Growth, leaf functional traits, and herbivory responses to nutrient enrichment in Avicennia germinans seedlings during mangrove ecohydrological restoration
Por:
Corona-Salto, A, Alvarado-Barrientos, MS, Santini, NS, López-Portillo, J
Publicada:
1 jun 2026
Ahead of Print:
1 jun 2026
Resumen:
Ecohydrological mangrove restoration that includes constructing islets (raised sediment areas to improve drainage and facilitate propagule establishment) in eroded and compacted soils has shown promising results. Yet, plant-soil interactions in these "novel soils" have been scarcely studied. We investigated the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilisation on relative growth, leaf traits, and herbivory in Avicennia germinans-domi-nated mangroves undergoing restoration. The effects of nutrient treatments were assessed using mixed-effects models, with direct absolute growth rate (DAGR) and demographic relative growth rate (DRGR) as response variables. Nutrient enrichment negatively affected DAGR. N and P additions led to significant leaf production (DRGR) increments compared to control plants. Nutrient enrichment also increased herbivory in N-and P-fertilised plants relative to control plants. Fertilised plants produced more leaves, but were shorter than control plants, resulting in architectural changes, possibly due to increased herbivore activity. Plant biomass did not vary significantly with nutrient addition, suggesting that growth was regulated by herbivore activity. We conclude that nutrient addition in restored mangroves induces direct changes in growth while simultaneously affecting herbivory, resulting in a slight net increase in plant growth.
Filiaciones:
Corona-Salto, A:
AC INECOL, Inst Ecol, Red Ecol Func, Carretera Antigua Coatepec 351, Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Alvarado-Barrientos, MS:
AC INECOL, Inst Ecol, Red Ecol Func, Carretera Antigua Coatepec 351, Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Santini, NS:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Geol, Ciudad Univ, Ciudad De Mexico 04500, Mexico
Lab Nacl Geoquim & Mineral, Ciudad Univ, Ciudad De Mexico 04500, Mexico
López-Portillo, J:
AC INECOL, Inst Ecol, Red Ecol Func, Carretera Antigua Coatepec 351, Xalapa 91073, Mexico
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