time, but data and information are not yet available, so it is necessary to identify and assess the ecosystem services in the area. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential and value of the benefits of mangrove ecosystem services in the Panango area in terms of provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting functions, and to determine strategies for managing the mangrove forest in the area. This research uses primary data obtained through field observations, namely observation of research objects, completion of questionnaires, and interviews with respondents. Secondary data was obtained from local government data and other data sources relevant to the research. The research data analysis technique was carried out by calculating the total economic value of each mangrove ecosystem service and SWOT analysis to determine mangrove area management strategies. This study concluded that the economic value of the potential and benefits of mangrove forest ecosystem services in the Panango area in total Rp. 26,259,380,092/year consisting of the value of service providers of Rp. 684,300,000/year, the potential for regulatory services as a wave breaker with a benefit value of Rp. 9,705,300,000/10 years, the potential value as a cultural service of Rp. 15,846,000,000/year, and the potential value as a supporting service of Rp. 23,780,092/year. Strategies that can be used in sustainable management of the potential and value of the benefits of mangrove forest ecosystem services in Panango area are through conservation efforts to protect and manage the area by involving joint participation between local governments and communities and other stakeholders.

Assessment of spatio-temporal dynamics of mangrove forest in Teluk Pangpang, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Hidayah Z, Rachman HA, Wiyanto DB. 2024. Assessment of spatio-temporal dynamics of mangrove forest in Teluk Pangpang, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3138-3150. Mangrove forest in Teluk Pangpang, Banyuwangi District, East Java, Indonesia is located in a semi-enclosed bay area on the east coast of Java Island and bordering with Bali Strait. Since 2020, this location has been designated as an Essential Ecosystem Area (EEA) by the Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Regardless of its designation as an EEA, information on vegetation stucture and spatio-temporal changes of Teluk Pangpang’s mangrove forest is limited. The availability of multi-temporal medium to high-resolution satellite imagery data enables researchers to monitor the condition of mangrove ecosystem using long-term data and reliable spatial continuity. The objective of this study is to investigate vegetation community structure of mangrove forest in Teluk Pangpang, as well as to determine the changes in extent and condition of mangrove forest measured as Mangrove Health Index (MHI) between 2015 and 2023 using remote sensing and GIS analysis. Spatio-temporal dynamics of MHI was determined using Sentinel-2 imagery data from 2015, 2018 and 2023. Meanwhile, a series of extensive survey in 15 transects with a total of 75 plots were conducted to obtain field data. The results showed that Rhizophora apiculata Blume and R. mucronata Lam. were the most important species with Important Value Index (IVI) of 140.91 and 148.24, respectively. Meanwhile, Sentinel-2 image processing results revealed a major increase in mangrove’s area, from 643.35 ha in 2015 to 737.51 ha in 2023. Furthermore, MHI analysis indicated improving conditions of mangrove ecosystem, as evidenced by the significant increased of mangroves area at the excellent MHI category (MHI>66.8) from 11.00 ha in 2015 to 175.86 ha in 2023. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) several environmental parameters were strongly correlated to MHI including salinity, DO, TSS and mangrove’s diversity index. The findings of this study, primarily the application of MHI approach, may provide an alternative strategy for monitoring the dynamics of vegetation cover of mangrove forest in Teluk Pangpang and other mangrove areas in Indonesia.

Blue carbon assessment in Avicennia marina sediments and vegetation along the Red Sea Coast of Egypt: Improving methods and insights

Mangrove forests play a crucial role in the coastal environment. A plethora of research is focusing on mangroves’ role in climate mitigation through sequestering and storing CO2. This study aims to assess the organic carbon (OC) stocks and carbon sequestration rate (CSR) of the largest stands of mangroves in the Red Sea Coast of Egypt, to evaluate their significance in climate mitigation strategies. Intensive sampling was conducted in mangrove stands of Safaga, Qulaan, and Hamata to investigate OC and sediment properties along depth intervals to 1 m deep. Additionally, OC stored in the above- and below-ground biomass was estimated using Landsat 9 OLI/TIRS satellite images. TOC content (∼0.50%) and stocks in the sediments (54.49 ± 31.71–86.00 ± 29.00 MgC/ha) were very low compared to the global average for mangrove stands, and comparable to the mangrove forest in the Middle East region. This can be attributed to the desert and semi-desert conditions, limited riverine input, and low precipitation rates. Moreover, the above-ground biomass, estimated from Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, exhibited extremely low OC storage. Therefore, the sediment acted as the main pool of organic carbon in these mangrove ecosystems. The research findings revealed that mangrove stands in Egypt exhibit low CSR, ranging from 11.94 to 18.02 g C m−2 year−1. Additionally, the study determined that the stable nature of mangrove stands in Egypt makes their annual CO2 emissions negligible. Despite local studies suggesting otherwise, it is highly unlikely that mangroves in Egypt contribute to the climate mitigation related to CO2 sequestration. Therefore, it is important to implement restoration plans to ensure the preservation of other ecological services provided by mangroves along the Red Sea Coast.

