Spatial patterns of biomass and soil attributes in an estuarine mangrove forest (Yingluo Bay,South China)

Mangrove ecosystems are well developed in the estuarine environment of Yingluo Bay, South China. However, little is known about the spatial patterns of vegetation biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil attributes along the environmental gradient from upstream to downstream positions. To characterize the spatial pattern of these factors, four transects (transects I, II, III and IV) were established between upstream and downstream positions. The result showed clear spatial patterns occurred in this estuarine mangrove. In general, vegetation biomass, TN concentration and SOC concentration and stocks decreased from upstream to downstream positions unless transect I, with the increase of soil salinity. This may be attributed to a consequence of increasing environmental stress due to the change of soil elevation. Vegetation biomass and its carbon, SOC concentration and stocks, and TN concentration showed clear trends of decrease first and then gradually tended to be stable along each transect from landward to riverward positions. These results indicate that soil position/elevation in the estuarine mangrove greatly affects soil attributes and mangrove growth. In each transect, change of soil salinity showed some distinct characteristics, in comparison with SOC and TN. SOC concentrations were significantly correlated with vegetation biomass and silt contents. Compared to that in the mangrove-covered area, SOC concentrations and stocks were much lower in the bare flat. It was indicated that an increase of vegetation biomass will raise the mangrove-derived SOC, and reforestation with mangroves is a friendly strategy provided coastal protection.