Mangrove zonation and phosphorus distribution in sediment along an inundation gradient

CORDEIRO, C.; MENDOZA, U.; LARA, RUBÉN JOSÉ

San José, Costa Rica

Congreso; COLACMAR - X Congreso Latinoamericano de Ciencias del Mar; 2003

Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica

&amp;lt;!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --&amp;gt; The frequency of inundation is one of the cause of mangrove zonation. In North Brazil, macrotides (spring range 4 m) are an important factor associated with the spatial variation of the mangrove species. Field measurements in Bragança peninsula were conducted to examine the relationships between mangrove zonation along a transect of 200 m and the hidro-edaphic conditions, as well the indirectly related parameters sediment pH and phosphate in the sediment-plant interaction. The results indicated a inundation two times higher in the monospecific forests R. mangle than in A. germinans, this flooding gradient results in low pH levels in the sediments occupied by R. mangle. The bioavailable P (r = 0.92, n = 6, p < 0.005) and leaf - P (r = 0.89, n = 10, p < 0.005) showed a significant positive correlation with the frequency of inundation, resulting in high P levels in the topographically low floodplain. The combined effects of flooding with the P dynamics appear to be a major factor responsible for the zonation of the investigated mangroves.