Differences in leaf construction cost between alien and native mangrove species in Futian, Shenzhen, China: Implications for invasiveness of alien species

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 62; no. 9; pp. 1957 - 1962
• Main Authors: Li, Fenglan, Yang, Qiong, Zan, Qijie, Tam, Nora F.Y., Shin, Paul K.S., Vrijmoed, Lilian L.P., Cheung, S.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; biomass production; Brackish water ecosystems; Carbon; Carbon - analysis; chest; China; Circumferences; Conservation; conservation areas; Construction costs; energy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; growth traits; indigenous species; introduced plants; Introduced Species; Invasive potential; invasive species; leaf area; Leaf construction cost; leaves; Magnoliopsida - classification; Magnoliopsida - growth & development; Magnoliopsida - metabolism; Mangrove; Marine; Marketing; native species; plant growth; Plant Leaves - classification; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Pollution abatement; Sonneratia; Sonneratia apetala; Sonneratia caseolaris; Species Specificity; Spreads; Synecology; Trees - classification; Trees - growth & development; Trees - metabolism; water pollution; Asia; China; China, People's Rep., Guangdong Prov., Shenzhen; China, People's Rep; China, People's Rep., Guangdong Prov., Shenzhen, Futian; Leaf construction cost; Sonneratia; Mangrove; Conservation; Invasive potential; Brackish water environment; Invasive species; Energetic cost; Production; Biomass
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.06.032

► Two introduced Sonneratia had lower leaf CC than native mangrove species. ► SLA of Sonneratia was also significantly higher. ► Lower CC and higher SLA enhanced their invasive potential in mangrove swamps. Construction cost (CC) is a quantifiable measure of energy demand for biomass production, and low CC is hypothesized to give an alien plant growth advantages and increase its potential to be an invader. Comparison of leaf CC and growth traits between alien and native mangroves in Shenzhen Futian Nature Reserve showed CC per unit mass (CCmass), carbon concentration and gross and ash-free caloric values of alien mangroves were significantly lower than those of native species, while the height and chest circumference were just the opposite. Alien species Sonneratia apetala had the lowest CCmass while Sonneratia caseolaris had the lowest CCarea, and were 8.99% and 32.17% lower than those of native species, respectively. Conversely, specific leaf area (SLA) of these two Sonneratia species was significantly higher than native species. Lower CC and higher SLA make the two Sonneratia species grow and spread faster than other mangroves and enhance their invasive potential.