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Journal of Arid Land
Journal of Arid Land  2023, Vol. 15 Issue (11): 1391-1404    DOI: 10.1007/s40333-023-0031-6     CSTR: 32276.14.s40333-023-0031-6
Research article     
Effects of dieback on the vegetative, chemical, and physiological status of mangrove forests, Iran
Vahid Farashi KAHNOUJ1, Marzieh REZAI2,*(), Rasool MAHDAVI2, Maryam MOSLEHI3, Saiedeh ESKANDARI4
1Natural Resources Engineering Group, Desert Management and Control, University of Hormozgan, Hormozgan, Bandarabass 7916193145, Iran
2Natural Resources Engineering Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Hormozgan, Hormozgan, Bandarabass 7916193145, Iran
3Research Division of Natural Resources, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandarabbas 7915847669, Iran
4Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran 1496793612, Iran
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Abstract  

Mangrove forests are valuable resources in tropical and subtropical regions, which have been faced dieback due to various human activities including rapid expansion of shrimp farming, urban development, and pollution, as well as natural factors such as rising sea level, increasing air temperature, drought, and sharp decrease in rainfall. However, the mechanisms of dieback of mangrove forests are not well understood. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the vegetative, chemical, and physiological status of grey mangrove (Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh.) forests at different intensities of dieback in the Hormozgan Province, Iran. A total of 40 plots categorized into four dieback intensities (severe, medium, low, and control) were randomly selected for monitoring, and various parameters related to vegetative, chemical, and physiological status of grey mangrove forests were examined. The results revealed that the control group had the highest tree density, seedling density, vitality levels, aerial root density, and aerial root height. Generally, as dieback severity increased, a decrease in demographic and vegetative parameters of trees and seedlings was observed in the dieback treatments. The amounts of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and nickel) in the sediment, roots, and leaves of grey mangrove trees at different dieback levels indicated that lead levels were the highest in the sediment, roots, and leaves in the severe dieback treatment. At the same time, the control had the lowest values. Cadmium concentrations in the sediment followed the pattern of severe dieback>moderate dieback>low dieback>control with no significant differences in the roots and leaves. Nickel amounts in all three parts, i.e., sediment, roots, and leaves showed the highest levels in the severe dieback treatment. Furthermore, metal level analysis in the organs of grey mangrove trees at different dieback levels revealed that lead and nickel were more abundant in the root organ compared with the leaves. In contrast, the leaf organ exhibited the highest cadmium levels. Dieback significantly impacted water electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), and chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll contents, with the highest values observed in the severe dieback treatment. However, no significant differences were observed in acidity and carotenoid levels. In conclusion, sediment erosion and heavy metal accumulation were critical contributors to dieback of grey mangrove trees, affecting their physiological, vegetative, and plant production characteristics. As the ability of these plants to rehabilitate has diminished, effective management planning is imperative in dieback-affected areas.

Key words： Avicennia marina      heavy metal      demographic characteristic      pneumatophores      mangrove forests     
Received: 02 July 2023      Published: 30 November 2023
Corresponding Authors: * Marzieh REZAI (E-mail: m.rezai@hormozgan.ac.ir)
About author: The forth author has the most contribution in this work.
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Vahid Farashi KAHNOUJ
Marzieh REZAI
Rasool MAHDAVI
Maryam MOSLEHI
Saiedeh ESKANDARI
Cite this article:

Vahid Farashi KAHNOUJ, Marzieh REZAI, Rasool MAHDAVI, Maryam MOSLEHI, Saiedeh ESKANDARI. Effects of dieback on the vegetative, chemical, and physiological status of mangrove forests, Iran. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(11): 1391-1404.

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http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-023-0031-6     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2023/V15/I11/1391

Fig. 1 Different intensities of dieback of grey mangrove trees in the Khor-e-Azini Wetland, Iran. (a), low dieback; (b), medium dieback; (c), severe dieback; (d), control.
Classification Description
Healthy Healthy leaves without any symptoms of disease
Sick Wilted disease, yellow leaves (chlorosis), necrotic spots, leaf burn, canopy cover, and low foliage
Dead Wholly dried up and dead
Table 1 Classification and characteristics of grey mangrove trees
Plant type Type of dieback Plant density (%)
Healthy Sick Dead
Grey mangrove trees Control 98.80 1.20 0.00
Low dieback 60.27 39.73 0.00
Moderate dieback 56.94 43.06 0.00
Severe dieback 35.71 62.50 1.79
Grey mangrove seedlings Control 98.40 1.60 0.00
Low dieback 84.00 16.00 0.00
Moderate dieback 40.70 33.30 26.00
Severe dieback 37.50 0.00 62.50
Table 2 Density of grey mangrove trees and seedlings under different dieback treatments
Fig. 2 Degree of vitality (a), density of aerial roots (b), height of aerial and cable roots (c), tree height (d), collar diameter (e), and canopy area (f) under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at P<0.05 level. Bars are standard errors.
Fig. 3 Lead concentrations in the sediment (a), roots (b) and leaves (c) of grey mangrove trees under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at P<0.05 level. Bars are standard errors.
Fig. 4 Cadmium concentrations in the sediment (a), roots (b), and leaves (c) of grey mangrove trees under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at P<0.05 level. Bars are standard errors.
Fig. 5 Nickel concentrations in the sediment (a), roots (b), and leaves (c) of grey mangrove trees under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at P<0.05 level. Bars are standard errors.
Fig. 6 Metals contents between roots and leaves under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters within the same treatment indicate significant differences between roots and leaves at P<0.05 level. (a), lead; (b), cadmium; (c), nickel. Bars are standard errors.
Fig. 7 Electrical conductivity (a), acidity (b) of water, and soil organic carbon (c) under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at P<0.05 level. Bars are standard errors.
Fig. 8 Chlorophyll a (a), chlorophyll b (b), total chlorophyll (c), and carotenoid (d) concentrations in grey mangrove trees under different dieback treatments. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences among different treatments at P<0.05 level. Bars are standard errors.
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