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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
Dynamics of phosphorus and nitrogen through litter fall and decomposition in a tropical mangrove forest
Carlos A Ramos e Silva1, Sérgio R Oliveira, Ronaldo D P Rêgo
1Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia (Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Cxa. Postal 1202, 59075-970, Brazil. caugusto_99@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Distribution, dynamics and mass budget of phosphorus and nitrogen in a red mangrove forest were studied in the Potengi mangrove forest in northern Brazil (lat. 5 degrees 42' and 5 degrees 53'S, long. 35 degrees 5' and 35 degrees 25'W). Tidal hydrology, net primary productivity, leaf litter decomposition rate and standing stock of leaf litter in a red mangrove forest were measured. The results showed that the main reservoir for total P and total N was the sediment with 309 kg ha(-1) and 4619 kg ha(-1) (77% and 95% of the total P and N content in the mangrove forest), respectively, for the two elements. Total P and total N in Rhizophora mangle trees accounted for 145+/-14 kg ha(-1) and 216+/-23 kg ha(-1) (23% and 5% of the total P and N in the mangrove forest). The estimated average export rates for P and N through leaf litter are 0.5 kg ha(-1)yr(-1) and 1.6 kg ha(-1)yr(-1) respectively. Our measurements support previous results in concluding that mangrove forests efficiently retain P and N.
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