Abstract
Diurnal water relations and salt content of the salt-secreting grey mangrove Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. and the non-secreting, spurred mangrove, Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Rob., growing on the arid north-west coast of Australia were examined in different seasons at two landward, hypersaline sites. Water use by Avicennia was similar at both locations despite different soil texture (sand loam and clay) and different community structure (closed, low woodland and low open scrub). Transpiration rates (T) of Avicennia were high (daily maxima 32–91 mg dm-2 min-1) despite high soil salinity (65–85‰). Avicennia displayed consistently higher T, higher stomatal conductance (SC) and lower midday xylem pressure potential (XPP) than Ceriops experiencing the same environmental conditions. T was greater, and mid-day XPP was lower in summer than in winter for both species. Differences in Tbetween co-existing Avicennia and Ceriops were related to differences in stomatal frequency. Increasing light, air temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) over the morning were accompanied by increasing T and lowering XPP. T and XPP reached their respective extremes at the same time of day, usually at mid-day. Pre-dawn XPP of both species was consistently low (– 3 to – 4MPa) on account of high soil salinity, and decreased to low values (– 6 to – 8MPa) by mid-day. XPP always recovered close to pre-dawn values after sunset. Seasonal variation in SC was small. The diurnal patterns of SC for both species were similar on a given day, commonly displaying a gradual closure over the course of the day following a mid-morning maximum, or remaining low but stable over the day before closing in the evening. The relationship between diurnal SC and VPD was variable on different days within the same tidal recharge cycle and at different times of the year. Rates of salt secretion from leaves of Avicennia were high and the salt content of both species was high (overall range 0.7–1.8M in leaf sap and 0.2-0.6M in stem sap) in hypersaline soils (0.8–1.8M Cl-). High T, seasonally stable pre-dawn XPP, consistently rapid recovery of XPP after mid-day and high rates of salt secretion were features indicative of readily available water supplies and salt stress avoidance in an environment where evaporation is up to ten-fold higher than precipitation and the water table is close to the surface and chronically hypersaline.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Andrews, T.J. & Müller, G.J. 1985. Photosynthetic gas exchange of the mangrove, Rhizophora stylosa Griff., in its natural environment. Oecologia 65: 449–455.
Anon. 1985. Australian National Tide Tables, Australian Hydrographic Publication. Department of Defence (Navy Office), Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 256pp.
Ball, M. 1988a. Salinity tolerance in the mangroves Aegiceras corniculatwn and Avicennia marina. 1. Water use in relation to growth, carbon partitioning, and salt balance. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 15: 447–464.
Ball, M. 1988b. Ecophysiology of mangroves. Trees 2: 129–142.
Ball, M. & Farquhar, G.D. 1984a. Photosynthetic and stomatal responses of two mangrove species, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina, to long term salinity and humidity conditions. Plant Physiol. 74: 1–6.
Ball, M. & Farquhar, G.D. 1984b. Photosynthetic and stomatal responses of the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina, to transient salinity conditions. Plant Physiol. 74: 7–11.
Ball. M., Cowan, I.R. & Farquhar, G.D. 1988. Maintenance of leaf temperature and the optimatisation of carbon gain in relation to water loss in a tropical mangrove forest. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 15: 263–276.
Boon, P.I. & Allaway, W.G. 1982. Assessment of leaf-washing techniques for measuring salt secretion in Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 9: 725–734.
Boon, P.I. & Allaway, W.G. 1986. Rates and ionic specificity of salt secretion from excised leaves of the mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. Aquat. Bot. 26: 143–153.
Bureau of Meteorology. 1972. Climatic survey. Northwest. Region 6-Western Australia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, Australia.
Chittleborough, R.G. 1983. The Dampier Archipelago Marine Study. A progress report. Bulletin 141, Department of Conservation and Environment, Perth, Western Australia. 12pp.
Clough, B.F. & Sim, R.G. 1989. Changes in gas exchange characteristics and water use efficiency of mangroves in response to salinity and vapour pressure deficit. Oecologia 79: 38–44.
Dodd, J. 1985. Plant water relations and community water use in a Banksia woodland near Perth, Western Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Western Australia. 222pp.
Drennan, P. & Pammenter, N.W. 1982. Physiology of salt excretion in the mangrove Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. New Phytol. 91: 597–606.
Galloway, R.W. 1982. Distribution and physiographic patterns of Australian mangroves. In: B.F. Clough (ed), Mangrove Ecosystems in Australia. Structure, Function and Management, pp. 31–54. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australian National University Press.
Gordon, D.M. 1988. Disturbance to mangroves in tropical-arid Australia: hypersalinity and restricted tidal exchange as factors leading to mortality. J. Arid Environments 15: 117–145.