Spectroscopic Phenological Characterization of Mangrove Communities

Spaceborne spectroscopic imaging offers the potential to improve our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services, particularly for challenging and rich environments like mangroves. Understanding the signals present in large volumes of high-dimensional spectroscopic observations of vegetation communities requires the characterization of seasonal phenology and response to environmental conditions. This analysis leverages both spectroscopic and phenological information to characterize vegetation communities in the Sundarban riverine mangrove forest of the Ganges–Brahmaputra delta. Parallel analyses of surface reflectance spectra from NASA’s EMIT imaging spectrometer and MODIS vegetation abundance time series (2000–2022) reveal the spectroscopic and phenological diversity of the Sundarban mangrove communities. A comparison of spectral and temporal feature spaces rendered with low-order principal components and 3D embeddings from Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) reveals similar structures with multiple spectral and temporal endmembers and multiple internal amplitude continua for both EMIT reflectance and MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) phenology. The spectral and temporal feature spaces of the Sundarban represent independent observations sharing a common structure that is driven by the physical processes controlling tree canopy spectral properties and their temporal evolution. Spectral and phenological endmembers reside at the peripheries of the mangrove forest with multiple outward gradients in amplitude of reflectance and phenology within the forest. Longitudinal gradients of both phenology and reflectance amplitude coincide with LiDAR-derived gradients in tree canopy height and sub-canopy ground elevation, suggesting the influence of surface hydrology and sediment deposition. RGB composite maps of both linear (PC) and nonlinear (UMAP) 3D feature spaces reveal a strong contrast between the phenological and spectroscopic diversity of the eastern Sundarban and the less diverse western Sundarban.

Bacterial Communities across Multiple Ecological Niches (Water, Sediment, Plastic, and Snail Gut) in Mangrove Habitats.

Microbial composition across substrates in mangroves, particularly in the Middle East, remains unclear. This study characterized bacterial communities in sediment, water, Terebralia palustris snail guts, and plastic associated with Avicennia marina mangrove forests in two coastal lagoons in the Sea of Oman using 16S rDNA gene MiSeq sequencing. The genus Vibrio dominated all substrates except water. In the gut of snails, Vibrio is composed of 80-99% of all bacterial genera. The water samples showed a different pattern, with the genus Sunxiuqinia being dominant in both Sawadi (50.80%) and Qurum (49.29%) lagoons. There were significant differences in bacterial communities on different substrata, in particular plastic. Snail guts harbored the highest number of unique Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in both lagoons, accounting for 30.97% OTUs in Sawadi and 28.91% OTUs in Qurum, compared to other substrates. Plastic in the polluted Sawadi lagoon with low salinity harbored distinct genera such as Vibrio, Aestuariibacter, Zunongwangia, and Jeotgalibacillus, which were absent in the Qurum lagoon with higher salinity and lower pollution. Sawadi lagoon exhibited higher species diversity in sediment and plastic substrates, while Qurum lagoon demonstrated lower species diversity. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that environmental factors such as salinity, pH, and nutrient levels significantly influence bacterial community composition across substrates. Variations in organic matter and potential anthropogenic influences, particularly from plastics, further shape bacterial communities. This study highlights the complex microbial communities in mangrove ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple substrates in mangrove microbial ecology studies. The understanding of microbial dynamics and anthropogenic impacts is crucial for shaping effective conservation and management strategies in mangrove ecosystems, particularly in the face of environmental changes.

