Comparison of the mangrove soil with different levels of disturbance in tropical Agua Brava Lagoon, Mexican pacific

Abstract

The texture and geochemical parameters of soil in tropical mangrove ecosystems have been broadly studied, but the effect of environmental stress on mangrove soil with different levels of disturbance has not been established. This study aimed to compare the texture and soil geochemistry of mangrove ecosystems with two levels of disturbance in the tidal basin of Agua Brava Lagoon, National Wetlands Nayarit, Mexico. Forty eight soil samples were collected from two areas of the mangrove ecosystem during an annual cycle; one in high mangrove condition (according to estimated Leaf Area Index) with low disturbance (LD) and the other in poor mangrove condition with high disturbance (HD). Generally, soil texture tends to be softer in LD than HD sites. LD sites had higher concentration of total N and P, organic matter (OM) and organic carbon (OC). HD sites presented an environmental stress with high levels of Ca, Na, salinity and conductivity. We identified four processes that dominate the dynamics of soil in the study area; MO, OC, N relationship and acid-base relationship. In conclusion, the soil conditions of LD and HD sites are dissimilar according to the level of mangrove disturbance, thus demonstrating the importance to maintain healthy mangrove ecosystem.