Seasonal plant water uptake patterns in the saline southeast Everglades ecotone

The purpose of this study was to determine the seasonal water use patterns of dominant macrophytes coexisting in the coastal Everglades ecotone. We measured the stable isotope signatures in plant xylem water of Rhizophora mangle, Cladium jamaicense, and Sesuvium portulacastrum during the dry (DS) and wet (WS) seasons in the estuarine ecotone along Taylor River in Everglades National Park, FL, USA. Shallow soilwater and deeper groundwater salinity was also measured to extrapolate the salinity encountered by plants at their rooting zone. Average soil water oxygen isotope ratios (δ 18O) was enriched (4.8 ± 0.2‰) in the DS relative to the WS (0.0 ± 0.1‰), but groundwater δ 18O remained constant between seasons (DS: 2.2 ± 0.4‰; WS: 2.1 ± 0.1‰). There was an inversion in interstitial salinity patterns across the soil profile between seasons. In the DS, shallow water was euhaline [i.e., 43 practical salinity units (PSU)] while groundwater was less saline (18 PSU). In the WS, however, shallow water was fresh (i.e., 0 PSU) but groundwater remained brackish (14 PSU). All plants utilized 100% (shallow) freshwater during the WS, but in the DS R. mangle switched to a soil–groundwater mix (δ 55% groundwater) while C. jamaicense and S. portulacastrum continued to use euhaline shallow water. In the DS, based on δ 18O data, the roots of R. mangle roots were exposed to salinities of 25.4 ± 1.4 PSU, less saline than either C. jamaicense(39.1 ± 2.2 PSU) or S. portulacastrum (38.6 ± 2.5 PSU). Although the salinity tolerance of C. jamaicense is not known, it is unlikely that long-term exposure to high salinity is conducive to the persistence of this freshwater marsh sedge. This study increases our ecological understanding of how water uptake patterns of individual plants can contribute to ecosystem levels changes, not only in the southeast saline Everglades, but also in estuaries in general in response to global sea level rise and human-induced changes in freshwater flows.

Spatial and temporal patterns of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) along two freshwater-estuarine transects in the Florida Coastal Everglades

We present here a 4-year dataset (2001–2004) on the spatial and temporal patterns of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) by dominant primary producers (sawgrass, periphyton, mangroves, and seagrasses) along two transects in the oligotrophic Florida Everglades coastal landscape. The 17 sites of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) program are located along fresh-estuarine gradients in Shark River Slough (SRS) and Taylor River/C-111/Florida Bay (TS/Ph) basins that drain the western and southern Everglades, respectively. Within the SRS basin, sawgrass and periphyton ANPP did not differ significantly among sites but mangrove ANPP was highest at the site nearest the Gulf of Mexico. In the southern Everglades transect, there was a productivity peak in sawgrass and periphyton at the upper estuarine ecotone within Taylor River but no trends were observed in the C-111 Basin for either primary producer. Over the 4 years, average sawgrass ANPP in both basins ranged from 255 to 606 g m−2 year−1. Average periphyton productivity at SRS and TS/Ph was 17–68 g C m−2 year−1 and 342–10371 g C m−2 year−1, respectively. Mangrove productivity ranged from 340 g m−2 year−1 at Taylor River to 2208 g m−2 year−1 at the lower estuarine Shark River site. Average Thalassia testudinum productivity ranged from 91 to 396 g m−2 year−1 and was 4-fold greater at the site nearest the Gulf of Mexico than in eastern Florida Bay. There were no differences in periphyton productivity at Florida Bay. Interannual comparisons revealed no significant differences within each primary producer at either SRS or TS/Ph with the exception of sawgrass at SRS and the C−111 Basin. Future research will address difficulties in assessing and comparing ANPP of different primary producers along gradients as well as the significance of belowground production to the total productivity of this ecosystem.