Analysis of Potential, Impact and Design of a Sustainable Ecotourism Management System Using an Industrial Engineering Approach in The Kuala Bubon Mangrove Forest, West Aceh

The discourse of the West Aceh government and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, which aims to develop the Kuala Bubon West Aceh mangrove forest area into an ecotourism site to boost the community's economy, has drawn attention from many parties. This is due to the rich biodiversity present in the mangrove forest. Pre-ecotourism studies need to be conducted to ensure that the use of this forest can be managed properly, including studying potential tourist attractions, analyzing negative impacts, and engineering a sustainable ecotourism management industry. This involves using an industrial engineering approach, which offers an optimal framework for achieving these goals. The research was conducted in the Kuala Bubon mangrove forest, West Aceh, in July 2024. Survey techniques and direct observation were used to gather data on the ecotourism potential in the Kuala Bubon mangrove forest. This potential data will be mapped using Quantum GIS and then analyzed to assess the potential and impact of environmental damage as part of ecotourism and the ecosystem. The impact of the damage will then be addressed with alternative industrial engineering solutions, creating an effective management design using AutoCAD. The research results identified five ecotourism attraction points: sunset observation ecotourism, flora & fauna exploration, fishing, duck games, and shellfish searching. Based on this potential, a negative impact analysis and industrial engineering of the ecotourism area will be conducted, focusing on three aspects: infrastructure, waste management, and the utilization of renewable energy.Type your abstract here.

Strategic Model for Mangrove Forest Resource Management in Boalemo District, Gorontalo Province

Mangrove forest destruction in Boalemo Regency has increased significantly over the past decade. The condition of mangrove forests has been degraded due to the pressure of population growth, especially in coastal areas. Damage to mangrove forest resources is certainly very dangerous to the ecosystem of fisheries resources, biodiversity and destroys the stability of coastal forests that support the protection of inland and rural agricultural crops. The purpose of this research is to design a model of sustainable mangrove forest resource management strategy in Boalemo District, Gorontalo Province, so that it can be applied as a policy in improving and optimizing mangrove forest resource management efforts in Gorontalo Province. The method used is Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). The results showed that there are thirteen sub-elements of program requirements needed to build the model, of the thirteen elements of program requirements there are no sub-elements that occupy quadrant I, in quadrant II there are two sub-elements and in quadrant III there are six sub-elements, in quadrant IV is occupied by five sub-elements which are key elements to build a mangrove forest resource management strategy model.

Mercury distribution and transfer in mangrove forests in urban areas under simulated rising sea levels

Mercury distribution and transfer in mangrove forests in urban areas under simulated rising sea levels

Chemical evaluation and bioactivity of humic substances isolated from the mangrove ecosystem

Mangroves are an ecosystem that features dark colored sediment, rich in organic matter, with humic substances as its main component, which were the target of this work that aimed to characterize those humic substances chemically and spectroscopically and compare the biological activity of different humic materials isolated from mangrove areas with different levels of anthropic interference (Maria Ortiz high and Canal dos Escravos low). The chemical and spectroscopic characterization of the humic materials was performed through the analysis of elemental composition, E4/E6 ratio, fluorescence intensity and infrared and their biological activity was tested by evaluating changes in the root growth of corn seedlings in hydroponics. The humic materials, from the Maria Ortiz area, presented higher values in the C/N ratio, higher values in the fluorescence index and lower values in the E4/E6 ratio, when compared with the humic materials from the area of Canal dos Escravos. The absorption bands of the infrared spectrum indicated similarities with respect to the chemical functionality of the humic materials, however, it was possible to notice clear differences between the study areas. All humic materials promoted, in general, changes in the root architecture of corn seedlings when compared to the control treatment. This work shows that there are differences in the chemical and spectroscopic characteristics and in the biological activity of the studied humic materials, demonstrating that the anthropic activity alters the quality of the organic matter of the mangrove sediments, which may interfere in the survival and development of the mangrove forests.

Development of Dioramas Using 3D Media on Class X Mangrove Forest Ecosystem Materials in MA Darul Muta'allimin Patianrowo Nganjuk

The development of diorama media aims to increase teachers' creativity and optimize media use skills in the learning process. The purpose of this study is to describe the results of 3D diorama media validation on mangrove forest ecosystem materials according to material experts and media experts. The method used is RnD by not carrying out the dissemination stage. This is due to limited time and cost. The instruments used are material validation questionnaires and learning media. This development research uses a combination of quantitative data analysis and qualitative data analysis techniques where the scores of validation results by material experts, media experts and response scores from students are analyzed descriptively. The results of the discussion and based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that the Results of the Validation of 3D Diorama Media on Mangrove Forest Ecosystem Materials from the results of the validation of material experts received very valid criteria with a percentage of 92.5% each. The results of the validation of 3D Diorama Media on Mangrove Forest Ecosystem Materials from the results of the validation of the Material Expert received very valid criteria with a percentage of 95.45%.

