title: Dynamics of phosphorus and nitrogen through litter fall and decomposition in a tropical mangrove forest.
abstract: Distribution, dynamics and mass budget of phosphorus and nitrogen in a red mangrove forest were studied in the Potengi mangrove forest in northern Brazil (lat. 5 degrees 42' and 5 degrees 53'S, long. 35 degrees 5' and 35 degrees 25'W). Tidal hydrology, net primary productivity, leaf litter decomposition rate and standing stock of leaf litter in a red mangrove forest were measured. The results showed that the main reservoir for total P and total N was the sediment with 309 kg ha(-1) and 4619 kg ha(-1) (77% and 95% of the total P and N content in the mangrove forest), respectively, for the two elements. Total P and total N in Rhizophora mangle trees accounted for 145+/-14 kg ha(-1) and 216+/-23 kg ha(-1) (23% and 5% of the total P and N in the mangrove forest). The estimated average export rates for P and N through leaf litter are 0.5 kg ha(-1)yr(-1) and 1.6 kg ha(-1)yr(-1) respectively. Our measurements support previous results in concluding that mangrove forests efficiently retain P and N.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia (Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Cxa. Postal 1202, 59075-970, Brazil. caugusto_99@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ramos e Silva
authors.forename: Sérgio R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ronaldo D P
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rêgo
authors.forename: Antonio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mozeto
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D043982:Rhizophoraceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen