A comparison of mangrove and marsh influences on soil respiration rates: A mesocosm study. (5th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geoghegan, Emily K.; Langley, J. Adam; Chapman, Samantha K.
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 248(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-05
• Subjects: Coastal wetlands -- Mangroves -- Ecotone -- Soil respiration -- Climate change -- Decomposition; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106877
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: Due to reductions in freeze events, mangroves have been rapidly encroaching into previously salt marsh-dominated coastal wetlands along the northeastern shores of Florida, USA. This shift in dominant wetland vegetation type may have significant implications for belowground processes such as soil organic matter decomposition and respiration. Using a full factorial greenhouse mesocosm experiment, we investigated the effects of plant type (no plant, Avicennia germinans, or Spartina alterniflora ) and soil type (sand, mangrove-derived soil, or marsh-derived soil) on estimated heterotrophic soil respiration rates. While we predicted that A. germinans mangrove seedlings would increase heterotrophic respiration, we found that mangrove seedlings did not increase heterotrophic respiration when compared to control (no plant) treatments. Additionally, we found that heterotrophic respiration was higher in marsh-derived soils than in mangrove-derived soils for both control and mangrove plant treatments. Our findings suggest that the stage of mangrove invasion and the level of root development may influence changes in heterotrophic soil respiration. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Mesocosm study shows that mangrove seedlings do not increase soil respiration. Mangroves grown in mesocosms have higher shoot to root ratios than marsh plants. Soil respiration likely to change with stage of mangrove invasion due to biomass.