Chilling damage in a changing climate in coastal landscapes of the subtropical zone: a case study from south Florida

Freeze events significantly influence landscape structure and community composition along subtropical coastlines. This is particularly true in south Florida, where such disturbances have historically contributed to patch diversity within the mangrove forest, and have played a part in limiting its inland transgression. With projected increases in mean global temperatures, such instances are likely to become much less frequent in the region, contributing to a reduction in heterogeneity within the mangrove forest itself. To understand the process more clearly, we explored the dynamics of a Dwarf mangrove forest following two chilling events that produced freeze-like symptoms, i.e., leaf browning, desiccation, and mortality, and interpreted the resulting changes within the context of current winter temperatures and projected future scenarios. Structural effects from a 1996 chilling event were dramatic, with mortality and tissue damage concentrated among individuals comprising the Dwarf forest's low canopy. This disturbance promoted understory plant development and provided an opportunity for Laguncularia racemosa to share dominance with Rhizophora mangle. Mortality due to the less severe 2001 event was greatest in the understory, probably because recovery of the protective canopy following the earlier freeze was still incomplete. Stand dynamics were static over the same period in nearby unimpacted sites. The probability of reaching temperatures as low as those recorded at a nearby meteorological station (≤3 °C) under several warming scenarios was simulated by applying 1° incremental temperature increases to a model developed from a 42-year temperature record. According to the model, the frequency of similar chilling events decreased from once every 1.9 years at present to once every 3.4 and 32.5 years with 1 and 4 °C warming, respectively. The large decrease in the frequency of these events would eliminate an important mechanism that maintains Dwarf forest structure, and promotes compositional diversity.

Leaf Gas Exchange and Nutrient Use Efficiency Help Explain the Distribution of Two Neotropical Mangroves under Contrasting Flooding and Salinity

Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa cooccur along many intertidal floodplains in the Neotropics. Their patterns of dominance shift along various gradients, coincident with salinity, soil fertility, and tidal flooding. We used leaf gas exchange metrics to investigate the strategies of these two species in mixed culture to simulate competition under different salinity concentrations and hydroperiods. Semidiurnal tidal and permanent flooding hydroperiods at two constant salinity regimes (10 g L−1 and 40 g L−1) were simulated over 10 months. Assimilation ( ), stomatal conductance ( ), intercellular CO2 concentration ( ), instantaneous photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE), and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) were determined at the leaf level for both species over two time periods. Rhizophora mangle had significantly higher PWUE than did L. racemosa seedlings at low salinities; however, L. racemosa had higher PNUE and and, accordingly, had greater intercellular CO2 (calculated) during measurements. Both species maintained similar capacities for A at 10 and 40 g L−1 salinity and during both permanent and tidal hydroperiod treatments. Hydroperiod alone had no detectable effect on leaf gas exchange. However, PWUE increased and PNUE decreased for both species at 40 g L−1 salinity compared to 10 g L−1. At 40 g L−1 salinity, PNUE was higher for L. racemosa than R. mangle with tidal flooding. These treatments indicated that salinity influences gas exchange efficiency, might affect how gases are apportioned intercellularly, and accentuates different strategies for distributing leaf nitrogen to photosynthesis for these two species while growing competitively.

The interference of methods in the collection of teredinids (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in mangrove habitats

In the estuary of the Mamanguape River (Paraíba, Brazil), a new collection technique was developed and applied with virgin poles of mangrove trees Avicennia schaueriana (Verbenaceae), Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae), and Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae), taking into account wood preference, water salinity and depth influence during teredinid larval settlement. Sets of poles were vertically fixed in the riverbed at three sites along a decreasing salinity gradient, where they stayed for four months. The poles were collected and divided into upper, median, and lower segments, in agreement with different immersion regimes. An increase of 239% was obtained in the number of individuals when compared to a previous study in the same area using a different methodology. The species Teredo bartschi (Clapp, 1923), Nausitora fusticula (Jeffreys, 1860) and Bankia fimbriatula Moll & Roch, 1931 were registered in both studies, and the species Psiloteredo healdi (Bartsch, 1931) is here registered for the first time as occurring in that estuary. The species Neoteredo reynei (Bartsch, 1920), previously registered on tree branches of the mangrove habitat, was not found in the present work. Bankia fimbriatula, the most abundant species, did not show preference for any substratum but occurred significantly on the lower segment of the poles. N. fusticula, second in abundance, preferred to settle on poles of A. schaueriana and on any of the three segments. Aiming to assess the habitat variations, a more accurate study on teredinids diversity in mangrove ecosystems should be performed through a concomitant analysis from tree branches of the mangrove habitat, as well as from poles of mangrove trees or panels made of pine wood or mangrove trees wood. These collection devices should be maintained along a decreasing salinity gradient exposed to different tide levels.

