Chemical composition of mangrove leaves (Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata) and their correlation with some soil variables at the Egyptian Red Sea Coast
December 26, 2024
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| Article Title: | Chemical composition of mangrove leaves (Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata) and their correlation with some soil variables at the Egyptian Red Sea Coast |
| Authors: | Afefe A.A., Soliman A.S., Abbas M.S., Khedr A.H.A. |
| Affiliation: | Nature Conservation Sector, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Egypt Natural Resources Department, Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies, Cairo University, Egypt Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Egypt |
| Abstract: | Due to the importance of mangrove forests to the ecological system, environment, climate change adaptation, mitigation, and ecosystem services, it is necessary to understand the mangrove forests status in Egypt (ecology and physiology), therefore, the aim of the present study was to obtain the basic information needed to evaluate the chemical composition of leaves of the mangrove trees (Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata) and their correlation with some soil variables with the ambient Salinity. The results showed variations between the two mangrove species in the mineral composition of leaves at different study locations. In all the locations, Na+ and Cl+ ions were more dominant in leaves than K+, Ca++, and Mg++ ions. For A. marina, a higher value for Na+ (8.22%), Cl- (7.9%), and K+ (1.4 %) was recorded at 0.81% and 0.33% for Ca++ and Mg++ respectively. Where, R. mucronata, a higher value for Na+ was recorded (6.7%) and (7.23%) for Cl-. and the mean values for K+, Ca++, and Mg++ ions were noted 0.64%, 2.13%, and 0.31 % respectively. The results showed that both ordination techniques clearly indicated that soil contents (fine sand, silt, and clay), pH gradient, CaCO3, K+, Ca++, Cl-, Na+, and electric conductivity were the most important soil parameters showed variations between the mineral compositions of the two mangrove species leaves at different study locations. The results showed that there is a similarity between the soil samples in different locations as a whole area. The variability of ecosystem structure and function is generally a product of interactions between its different components. In the extreme arid environmental conditions of arid lands these interactions are of high significance, so that slight irregularities in one component of the ecosystem are likely to lead to substantial variations in others, creating distinct microhabitats. |
| Keywords: | mangrove, Red Sea, Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, soil, eco-physiological. |
| *Correspondence: | Abdelwahab A. Afefe, Nature Conservation Sector, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Egypt, email: abdoafefe@hotmail.com |
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