Identifying trait-based tolerance to sediment dynamics during seedling establishment across eight mangrove species

Mechanical disturbance from waves and sediment dynamics is a key bottleneck to mangrove seedling establishment. Yet, how species vary in tolerance to sediment dynamics has not been quantified. We identified how tolerance to sediment dynamics differs for three mangrove propagule traits: propagule size, successional stage, and type of embryo development. We selected eight mangrove species growing in south China that vary from small seeds to large elongated propagules, pioneer to climax species, and non-viviparous to viviparous. In a mesocosm set-up, we applied bed level treatments to establishing seedlings: erosion, control, or accretion, by removing 2 cm, 0 cm, or adding 1 cm of sediment per week over 3 weeks. We measured seedling survival, shoot, and root lengths, and the critical erosion depth that leads toppling or dislodgement. We identified five relationships between seedling morphology and accretion and erosion thresholds: (1) tall (viviparous) propagules likely had highest accretion thresholds; (2) small pioneer propagules grew relatively fast to increase accretion thresholds; (3) there was a strong correlation between the erosion threshold and root length; and (4) climax species grew longest roots overall, (5) while pioneer species grew longer roots fast in response to sediment erosion. We identify distinct strategies for successful establishment in sediment dynamics that contribute to understanding mangrove zonation and underpin the importance of restoring diverse forests containing not just robust climax species, but also adaptable pioneers. Furthermore, this study reveals maximum shoot and root length as key determinants for seedling stability across species, providing a simple proxy for modeling establishment events.

Automated summary

This study investigates the variation in tolerance to sediment dynamics among different mangrove species and identifies the relationships between seedling morphology and sediment accretion and erosion thresholds. The results suggest that mangrove seedlings adopt distinct strategies for successful establishment in sediment dynamics, which contributes to understanding mangrove zonation and underpins the importance of restoring diverse forests.