title: Virtual increase or latent loss? A reassessment of mangrove populations and their conservation in Guangdong, southern China.
abstract: Contrary to the global trend, the area of mangrove in Guangdong Province, southern China, has been increasing over the last two decades. Currently, three exotic mangrove species have been introduced for large-scale afforestation since 1985. A reassessment of the overall status of the mangrove species, habitat change, population of introduced species, was conducted through a comprehensive literature review as well as field investigations covering 96 sites. The success of conservation efforts is also evaluated. Upstream and high intertidal habitats are more vulnerable than downstream and lower intertidal ones, with habitat alteration being the biggest threats. Five mangrove species have narrow distributional extents with small populations, which could incur regional extinction. With the introduced species having naturalized at 42 sites, their role in mangrove management needs to be reconsidered. These findings collectively suggest a need to manage latent species loss and habitat degradation beyond the apparent increase in mangrove area and protection.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering/Research Center of Wetland Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 501275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Wetland Conservation Association, 25th Floor, B Building, R&F Full Square, No. 16, Machang Road, Guangzhou 510627, China. Electronic address: pyish@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China.
authors.forename: Mingxuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Huizhou Institute of Forestry, Huizhou 516001, China.
authors.forename: Zhouxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Wetland Conservation Association, 25th Floor, B Building, R&F Full Square, No. 16, Machang Road, Guangzhou 510627, China.
authors.forename: Guichang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The Administrative Bureau of Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
authors.forename: Yuechao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Administrative Bureau of Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, Shenzhen 518040, China.
authors.forename: Hualin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Qi'ao-Dangan Islands Provincial Nature Reserve Administrative Agency, Zhuhai 519002, China.
authors.forename: Guanghong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Shantou Forestry Bureau, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Shenghua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering/Research Center of Wetland Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 501275, China.
authors.forename: Guizhu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia; Mangrove Specialist Group, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Switzerland.
authors.forename: Shing Yip
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D058865:Introduced Species; D010944:Plants; D053833:Wetlands
keywords: Guangdong China; Habitat degradation; Introduced species; Mangrove; Regional extinction; Species loss