Long-term growth and succession in restored and natural mangrove forests in southwestern Florida
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Published source details
Proffitt C.E. & Devlin D.J. (2005) Long-term growth and succession in restored and natural mangrove forests in southwestern Florida. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 13, 531-551.
Published source details Proffitt C.E. & Devlin D.J. (2005) Long-term growth and succession in restored and natural mangrove forests in southwestern Florida. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 13, 531-551.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Reprofile/relandscape: brackish/saline swamps Action Link |
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Introduce tree/shrub seeds or propagules: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link |
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Reprofile/relandscape: brackish/saline swamps
A site comparison study in 1989–2000 in Florida, USA (Proffitt & Devlin 2005) reported that after reprofiling a coastal site (and planting mangrove propagules) mangrove forest stands developed, but that these contained more trees with a greater basal area than natural forest after 18 years. Tall mangrove stands occupied 74% of the restored area after six years, then 95% after 14 years. Two of three mangrove species present in nearby natural forest had colonized the restored site: black mangrove Avicennia germinans and white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa. Overall, trees in the restored site were thinner (restored: 3 cm; natural: 13 cm diameter) but had a greater basal area (restored: 43 m2/ha; natural: 16–19 m2/ha). Statistical significance was not assessed. Methods: Between 1989 and 2000, vegetation was surveyed in a restored area and adjacent natural mangrove. Restoration, in the early 1980s, involved removing previously dumped sediment and excavating a tidal channel, then planting red mangrove propagules. The study does not distinguish between the effects, on non-planted trees, of reprofiling and planting. Surveys involved taking aerial photographs to estimate overall mangrove area, and counting/measuring trees within 25-m2 plots or 1-m2 quadrats (see original paper for details). This study monitored one of the sites from (1).
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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Introduce tree/shrub seeds or propagules: brackish/saline wetlands
A site comparison study in 1989–2000 in Florida, USA (Proffitt & Devlin 2005) reported that an area planted with red mangrove Rhizophora mangle propagules (after reprofiling) developed mangrove forest stands, but that these contained more trees with a greater basal area than natural forest after 18 years. Unless specified, statistical significance was not assessed. Tall mangrove stands occupied 74% of the restored area after six years, then 95% after 14 years. After 18 years, 60–87% of planted red mangrove trees were still alive. Survivors had grown, from 0.5–3 m tall six years after planting to 2–5 m tall 18 years after planting. Two of three mangrove species present in nearby natural forest had colonized the restored site: black mangrove Avicennia germinans and white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa. Overall, trees in the restored site were thinner (restored: 3 cm; natural: 13 cm diameter) but had a greater basal area (restored: 43 m2/ha; natural: 16–19 m2/ha). Methods: Between 1989 and 2000, vegetation was surveyed in a restored area and adjacent natural mangrove. Restoration, in the early 1980s, involved removing previously dumped sediment and excavating a tidal channel, then planting red mangrove propagules (in pairs 1 m apart). The study does not distinguish between the effects of these interventions on non-planted trees. Surveys involved monitoring individual marked trees over time, counting/measuring trees within 25-m2 plots or 1-m2 quadrats, and taking aerial photographs to estimate overall mangrove area (see original paper for details). This study monitored one of the sites from (7).
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