Analysis of heavy metal and arsenic sources in mangrove surface sediments at Wulishan Port on Leizhou Peninsula, China, using the APCS-MLR model

Mangrove forests are sources and sinks for various pollutants. This study analyzed the current status of heavy metal and arsenic (As) pollution in mangrove surface sediments in rapidly industrializing and urbanizing port cities. Surface sediments of mangroves at Wulishan Port on the Leizhou Peninsula, China, were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the presence of Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, As, and Hg. The Pollution load index, Nemerow pollution index, and Potential ecological risk index were employed to evaluate the pollutant. Multivariate statistical methods were applied for the qualitative analysis of pollutant sources, and the APCS-MLR receptor model was used for quantification. This study indicated the following results: (1) The average content of eight pollutants surpassed the local background level but did not exceed the Marine Sediment Quality standard. The pollution levels across the four sampling areas were ranked as Ⅲ > Ⅳ > Ⅰ > Ⅱ. The area Ⅱ exhibited relatively lower pollution levels with the grain size of the sediments dominated by sand, which was not conducive to pollutant adsorption and enrichment. (2) The factor analysis and cluster analyses identified three primary sources of contamination. As, Cr, Ni, and Pb originated from nearby industrial activities and their associated wastewater, suggesting that the primary source was the industrial source. Cd, Cu, and Zn stem from the cement columns utilized in oyster farming, alongside discharges from mariculture and pig farming, establishing a secondary agricultural source. Hg originated from ship exhaust burning oil and vehicle emissions in the vicinity, representing the third traffic source. (3) The APCS-MLR receptor model results demonstrated industrial, agricultural, and traffic sources contributing 47.19 %, 33.13 %, and 13.03 %, respectively, with 6.65 % attributed to unidentified sources.

Habitat quality and degradation change analysis for the Sundarbans mangrove forest using invest habitat quality model and machine learning

Habitat quality and degradation change analysis for the Sundarbans mangrove forest using invest habitat quality model and machine learning

Extraction of 10 m Resolution Global Mangrove in 2022

With the intensification of global climate change, there is an increasing emphasis on protecting natural resources. Mangrove forests, critical to tropical and subtropical intertidal ecosystems, have garnered considerable attention in recent years for their strong carbon sink capacity, rich species diversity, and abundant natural resources. This study utilizes the 2020 global mangrove vector data as a baseline to construct a reasonable buffer zone by calculating the increase in mangrove crown width. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and its Sentinel-2 data from 2022 are employed to acquire synthetic images across all regions using the mosaic algorithm. Then, mangrove forests are extracted using the Otsu algorithm, and a map depicting the global spatial distribution of mangrove forests in 2022 is obtained. The average overall accuracy of the extracted mangrove forests in this study reaches 92.4%, and it is determined that the global mangrove forest area expanded by 4920.6 km2 between 2020 and 2022, This study provides crucial data support for the global monitoring of mangrove changes and holds significant importance for protecting and restoring mangrove ecosystems.

Optimization of Pedada Mangrove Fruit as a Mangrove Processed Product to Enhance Mangrove Forest Utilization

Mangrove forests are a unique ecosystem and are important in providing life support for coastal communities. The community group (Kelompok Kariangau Lestari) is a community in Kariangau RT 02 Village that has yet to receive intensive training or socialization regarding the diversification of mangrove derivative products. Mangrove plants are not used properly, so they are only left to grow wild around residential areas. The settlement around the mangrove is used as a tourist attraction, namely Jembatan Panjang Mangrove Kariangau. Still, this tourist attraction is not optimal because the long bridge is the only attraction, and the bridge has been damaged, so there is no longer a source of income for residents. Therefore, this community service activity aims to train community groups to utilize mangrove fruit as a processed food product to attract tourism to the Jembatan Panjang Mangrove Kariangau and increase residents' income. This activity began with observing the condition of the mangrove forest and holding discussions with the local community regarding efforts to increase mangrove forest productivity. In this activity, minimizing processing tools was also carried out to make processed food products and determine the right formulation for processed food products. The evaluation was carried out in two discussions, namely product evaluation, with the result that residents could accept the product as consumers, and activity evaluation, with the result that residents felt this activity was very useful for increasing the current use of mangrove plants.

