Nutrient Enrichment Increases Mortality of Mangroves

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005600
• Publication Date: 2009-05-18T18:52:38Z
• Authors: Catherine E. Love...; Marilyn C. Ball; Katherine C. Martin; Ilka C. Feller
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Geologic Sediments; Nitrogen; drought resistance; Science; 0607 Plant Biology; coastal waters; Sodium Chloride; 01 natural sciences; nitrogen; C1; ecosystem resilience; controlled study; 14. Life underwater; Ecosystem; mangrove; Analysis of Variance; nonhuman; Keywords: rain; Q; article; humidity; R; Humidity; plant nutrient; Eutrophication; 15. Life on land; environmental stress; Multidisciplinary Sciences; eutrophication; plant stress; 13. Climate action; sodium chloride; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Medicine; nutrient availability; Avicennia; plant water rela; 961104 Physical and Chemical Conditions of Water in Marine Environments; Research Article

Nutrient enrichment of the coastal zone places intense pressure on marine communities. Previous studies have shown that growth intertidal mangrove forests is accelerated with enhanced nutrient availability. However, favours shoots relative to roots, thus enhancing rates but increasing vulnerability environmental stresses adversely affect plant water relations. Two such are high salinity and low humidity, both which require greater investment in roots meet demands for by shoots. Here we present data from a global network sites documents mortality mangroves experimental at where sediment was coincident rainfall humidity. Thus benefits increased response eutrophication offset costs decreased resilience due during drought, soil along climatic gradients.