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Mangrove community structure and regeneration potential on a rapidly expanding, river delta in Java

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Mangroves in rapidly expanding Southeast Asian river deltas form floristically simple zones dominated by a few highly regenerative species adaptable or tolerant to rapid sedimentation and extensive river flooding.

Abstract

The size class distribution, community composition and spatial structure of five representative mangrove forests in the rapidly expanding Cimanuk river delta on Java were determined. These deltaic forests are species-poor (eight true mangrove species) and spatially segregated into three distinct floristic zones: (1) a fringing, low intertidal zone co-dominated by Avicennia marina and A. officinalis, with less abundant Bruguiera parviflora, Rhizophora apiculata, and R. mucronata; (2) a zone transitional between the low and mid intertidal in which Avicennia and Rhizophora spp. co-dominate; and (3) a mid intertidal zone dominated by R. mucronata and R. apiculata. Numerically dominated by seedlings (52,500–73,500 seedlings ha−1) and saplings (5,268–5,660 saplings ha−1), all five forests are relatively young and actively regenerating. Positive correlations of tree stem diameter and tree height with soil organic matter and P concentrations, salinity, the soil C/N ratio, pH, and silt/clay composition highlight the importance of soil factors in sustaining forest growth. The low diversity and relative structural simplicity of these rapidly growing and regenerating forests may be attributed to adaptation or tolerance to flooding and the rapid sedimentation and seaward expansion of the delta.

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Acknowledgments

Soil analyses were performed by the Chemistry section of the Dept of Natural Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Centre for Oceanographic Research, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, P.O.Box 4801, JKTF, Jakarta, 11048, Indonesia

    Sukristijono Sukardjo & Yaya I. Ulumuddin

  2. Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia

    Daniel M. Alongi

Authors
  1. Sukristijono Sukardjo
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  2. Daniel M. Alongi
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  3. Yaya I. Ulumuddin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel M. Alongi.

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Communicated by C. Lovelock.

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Sukardjo, S., Alongi, D.M. & Ulumuddin, Y.I. Mangrove community structure and regeneration potential on a rapidly expanding, river delta in Java. Trees 28, 1105–1113 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1021-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1021-2

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