Contribuição de Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) na degradação da serapilheira do médio estuário do rio Pacoti, Ceará, Brasil

A degradação da serapilheira no médio estuário do rio Pacoti foi estudada na presença e na ausência do gastrópode Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758), visando verificar a possível contribuição desse invertebrado na ciclagem da matéria orgânica dos manguezais. A densidade populacional de M. coffeus e a distribuição das folhas, em termos de biomassa úmida, biomassa seca e abundância, presentes na serapilheira do local, foram estimadas a partir de uma amostragem. Um experimento em campo foi realizado com amostras de coloração e biomassas similares de folhas de Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) sem sinais de herbivoria, distribuídas igualmente entre 64 gaiolas. Em 32 destas foram colocados também exemplares de M. coffeus. Essas gaiolas foram distribuídas entre quatro pontos, sendo oito pares de gaiolas (controle e experimento) por ponto. Durante oito semanas, quatro pares de gaiolas foram coletados semanalmente. Após coletadas, os sinais de pastagem nas folhas causados por M. coffeus foram contados e as biomassas úmida e seca das amostras foram determinadas. Comparando controle e experimento, verificou-se que M. coffeus é capaz de contribuir na degradação da serapilheira na área estudada, porém, não foi verificada uma participação significativa desse gastrópode na degradação das folhas quando comparados experimento e controle ao longo do experimento.

Ecological relations between mangrove leaf litter and the spatial distribution of the gastropod Melampus coffeus in a fringe mangrove forest

Leaf litter represents a food source to many organisms that may directly contribute to organic matter decomposition. In addition, the physical presence of these vegetal detritus contributes for the modification of some environmental areas and produce microhabitats that may act as a refuge against predators and desiccation for many animals. The pulmonate gastropod Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ellobiidae) is a very common specie in Atlantic Coast mangrove forests and feeds on fallen mangrove leaves. It was hypothesized that the spatial distribution of Melampus coffeus is directly affected by mangrove leaf litter biomass deposition. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the spatial distribution of these gastropods in relation to the biomass of mangrove leaf litter through a twelve-month period. The study area was established in the middle estuary of Pacoti River, state of Ceará, Brazil where two adjacent zones with different topographic profiles were determined. Samples of Melampus coffeus and leaf litter were collected monthly, throughout a year, from the mangrove ground surface. The results indicated that the presence of twigs in mangrove litter favor the occupation by smaller individuals of M. coffeus, probably because smaller individuals are more susceptible to predator attacks and desiccation than larger ones, and twigs and branches may provide a safe microhabitat.

Catálogo sistemático dos pólens das plantas arbóreas do Brasil Meridional: IV - Thymelaeaceae, Lythraceae, Lecythidaceae, Rhizophoraceae e Combretaceae

The authors study pollenmorphologicaly species of the present families that occur like trees in the South Brazilian forests, except Heimia myrtifolia, which is herbaceous. One group is formed, remarked by three simple colpori, which consists of the species Buchenavia kleinii, Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae), Heimia myrtifolia *Lythraceae) and Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae). An other group is represented by the pollen grains of Combretum fruticosum, Terminalia autralis (Combretaceae) and Lafoensia pacari (Lythraceae), because they present pseudocolpi or similar streaks of a thinner sexine. Daphnopsis (Thymelaeaceae) is pantoporate with 10 - 14 pori and possesses a superficial pattern like croton-type of the Euphorbiaceae. Cariniana estrellensis (Lecythidaceae), with only three colpi, takes also an isolated position. There are relations between the morphology of pollen grains of the above treated families and those from the Guttiferales and Rosales.

