Physicochemical factors influencing zonation patterns, niche width and tolerances of dominant mangroves in southern Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

Abstract

Abstract. Raganas AFM, Magcale-Macandog DBM. 2020. Physicochemical factors influencing zonation patterns, niche width, and tolerances of dominant mangroves in southern Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Ocean Life 4: 51-62. Physicochemical factors are known for having strong influence on the spatial patterns and structural complexity of mangroves. In this regard, we aimed to contribute to filling up this information gap in the six mangrove ecosystems on the southern coast of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. In each of the six mangrove ecosystems, the dominant mangrove species were identified in four mangrove zones - seaward, riverine, middle, and landward - using a stratified random sampling method for vegetation survey. Physicochemical parameters of water, air, and soil were also obtained from these ecozones. Results of the Principal Component Analysis revealed that temperature and water salinity are the factors that show strong influence on the spatial distribution of the dominant mangrove species. Canonical Correspondence Analysis revealed that Avicennia marina, Sonneratia alba, and Rhizophora apiculata, are species associated with a highly saline environment, while Xylocarpus granatum, Ceriops decandra, Avicennia rumphiana, and Rhizophora mucronata are species associated with low to optimum saline environment. Most of these dominant species preferred ecotypes with low to optimum salinity levels as revealed by their individual niche width and tolerances. The different adaptations and dominance of these mangrove species provide insights in the identification of appropriate species that could be used as planting materials for rehabilitation endeavors in the respective mangrove ecosystem.

High-throughput analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing of bacterial communities associated in selected mangrove species from Bayug Island, Iligan City, Philippines

“…These structures facilitate oxygen exchange in saturated soil (Hongwiset et al 2022). The aerial roots of Sonneratia are particularly well-adapted to highly saline habitats, such as the seaward-most regions of the forest (Raganas and Magcale-Macandog 2020).…”

Spatial distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations across three mangrove zones in Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park, Bali

“…Variations in pH and ORP were caused by different types of sediment, which also indicate differences in the availability of organic matter. Generally, mangrove sediments have a pH range of 6,5 -7,2 [25] and an ORP mostly less than 100 mV [26]. Low pH and ORP values, especially in the landward and middle zones, indicate high organic matter decomposition processes supported by the sediment type and high organic sediment carbon [27,28].…”

Mangrove condition at a marine conservation area at Moramo Bay, Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…Mangrove vegetation typically shows zonation patterns that emerge based on population dynamics, ecophysiology, and geomorphology (Yuvaraj et al 2017). Differences in the number of mangrove species between one coastal area and another are specifically influenced by tidal inundation, salt tolerance, soil physiochemical properties (Raganas et al 2020), and other environmental factors, such as the natural condition of the land and its openness to waves (Feng et al 2020). Mangroves will optimally grow on coastlines that are protected from sea waves with relatively calm coastal currents.…”