Can mangrove plantation enhance the functional diversity of macrobenthic community in polluted mangroves?

Mangrove plantation is widely applied to re-establish the plant community in degraded mangroves, but its effectiveness to restore the ecological functions of macrobenthic community remains poorly known, especially when pollution may overwhelm its potential positive effect. Here, we tested the effect...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2017-03, Vol.116 (1-2), p.454-461
Main Authors: Leung, Jonathan Y.S., Cheung, Napo K.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Avicennia
Biological trait
Biota
China
Ecosystem
Environmental Pollution
Functional diversity
Geologic Sediments
Macrobenthic community
Mangrove plantation
Restoration
Rhizophoraceae
Seasons
Spatio-Temporal Analysis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Mangrove plantation is widely applied to re-establish the plant community in degraded mangroves, but its effectiveness to restore the ecological functions of macrobenthic community remains poorly known, especially when pollution may overwhelm its potential positive effect. Here, we tested the effect of mangrove plantation on the ecological functions of macrobenthic community in a polluted mangrove by analyzing biological traits of macrobenthos and calculating functional diversity. Mangrove plantation was shown to enhance the functional diversity and restore the ecological functions of macrobenthic community, depending on seasonality. Given the polluted sediment, however, typical traits of opportunistic species (e.g. small and short-lived) prevailed in all habitats and sampling times. We conclude that mangrove plantation can help diversify the ecological functions of macrobenthic community, but its effectiveness is likely reduced by pollution. From the management perspective, therefore, pollution sources must be stringently regulated and mangrove plantation should be conducted to fully recover degraded mangroves. •How plantation affects the functional diversity of macrobenthic community is studied.•The biological traits of macrobenthos are analyzed in different habitats and months.•Mangrove plantation can enhance functional diversity, depending on seasonality.•Pollution leads to the persistence of typical traits of opportunistic species.•Pollution control and plantation should be done to fully recover degraded mangroves.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.043