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The performance and distribution of species along soil salinity gradients of mangrove swamps in southeastern Nigeria

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Abstract

Based on periodic soil salinity measurements direct gradient analysis procedures were used to relate the performance and distribution of mangrove swamp species to salinity gradients. Variations in soil salinity were due to distance from the coast, tidal incursions and freshwater inputs. All overstorey species showed statistically significant negative correlations with salinity while most groundlayer species were positively correlated with the same factor. Based on ecological group classification, no species was found to occur on the highest values of soil salinity. There were overlapping range of occurrences and ecological optima for most species along the gradients.

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Ukpong, I.E. The performance and distribution of species along soil salinity gradients of mangrove swamps in southeastern Nigeria. Vegetatio 95, 63–70 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124954

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