Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
10:11
The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
Published on: August 3, 2016
10.2K
Tidal driven nutrient exchange between mangroves and estuary reveals a dynamic source-sink pattern.
Fenfang Wang1, Peng Cheng2, Nengwang Chen3
1Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
Chemosphere
|October 30, 2020
Summary
Mangroves act as a nutrient source and sink, influencing coastal ecosystems. However, upstream pollution can negate their role in mitigating coastal eutrophication.
Area of Science:
- Coastal Ecology
- Nutrient Biogeochemistry
- Estuarine Science
Background:
- Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are critical for mangrove productivity and coastal health.
- Limited understanding exists regarding nutrient cycling and mangrove-estuary interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate tidal-driven nutrient exchange across the mangrove-estuary interface.
- To determine the source-sink dynamics of nutrients in this critical zone.
Main Methods:
- Quantified lateral nutrient fluxes using hourly concentration data (2016-2018).
- Estimated water mass dynamics with the FVCOM hydrodynamic model.
Main Results:
- Mangroves consistently export ammonium (NH4-N) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) while acting as a nitrate (NO3-N) sink.
- Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP) showed seasonal shifts from source to sink.
- Mangroves reduced overall dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), and total phosphorus (TP) loading to the estuary.
Conclusions:
- Mangroves play a dual role in nutrient cycling, acting as both a source and sink.
- Upstream pollution from aquaculture and sewage can overwhelm the mitigating effects of mangroves, increasing nutrient export.
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