Mangrove Productivity and Phenology in Relation to Hydroperiod and Physical–Chemistry Properties of Water and Sediment in Biosphere Reserve, Centla Wetland, Mexico

Abstract

Mangrove is the dominant vegetation in the estuaries, river deltas, and coastal lagoons of tropical and subtropical regions. A number of factors affect the structure and productivity of mangrove forests, including hydrology, soil salinity, and soil type. In this study, litter production in the Centla Wetland Biosphere Reserve in Tabasco, Mexico, was evaluated as a function of the physical–chemical properties of water and sediments. The study cycle was from June 2015 to June 2016. Litterfall was measured, and water samples were collected at the surface, interstitial, and subterranean level to estimate the physical–chemical parameters. Sediment samples were also collected to determine the texture, pH, organic matter, bulk density, and moisture content. The mangrove was composed of Rhizophora mangle (L.), Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn, and Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn. The pH was presented in a range of 5.3 to 7.4, and spatially, the texture of sediment varied significantly, with high values of sand in Playa (73.7% ± 3.4%) and high content of clay (57.2% ± 1.4%) and organic matter (41% ± 2% average) in mangrove riverine type. The highest salinity of interstitial water was encountered at Beach (29 ± 3.0 PSU) and of groundwater (36.4 ± 1.5 PSU). Overall, the average estimated litter fall was 10.45 ton·ha−1·year−1. These results indicate that the litter production is related to the response of the mangrove to the variation of the environmental conditions of each site (substrate texture, hydroperiod, soil moisture, water salinity, water redox potential, and soil organic matter).