Nutrient Dynamics and Leaf Litter Decomposition in a Subtropical Mangrove Forest at Oura Bay, Okinawa, Japan
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Date
2002
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Link
Abstract
Dynamics of nutrients (carbon, nitrogen and
phosphorus) in decomposing leaves was studied using
litterbags in a subtropical mangrove dominated by
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk and Kandelia candel
(L.) Druce (Okinawa, Japan). In addition to fresh yellow
leaves, degradation of treated leaves (dried at 50°C and
80°C) was also investigated. Comparison was made between
species, locations (lower and upper mangroves)
and among treatments. Results showed that K. candel
leaves with higher initial N concentrations (low C:N
ratio) decayed faster than B. gymnorrhiza leaves; decay
constants were 0.062 and 0.022 per day. This finding implies
that degradation rate is species specific and depends
on the initial chemical composition of leaves, particularly
the C:N ratio. Furthermore, B. gymnorrhiza
leaves, with lower initial N levels, gained more N from
external sources (i.e. bacteria) than K. candel leaves
which exhibit a high initial N content. Leaves in the upper
mangroves decayed much more slowly than in lower
mangroves; decay constants were 0.019 and 0.022 per
day. The overall decay rates of dried leaves were lower
than those of fresh leaves, decreasing in the order: fresh
leaves 0.022, 50°C 0.019 and 80°C 0.018. The t0.5 values
were 32, 36 and 38 days respectively. Drying of mangrove
leaves prior to incubation in the field significantly
altered the pattern of mass loss, nutrient loss and delayed
microbial recolonization. A single exponential equation
described losses of ash-free dry weight, C, and P for the
two species, sites and treatments. Only N in K. candel
leaves was described by the single exponential equation.
Description
Keywords
Mangrove decomposition, Nutrient dynamics, Drying effects, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Kandelia candel
Citation
Mfilinge, P., Atta, N. and Tsuchiya, M., 2002. Nutrient dynamics and leaf litter decomposition in a subtropical mangrove forest at Oura Bay, Okinawa, Japan. Trees, 16(2-3), pp.172-180.