Characteristics and Diversity of Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) Pneumatophores in a Deforested and Sand-Filled Forest at Eagle Island, Niger Delta Nigeria

Abstract

Pneumatophores are a major channel of oxygen circulation in mangrove forest. It is hypothesized that soil condition, canopy cover and stagnant pool of water can influence pneumatophore growth rate. Pneumatophore characteristics i.e., abundance, diversity in root types, microbial and chemical composition in sand-filled mangrove forest was studied. Six plots were established within a rectangular area measuring 4152.24 m2 in a rand@om block design to investigate the effect of soil conditions on pneumatophore growth. A total of 9,586 pneumatophores were physically counted and differentiated into four types namely 1-branch, 2-branch, 3-branch, and 4-branch pneumatophores.  Soil samples were also collected, and the physico-chemistry determined in the laboratory. The ANOVA results shows that there is significant difference in the abundance of pneumatophore types (F3, 20 = 7.61, p