Teores de ligninas, nitrogênio e taninos em folhas de espécies típicas do mangue

RESUMO - (Teores de ligninas, nitrogênio e taninos em folhas de espécies típicas de mangue). Mediram-se os teores de ligninas, N total e taninos em folhas de Avicennia schaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa e Rhizophora mangle, coletadas em manguezais de Suape, Ilha Madre de Deus (um local muito poluído na Bahía), Cananéia e duas localidades de Bertioga, uma delas fortemente impactada por descargas poluentes, na qual não se observam indivíduos de Rhizophora, e outra situada à margem desta última área. Verificou-se que as folhas de Laguncularia e Rhizophora contêm altos teores de taninos, sendo as da primeira espécie três a quatro vezes mais ricas que as da última. As folhas de Avicennia apresentaram-se desprovidas de taninos e com os mais altos teores de N. Os teores de ligninas em geral crescem na seqüência Avicennia<Laguncularia<Rhizophora. Entre as amostras de Suape e Cananéia, os teores de N não diferiram muito para as três espécies. Porém, as folhas provenientes de Bertioga apresentaram teores mais elevados, atingindo valores extremos na zona mais impactada. As folhas de Laguncularia e Rhizophora coletadas em Suape apresentaram menos taninos e mais ligninas que as folhas obtidas em Cananéia. A dosagem de taninos para as folhas de Laguncularia é maior nas amostras de Bertioga do que de Cananéia, o inverso ocorrendo em Rhizophora. A dosagem de taninos na amostra de Laguncularia proveniente de Madre de Deus apresentou o valor mais baixo entre todas as localidades pesquisadas. Os teores de lignina parecem ser fortemente influenciados pela poluição, observando-se um decréscimo regular na série Cananéia>Bertioga/área limítrofe>Bertioga/área impactada. Aparentemente, os teores de N e ligninas são afetados pela poluição, os primeiros assumindo valores mais altos em locais poluídos, e os últimos, valores mais baixos. Também a amostra de Laguncularia proveniente de Madre de Deus apresentou teor muito pequeno de ligninas, possivelmente devido ao impacto ambiental. Aventa-se a possibilidade de que a redução na produção de ligninas possa ser uma das causas para a substituição de Rhizophora por Laguncularia em locais fortemente impactados por poluição.

Relações ecologicas entre caranguejos e composição arbórea em bosques de mangue naturais e restaurados no nordeste brasileiro

This study aimed to compare the development of crab and tree communities of two restored mangrove areas, one planted with Rhizophora mangle and the other naturally recovered, and also to compare the predation of Grapsid crab Goniopsis cruentata and the Ocypodid Ucides cordatus over the propagules of three mangrove trees: Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana e Laguncularia racemosa. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that Goniopsis predation is more important that Ucides predation, and that these consumers have antagonist effects over propagule consumption. In each area, 10 quadrates were selected at random to analyze tree richness, diameter, height, tree biomass and crab richness and density five years after restoration experiment start. Results show that tree height, biomass and crab density were significantly higher in artificially restored area. No significant differences were observed in crab species richness between areas, but higher tree richness was observed in self-recovered area. Results suggest that planting propagules of Rhizophora can significantly increase tree recovering if the aim was increase tree biomass and crab density, which can accelerate return of ecological functionality. Goniopsis is a more important propagule predator than Ucides both in natural and restored areas. The effects of Goniopis were higher in absence of Ucides, due to negative interactions among these two predator species. The preference of Goniopsis by Avicennia and Laguncularia can favor the dominance of Rhizophora observed in Neotropical mangroves. This study suggests that propagule predation by Goniopsis should be controlled in restoration programs, if dominance of Rhizophora is undesirable respect to more rich tree communities

