Long-term differences in annual litter production between alien (Sonneratia apetala) and native (Kandelia obovata) mangrove species in Futian, Shenzhen, China.
Annual litter production in alien (Sonneratia apetala) and native (Kandelia obovata) mangrove forests in Shenzhen, China were compared from 1999 to 2010. S. apetala had significantly higher litter production than K. obovata, with mean annual total litter of 18.1 t ha(-1) yr(-1) and 15.2 t ha(-1) yr(-1), respectively. The higher litter production in S. apetala forest indicates higher productivity and consequently more nutrient supply to the estuarine ecosystems but may be more invasive due to positive plant-soil feedbacks and nutrient availability to this alien species. Two peaks were recorded in S. apetala (May and October), while only one peak was observed in K. obovata, in early spring (March and April). Leaf and reproductive materials were the main contributors to litter production (>80%) in both forests. These results suggest that the ecological function of S. apetala and its invasive potential can be better understood based on a long-term litter fall analysis.
Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Lina
L
Liu
College of Life Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Futian-CityU Mangrove Research and Development Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Fenglan
F
Li
Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve, Shenzhen 518000, China; Futian-CityU Mangrove Research and Development Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Qiong
Q
Yang
Futian-CityU Mangrove Research and Development Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Nora F Y
NF
Tam
Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: lsslwb@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Wenbo
W
Liao
Futian-CityU Mangrove Research and Development Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Shenzhen Wild Animal Rescue Center, Xinzhou Road, Shenzhen 518040, China. Electronic address: zqjmangrove@126.com.
Qijie
Q
Zan
D002681:China; D002980:Climate; D004463:Ecology; D065928:Forests; D006813:Humidity; D058865:Introduced Species; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology*; D043982:Rhizophoraceae / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil
D012987:Soil
Kandelia obovata; Litter production; Mangrove; Sonneratia apetala; Wetlands