Ecophysiological responses of native and introduced coastal tree species parasitized by Cassytha filiformis in Brunei.

Hemiparasitic Cassytha filiformis commonly infects native host (Dillenia suffruticosa and Melastoma malabathricum) and introduced host (Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia mangium) species in threatened heath forests in Brunei. This study aims to investigate the impact of parasitism on the ecophysiology of these host species. This study addresses the research gap in understanding the ecophysiology of C. filiformis-host associations, particularly when native and introduced hosts were infected. We generated CO2 and light response curves to examine the effects of increasing CO2 and light levels of infected and uninfected hosts and examined gaseous exchange, mineral nutrients, and secondary bioactive compounds of host-parasite associations. Infected hosts were negatively impacted by C. filiformis as exhibited in the CO2 and light response curves, with C. filiformis-native host association performing better than introduced species. There were no significant differences in photosynthetic parameters between infected and uninfected hosts, except in D. suffruticosa. Certain nutrient contents showed significant differences, but total N, Ca, and K in uninfected hosts were similar to infected hosts. Total phenols and tannins were significantly higher in introduced hosts than native hosts. Our findings asserted that this hemiparasitic vine relies on both its photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient acquisition from its hosts. The parasitism did not significantly hinder the ecophysiological performance of infected hosts, suggesting a plausible co-existence between the hosts and C. filiformis. This study provides essential ecophysiological information for future research on how C. filiformis can establish itself without negatively impacting the co-habitating native hosts.

Prototype-scale laboratory observations of wave force reduction by an idealized mangrove forest of moderate cross-shore width

A prototype-scale physical model was used to study wave height attenuation through an idealized mangrove forest and the resulting reduction of wave forces and pressures on a vertical wall. An 18 m transect of a Rhizophora forest was constructed using artificial trees, considering a baseline and two mangrove stem density configurations. Wave heights seaward, throughout, and shoreward of the forest and pressures on a vertical wall landward of the forest were measured. Mangroves reduced wave-induced forces by 4%–43% for random waves and 2%–38% for regular waves. For nonbreaking wave cases, the shape of the pressure distribution was consistent, implying that the presence of the forest did not change wave-structure interaction processes. Analytical methods for determining nonbreaking wave-induced loads provided good estimations of measured values when attenuated wave heights were used in equations. The ratio of negative to positive force ranged between 0.14 and 1.04 for regular waves and 0.31 to 1.19 for random waves, indicating that seaward forces can be significant and may contribute to destabilization of seawalls during large storms. These results improve the understanding of wave-vegetation-structure interaction and inform future engineering guidelines for calculating expected design load reductions on structures sheltered by emergent vegetation.

A trait-based approach to quantify ecosystem services delivery potentials in the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh

An ecosystem’s potential to deliver goods and services, primarily determined by the functional traits of the species, is crucial for assessing its health and conservation value. This study uses a trait-based approach to evaluate the spatial and temporal variation in the ecosystem services delivery potentials (ESDPs) of the Sundarbans mangrove. We analyzed abundance data from 81 permanent sample plots (PSPs), spread over different saline zones, collected between 1986 and 2014, paired with species-specific plant functional traits. Seventeen traits were examined, with species-level data sourced from secondary literature, linking traits to ecosystem services. Study revealed that plant height, specific leaf area, and root length are key traits for assessing ESDPs. The Sundarbans’ ESDPs varied spatially across different saline zones but remained stable over time. Notably, ESDPs were significantly higher in low saline zones compared to ESDPs in high saline zones. This spatial variation is partly explained by differences in plant species composition among saline zones and the relatively stable species composition over time. Results from mixed effect models showed that PSP as a random factor for all four models is attributed to the nested effect. The study highlights the value of functional traits in ecosystem service assessments, providing a robust method to predict how changes in biodiversity and environmental conditions affect service delivery. The observed trend of decreasing ESDPs with increasing salinity offers insights into the potential impacts of sea-level rise on mangrove forest functions. These findings are essential for developing conservation strategies and policies to preserve the Sundarbans’ ecological integrity and support local livelihoods. This research advocates for a trait-based framework as a critical tool for the sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems globally.