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Changes in functional traits and stoichiometry of Aegiceras corniculatum propagule in three shrimp aquaculture effluent regions

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFC0506102), the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (31870581, 31570586, 31560136), Guangxi innovative Development Grand Grant (GuiKe AA18118038), and Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, China (ERESEP2020K01).

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Author notes

  1. Ying-Ying Qin and Mei-Rong Luo have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China

    Ying-Ying Qin, Mei-Rong Luo, Zhi-Jun Shen, Gui-Feng Gao, Martin Simon & Hai-Lei Zheng

  2. Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China

    Ying-Ying Qin & Shi-Chu Liang

  3. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster in the Beibu Gulf, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, 535011, China

    Min-Zhong Liang

  4. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Gui-Feng Gao

  5. Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Environment Change and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China

    Gang Hu

  6. College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China

    Shi-Chu Liang

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  1. Ying-Ying Qin
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Qin, YY., Luo, MR., Liang, MZ. et al. Changes in functional traits and stoichiometry of Aegiceras corniculatum propagule in three shrimp aquaculture effluent regions. Aquat Ecol 54, 927–940 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-020-09784-8

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