In landward coastal zones of most mangrove swamps in China, there are many shrimp ponds with surface sediments rich in nutrients such as N and P. During pond cleaning periods, some of these surface sediments are usually directly discharged into mangrove swamps after being flushed by using high鄄pressure hydraulic giants. Gradually, these sediments from shrimp ponds will accumulate on the floor of mangrove swamps, resulting in the increase in sedimentation thickness. However, the effects of sedimentation of shrimp pond cleaning discharges on mangrove ecosystems are still unknown. Therefore, to study their responses and endurances in growth and physiological characteristics, four thickness treatments (0, 2, 4, 8 cm) were applied to simulate the sedimentation condition of shrimp pond discharges into the mangrove swamp, and Acanthus ilicifolius seedlings were cultivated under these treatments for 424 days. In terms of growth indexes, including stem diameter, stem height, leaf number, leaf area, total biomass and relative growth rate, growths of A. ilicifolius seedlings were promoted due to the sedimentation of shrimp pond cleaning discharges. The growth condition of A. ilicifolius seedlings under four treatments followed the order of 8 cm > 4 cm > 2 cm > 0 cm. Results also indicated that a small quantity of cleaning discharges (sedimentation thickness of only 2 cm) could obviously enhance the growth of A. ilicifolius seedlings, and this enhancement would not be stronger comparing with the increasing of
Mangrove ecosystems, found on marine coasts of the sub鄄tropics and tropics, have high biological productivity and rich faunal diversity. Mangrove ecosystems provide organic matter and nutrients critical to marine benthic fauna, primarily through litter鄄fall which is a major component of the detrital food chain. The macro benthic fauna, in turn, provide an important link between mangrove detritus at the base of the mangrove food web and consumers at higher trophic levels. Benthic fauna also may modify the physical and vegetation structure of mangrove ecosystems. Thus, the community of macro benthic fauna needs to be considered in mangrove restoration if holistic ecosystem restoration is to be achieved. This overview examines the current knowledge of macro benthic fauna in mangroves, and the effects of mangrove vegetation on the faunal community in China. In mangroves, mollusks and crustaceans are the major components of the benthic fauna, and this is a common phenomenon all over the world. In China, the mollusks are represented by more species in most studies; this is similar to that in east coast of the Americas, but different from those in other geographic regions. Dominant fauna varies with mangrove regions, but some species such as Cerithidea cingulata, Littoraia elanostoma, sesarmid crabs and fiddler crabs are common, and some of them are dominant. The community structure of macro benthos seems to be influenced by environmental conditions such as hydroperiod, salinity and sediment texture, but the small鄄scale distribution pattern of benthic fauna mainly depends on the factors with respect to tidal regime and mangrove vegetation. This is due, in part, to the effects mangrove vegetation has on the chemical characteristics of sediment like the organic matter content, total N and pH. Perhaps more important is the role that mangroves play in providing a solid substrate for gastropods and shade that ameliorates the harsh conditions caused by high temperatures and high evaporation rates. These factors are responsible
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