Aplicação dos isótopos estáveis em aqüicultura

O produto mais importante do conhecimento é a ignorância. A situação sugere a imagem de alguém que vive numa ilha de conhecimento cercado por um mar de ignorância. Quando a área dessa ilha aumenta pelo progresso da ciência, também aumenta o litoral, - a fronteira com o desconhecido. Esta expansão é o fruto mais valioso do conhecimento (David Gross, Nobel em Física, 2004). O uso dos isótopos estáveis dos bioelementos (CHON'S) presentes na Atmosfera, Hidrosfera, Litosfera e Biosfera enquadra-se neste contexto, surgindo como ferramenta de alto potencial em pesquisas nas diversas áreas das Ciências da Vida. Com organismos aquáticos, a aplicação dos isótopos estáveis do carbono (δ 13C) e do nitrogênio (δ 15N) tem ocorrido em diversas áreas. em larvas de pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus, a técnica evidenciou a escolha voluntária entre organismos vivos e dieta seca pelos animais, desde as primeiras alimentações até o final da larvicultura. Na carcinicultura, o crescimento do Penaeus vannamei resultou do aproveitamento dos alimentos oferecidos e da produtividade primária do lago (biota). Por meio do balanço de massa e isotópico foi possível determinar a contribuição da biota, da ordem de 44 a 86% do carbono assimilado pelos animais durante o crescimento. Outro exemplo é com o caranguejo de mangue Sesarma rectum, em que sua preferência alimentar por Spartina alterniflora (C4) versus Rhizophora mangle (C3) ou Hibiscus tiliaceus (C3) foi evidenciada pelo modelo isotópico de duas fontes alimentares e os isótopos estáveis do carbono (δ13C). A técnica dos isótopos estáveis associada ao conhecimento dos conceitos básicos da variabilidade isotópica natural e ao uso criterioso das razões 13C/12C; ²H/¹H; 18O/16O; 15N/14N e 36S/34S revela-se como um avanço na fronteira dos conhecimentos, nas diversas reentrâncias do litoral da aqüicultura.

Antioxidant Action of Mangrove Polyphenols against Gastric Damage Induced by Absolute Ethanol and Ischemia-Reperfusion in the Rat

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Impacto geno e citotóxico em populações do caranguejo-uçá, Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ucididae), em manguezais do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mangrove Forests and Sedimentary Processes on the South of Coast of Sao Paulo State (Brazil)

Mangrove structure and distribution is conditioned by geomorphic processes. This paper describes the response of mangroves to sedimentary processes at the Cananeia-Iguape Coastal System on the south coast of Sao Paulo State (Brazil), between latitudes 24 degrees 40`S and 25 degrees 20`S. Within six study areas 41 plots were established along 14 transects. Plot size varied according to stem density from 2mx2m to 20mx20m. Here mangroves are strongly coupled to sedimentary processes, forming discrete architectural elements within particular depositional environments or topographic settings. These sedimentary structures and progradation environments are colonized by Laguncularia racemosa, associated with the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora. Rhizophora mangle occurs typically near creeklets where tidal flooding is more frequent. Where tidal influence is restricted Avicennia schaueriana becomes dominant. Erosive margins are dominated by A. schaueriana or R. mangle. Single linkage cluster analysis yields three groups (A, B and C), with high levels of similarity, providing support to the classification of the data into two broad landform categories: depositional and erosive. Group A includes plots with the least structural development (nominal stem diameter d(n) between 1.05 and 4.61cm). Group B is composed of stems of intermediate diameter (4.99 cm <= d(n) <= 5.63cm). Group C plots have the largest structural development (5.50 cm <= d(n) <= 11.10cm). The structure of mangroves (dominance and structural development) reflects responses to geomorphology and habitat change.

INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION OF THE BACTERIAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE PHYLLOSPHERE OF THE THREE MAJOR PLANT COMPONENTS OF MANGROVE FORESTS

Mangrove forests encompass a group of trees species that inhabit the intertidal zones, where soil is characterized by the high salinity and low availability of oxygen. The phyllosphere of these trees represent the habitat provided on the aboveground parts of plants, supporting in a global scale, a large and complex microbial community. The structure of phyllosphere communities reflects immigration, survival and growth of microbial colonizers, which is influenced by numerous environmental factors in addition to leaf physical and chemical properties. Here, a combination of culture-base methods with PCR-DGGE was applied to test whether local or plant specific factors shape the bacterial community of the phyllosphere from three plant species (Avicenia shaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle), found in two mangroves. The number of bacteria in the phyllosphere of these plants varied between 3.62 x 10(4) in A. schaeriana and 6.26 x 10(3) in R. mangle. The results obtained by PCR-DGGE and isolation approaches were congruent and demonstrated that each plant species harbor specific bacterial communities in their leaves surfaces. Moreover, the ordination of environmental factors (mangrove and plant species), by redundancy analysis (RDA), also indicated that the selection exerted by plant species is higher than mangrove location on bacterial communities at phyllosphere.