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Sources and Exchange of Particulate Organic Matter in an Estuarine Mangrove Ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam

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Abstract

The spatio-temporal variations in stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ15N) and C/N ratios of particulate organic matter (POM), and physicochemical parameters in a creek water column were examined in an estuarine mangrove ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam. The objective was to examine the factors influencing creek water properties, and the sources and exchange of POM in this important mangrove ecosystem. The diel and seasonal variations in water temperature, flow velocity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity demonstrated that tidal level, season, and biological factors affected the creek water properties. Mangroves had relatively low δ15N and very low δ13C values, with respective average values of 1.5 ± 0.9‰ and −28.1 ± 1.4‰. The low mangrove leaf δ15N indicated minor anthropogenic nitrogen loading to the mangrove forests. A significant positive correlation between POM–δ13C and salinity along the axis of Ba Lat Estuary, Red River, indicated that marine phytoplankton (δ13C value, −21.4 ± 0.5‰) was the predominant source of POM at the estuary mouth. Based on the co-variation of δ13C and C/N ratios, marine phytoplankton and mangrove detritus were predominant in POM of major creeks and small creeks, respectively. During the diurnal tidal cycle, the dynamics of POM were affected by sources of organic matter, tidal energy, and seasonal factors. The contribution of mangrove detritus to POM reached a maximum at the low tide and was enhanced during the rainy season, whereas marine phytoplankton contribution was highest at high tide.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to staff of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam, for their help with sampling. We express our sincere thanks to anonymous reviewers and Dr. Todd W. Miller for their critical reviews and comments which significantly improved this manuscript. This work was supported by the “Global COE Program” from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Japan

    Nguyen Tai Tue

  2. Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, 790-8577, Matsuyama, Japan

    Nguyen Tai Tue, Hideki Hamaoka & Koji Omori

  3. Faculty of Geology, Hanoi University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Tran Dang Quy & Mai Trong Nhuan

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  1. Nguyen Tai Tue
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  2. Tran Dang Quy
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  4. Mai Trong Nhuan
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  5. Koji Omori
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Correspondence to Nguyen Tai Tue.

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Tue, N.T., Quy, T.D., Hamaoka, H. et al. Sources and Exchange of Particulate Organic Matter in an Estuarine Mangrove Ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam. Estuaries and Coasts 35, 1060–1068 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9487-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9487-x

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