The Geometry of Southern China’s Mangroves: Small and Elongated
2025
Lin Zhang | Yijuan Deng | Wenqing Wang | Mao Wang
Mangrove wetlands are naturally divided into habitat patches by tidal creeks, with patch edges highly vulnerable to human activities and biological invasions, making them critical areas for mangrove degradation. Understanding the geometrical characteristics of these patches is essential for mangrove management in the Anthropocene, yet their exploration remains limited. Using a high-resolution (2 m) mangrove distribution dataset from 2018, we analyzed the patch structure of mangroves in southern China. This study revealed predominantly small and elongated patches, with an average area of 0.044 km2 and a median of 0.011 km2 across 5857 patches. About 65% of patches had a major-axis length over twice their minor-axis length. The patch number and area peaked between 19°: N and 22°: N. The patch number and area peaked between 19°: N and 22°: N. In the 0.1°: ×: 0.1°: latitudinal-longitudinal grid, the maximum mangrove area was 9.03 km2, consisting of 192 patches. Additionally, the patch composition and geometric characteristics differed significantly among the existing reserves. These findings highlight the need to prioritize the patch geometry in management strategies, especially in regions with numerous small patches prone to degradation and invasion. Additionally, this study underscores a critical research gap: the ecological impacts of mangrove fragmentation on biodiversity and ecosystem services remain poorly understood. Future research should focus on how the patch structure and landscape configuration influence ecological processes in mangrove wetlands.
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