Shrimp aquaculture has caused broadscale shifts in mangrove ecosystems worldwide, including changes in habitats and functional traits of mangroves, to the point of widespread destruction in some countries. The propagule is an important stage in mangrove life history, reflecting the resource investment of parents and the ability of offspring to build a population. However, the impacts of shrimp aquaculture effluent on propagule functional traits and stoichiometry are poorly understood. Here, we comparatively investigated the functional traits and stoichiometry of Aegiceras corniculatum propagules in different shrimp aquaculture effluent-affected habitats on the coast of the South China Sea, including a control plot with no effluent discharge, a direct discharge area, and a landfill restoration area. We found that shrimp aquaculture effluent was associated with substantial impacts on the functional traits and stoichiometry of A. corniculatum propagules. In functional traits, both propagule morphology and biomass traits decreased in habitats affected by shrimp aquaculture effluent; in stoichiometry, the discharge of shrimp aquaculture effluent increased N and P contents, and after stopping the discharge, N and P in propagules remained at high concentration; propagule C/N and C/P ratios in all habitats were consistent with those of soils in that both were reduced and exhibited consistent N limits. Our findings highlight the effects of shrimp aquaculture effluent on functional traits and stoichiometric characteristics of A. corniculatum propagules, which may help improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of mangrove propagule adaptability. It also provides a scientific basis for assessing its impact on mangrove reproduction potential and population renewal and applies to mangrove management and restoration.

虾类水产养殖已导致世界范围内红树林生态系统发生大规模变化，包括改变红树林的生境和功能性状，甚至在某些国家被广泛破坏。繁殖是红树林生活史上的重要阶段，反映了父母的资源投入和后代建立种群的能力。然而，对虾水产养殖废水对繁殖体功能性状和化学计量的影响知之甚少。在这里，我们比较研究了Aegiceras corniculatum的功能性状和化学计量南海沿岸受虾类水产养殖影响的不同生境中的繁殖体，包括无污水排放的控制区，直接排放区和垃圾填埋场恢复区。我们发现虾类养​​殖出水对A. corniculatum的功能性状和化学计量有重大影响繁殖体。在功能性状上，受虾水产养殖废水影响的生境中繁殖体形态和生物量性状均下降。在化学计量中，虾类养殖废水的排放中氮和磷含量增加，停止排放后，繁殖体中的氮和磷保持高浓度。所有生境中的繁殖碳/氮和碳/磷比与土壤一致，因为两者均降低并且表现出一致的氮限量。我们的发现强调了虾类养殖废水对A. corniculatum的功能性状和化学计量特性的影响繁殖体，这可能有助于增进我们对红树林繁殖体适应性潜在机制的了解。它还为评估其对红树林繁殖潜力和种群更新的影响提供了科学依据，并适用于红树林的管理和恢复。