Hutchings, P. & Saenger, P. 1987. Ecology of Mangroves. University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland. 388pp.
Leshem, Y. & Levison, E. 1972. Regulation mechanisms in the salt mangrove Avicennia marina growing on the Sinai littoral. Oecol. Plant 7: 167–176.
Levitt, J. 1980. Response of Plants to Environmental Stress, Volume II, Water, Radiation, Salt and Other Stresses, 2nd edition, Academic Press, New York. 607 pp.
Lewis, O.A.M. & Naidoo, G. 1970. Tidal influence on the apparent transpirational rhythm of the white mangrove. S. African J. Sci. 66: 268–270.
Lugo, A, Evink, G, Brinson, M.M., Broce A. & Snedaker, S. 1975. Diurnal rates of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration in mangrove forests of south Florida. In: F.B. Golley & E. Medina (eds), Tropical Ecological Systems. Trends in Terrestrial and Aquatic Research, pp.335–350. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Mills, G.A. 1975. A comparison of some formulae for the calculation of saturation vapour pressure over water. Meteorological Note 82. Bureau of Meteorology. Department of Science and Consumer Affairs, Canberra, Australia.
Naidoo, G. 1983. Effects of flooding on leaf water potential and stomatal resistance in Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L) Lam. New Phytol. 93: 69–376.
Naidoo, G. 1985. Effects of waterlogging and salinity on plant-water relations and the accumulation of solutes in three mangrove species. Aquat. Bot. 22: 133–143.
Naidoo, G. 1987. Effects of salinity and nitrogen on growth and water relations in the mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. New Phytol. 107: 317–325.
Naidoo, G., Naidoo, D.K. 1981. Field studies on diurnal leaf diffusive resistance of mangrove leaves at various soil moisture tensions and photosynthetically active radiation. J. South African. Bot. 47: 627–636.
Popp, M. 1984. Chemical composition of Australian mangroves. 1. Inorganic ions and organic acids. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 113: 395–409.
Scholander, P.F., Hammel, H.T., Hemmingsen, E.A. & Garay, W. 1962. Salt balance in mangroves. Plant Physiol. 37: 722–729.
Scholander, P.F., Hammel, H.T., Bradstreet, E.D. & Hemmingsen, E.A. 1965. Sap pressure in vascular plants. Science 148: 339–340.
Semeniuk, V. 1980. Mangrove zonation along an eroding coastline in King Sound, north-western Australia. J. Ecol. 68: 789–812.
Semeniuk, V. 1983. Mangrove distribution in northwestern Australia in relationship to regional and local freshwater seepage. Vegetatio 53: 11–31.
Semeniuk, V. 1985. Development of mangrove habitats along ria shorelines in north and northwestern tropical Australia. Vegetatio 60: 3–23.
Semeniuk, V. & Wurm, P.A.S. 1987. The mangroves of the Dampier Archipelago Western Australia. J. Roy. Soc. West. Aust. 69: 29–87.
Semeniuk, V., Kenneally, K.F. & Wilson, P.G. 1978. Mangroves of Western Australia. Western Australian Naturalists’ Club Handbook No. 12, Perth, Western Australia. 92pp.
Spain, A.V. & Holt, J.A. 1980. The elemental status of the foliage and branchwood of seven mangrove species from Northern Queensland. Report No. 49, Australian Division of Soils, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia.
Steinke, T.D. 1979. Apparent transpirational rhythms of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. at Inhaca Island, Mocambique. J. South African Bot. 45: 133–138.
Stewart, G.R. & Ahmad, I. 1983. Adaptation to salinity in angiosperm halophytes. In: D.A. Robbs & W.S. Pierpoint (eds), PSE Symposium Series 21, Metals and Micronutrients, pp.35–50. Academic Press, New York.
Tomlinson, P.B. 1986. The Botany of Mangroves. Cambridge University Press. 413pp.
Tallak Nilsen, E., Rasoul Sharifi, M., Rundel, P.W., Jarrell, W.M. & Virginia, R.A. 1983. Diurnal and seasonal water relations of the desert phreatophyte Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) in the Sonoran desert of California. Ecology 64: 1381–1393.
Waisel, Y., Eshel, A. & AGami, M. 1986. Salt balance of leaves of the mangrove Avicennia marina. Physiol. Plant 67: 67–72.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gordon, D.M. (1993). Diurnal water relations and the salt content of two contrasting mangroves growing in hypersaline soils in tropical-arid Australia. In: Lieth, H., Al Masoom, A.A. (eds) Towards the rational use of high salinity tolerant plants. Tasks for vegetation science, vol 27. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1858-3_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1858-3_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4821-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1858-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive