Abstract
Since its introduction in the early part of this century, Rhizophora mangle L. has spread extensively through most of the main islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. We investigated the structural properties and estimated productivity of a R. mangle population at Nuupia Ponds Wildlife Management Area (NPWMA), on windward Oahu, where the mangroves were being controlled due to their propensity to overgrow archaeological sites and the habitat of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Mangroves within NPWMA were very dense (> 24,000 trees ha-1) and most were relatively small (only 3.3% of the trees were ≥ 10 cm DBH). Mean basal area, aboveground biomass, and number of seedlings were all high, at 37.2 m2 ha-1, 279 t (dry wt) ha-1, and 121 m-2, respectively. The seedling density may be particularly unusual and appears to be due to extremely high rates of propagule production coupled with low rates of propagule predation. Stand productivity was estimated by stem growth (allometry), litterfall, and a light attenuation approach to determining net canopy photosynthetic production. All three methods yielded estimates that are higher than previously reported for R. mangle and comparable with estimates of highly productive Rhizophora spp.-dominated stands in Australia and Asia. The high density, biomass, and productivity of this stand relative to stands within the species' native range may be due to a combination of favorable site conditions, lack of competition from other woody plants, and very low rates of herbivory and propagule predation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 276-284 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Estuaries |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 2 A |
| State | Published - Jun 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
Cite this
Stand structure and productivity of the introduced Rhizophora mangle in Hawaii. / Cox, Evelyn F.; Allen, James A.
In: Estuaries, Vol. 22, No. 2 A, 06.1999, p. 276-284.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Stand structure and productivity of the introduced Rhizophora mangle in Hawaii
AU - Cox, Evelyn F.
AU - Allen, James A
PY - 1999/6
Y1 - 1999/6
N2 - Since its introduction in the early part of this century, Rhizophora mangle L. has spread extensively through most of the main islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. We investigated the structural properties and estimated productivity of a R. mangle population at Nuupia Ponds Wildlife Management Area (NPWMA), on windward Oahu, where the mangroves were being controlled due to their propensity to overgrow archaeological sites and the habitat of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Mangroves within NPWMA were very dense (> 24,000 trees ha-1) and most were relatively small (only 3.3% of the trees were ≥ 10 cm DBH). Mean basal area, aboveground biomass, and number of seedlings were all high, at 37.2 m2 ha-1, 279 t (dry wt) ha-1, and 121 m-2, respectively. The seedling density may be particularly unusual and appears to be due to extremely high rates of propagule production coupled with low rates of propagule predation. Stand productivity was estimated by stem growth (allometry), litterfall, and a light attenuation approach to determining net canopy photosynthetic production. All three methods yielded estimates that are higher than previously reported for R. mangle and comparable with estimates of highly productive Rhizophora spp.-dominated stands in Australia and Asia. The high density, biomass, and productivity of this stand relative to stands within the species' native range may be due to a combination of favorable site conditions, lack of competition from other woody plants, and very low rates of herbivory and propagule predation.
AB - Since its introduction in the early part of this century, Rhizophora mangle L. has spread extensively through most of the main islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. We investigated the structural properties and estimated productivity of a R. mangle population at Nuupia Ponds Wildlife Management Area (NPWMA), on windward Oahu, where the mangroves were being controlled due to their propensity to overgrow archaeological sites and the habitat of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Mangroves within NPWMA were very dense (> 24,000 trees ha-1) and most were relatively small (only 3.3% of the trees were ≥ 10 cm DBH). Mean basal area, aboveground biomass, and number of seedlings were all high, at 37.2 m2 ha-1, 279 t (dry wt) ha-1, and 121 m-2, respectively. The seedling density may be particularly unusual and appears to be due to extremely high rates of propagule production coupled with low rates of propagule predation. Stand productivity was estimated by stem growth (allometry), litterfall, and a light attenuation approach to determining net canopy photosynthetic production. All three methods yielded estimates that are higher than previously reported for R. mangle and comparable with estimates of highly productive Rhizophora spp.-dominated stands in Australia and Asia. The high density, biomass, and productivity of this stand relative to stands within the species' native range may be due to a combination of favorable site conditions, lack of competition from other woody plants, and very low rates of herbivory and propagule predation.
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M3 - Article
VL - 22
SP - 276
EP - 284
JO - Estuaries and Coasts
JF - Estuaries and Coasts
SN - 1559-2723
IS - 2 A
ER -