Organic matter turn-over of Rhizophora species litterfall at Moro Gulf, Western Mindanao, Philippines
2008
Superales, J.B., Cerilles State Coll., Mati, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur 7829 (Philippines). Coll. of Agriculture and Life Sciences | Zafaralla, M.T., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Environmental Biology Div. | Baguinon, N.T. | Macandog, D.M., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Coll. of Forestry and Natural Resources | De Lara , A.V., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Animal Biology Div. | Pulhin, J.T., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Coll. of Forestry and Natural Resources
Mangroves produce large amounts of organic matter through litterfall, which is exported as an influential carbon source to adjacent coastal ecosystems in the tropics. Their over exploitation primarily through land use conversion greatly contribute to the declining area covered by mangrove forests in the Philippines. This correspond to losses of organic matter and nutrients coming from leaf litterfall. The leaf litterfall of the three Rhizophora species namely; R. apiculata, R. mucronata, and R. stylosa with their potential organic matter and nutrient content (N, P and K) were qualified and compared between sites. Rhizophora macronata was the highest producer of leaf litter (323.3 g/tree/mo), while R. stylosa, the lowest (78.2 g/tree/mo). The yearly leaf litter yield of Rhizophora species is about 2,140 g/tree and potentially contributes around 6 kg OM/month, 3 kg C/mo, 0.3 kg N/mo, 0.006 kg P/month, and 0.33 kg/K mo. The composition rate (K) of these species ranged from 0.010-0.038 g/day.
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