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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received: 14 April 2011
Revised: 20 May 2011
Accepted: 28 May 2011
AUTHORS INFO
I.
Sahadev Sharma*
e-mail: mangrove_coral@yahoo.co.in
Graduate School of Engineering and Science
University of the Ryukyus, Okinaw, Japan.
INTRODUCTION
Md. Kamruzzaman
e-mail: zaman_dulu@yahoo.com
Graduate School of Engineering and Science
University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
ATM Rafiqul Hoque
e-mail: atmrafiqul@gmail.com
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences
Chittagong University, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Kangkuso Analuddin
e-mail: udin_zanza@yahoo.com
The Wallance Research Center, Heluoleo
University, Kendari, Indonesia.
Akio Hagihara
e-mail: amyh@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus,
Okinawa, Japan.
* Corresponding author
21
-S Sharma et al.
litterfall
indicate
optimum
habitats,
particularly with respect to reduced salinity
regimes, more optimal climatic conditions, and
better site fertility [5]. Phenological data are
essential to know the tree ability to adapt
growth and propagation strategies to ambient
climatic conditions. This kind of knowledge is
most valuable if available across a broad
geographic scale. The litterfall is a main
component of net primary production [6],
reflects phenological events [7, 8] and is also
an important part of energy and nutrient
fluxes in mangrove ecosystems [9]. Rhizophora
are considered the most important of all
mangrove genera across the Pacific tropical
and subtropical region. However, little is
known about R. stylosa phenology in Okinawa
Island near the northern limit of mangrove
distribution; information is available for
Kandelia obovata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
[10, 11].
Many studies have documented mangrove
litterfall to assess mangrove productivity;
however, fewer studies have documented
mangrove phenology, particularly reproductive
phenology,
particularly
reproductive
phenology. Some studies has been done such
as, growth and reproduction in two species of
mangrove Avicennia marina and Aegiceras
corniculatum, measured over three years in
Jervis Bay, New South Wales, by demographic
censuses of leaf and floral components
supplemented by litterfall collections [8].
Knowledge
of
mangrove
phenology
is
important for understanding the mangrove
growth, productivity and life cycle as well as
plant - animal interaction with in the
ecosystem. As mangroves in Okinawa thrive in
a distinct seasonal climate, they have to cope
with
substantial
seasonal
changes
in
environmental factors. In general, R. stylosa
focused on this study shows a conspicuous
seasonality regarding phenophase peaks. The
aim of this study is to investigate the
vegetative and reproductive biology, and the
litterfall production of mangrove R. stylosa
growing in the subtropical region. The general
trends that regulate the vegetative and
reproductive production in the mangrove
system are discussed.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Study site
The study was conducted in a mangrove
forest (26o11N and 127o40E) of Manko
Wetland, Okinawa Island, Japan (Fig. 1), from
April 2008 to March 2010. This wetland is an
important area for migratory birds and has
22
Urban area
B. Litter collection
Five plots (4 m x 4 m each) were established
for a Rhizophora stylosa pure stands. All
individuals in the subplots were counted and
numbered. Litterfall was measured using litter
traps. One litterfall trap with an opening of
0.19635 m2 was placed at 1 m above the soil
surface in each of 5 plots. The litterfall traps
were emptied monthly from April 2008 to
March 2010 and the litterfall was sorted into
leaves, stipules, branches, flower buds,
flowers, fruits, fruits extended (immature
hypocotyle with fruit part) and hypocotyles.
The sorted litterfalls were dried to a constant
1st year
2nd year
Leaf
610.059.54
657.2613.17
Stipule
104.331.76
111.062.24
Branch
68.524.31
107.104.96
8.820.29
12.340.37
Flower
31.961.21
43.271.42
Fruit
49.971.08
114.083.26
Fruit extended
15.560.85
29.441.68
Hypocotyle
46.512.80
247.3814.14
935.7316.68
1321.931.20
Flower bud
Total
Mean value (g
m-2
yr-1)
23
Flower
Fruit
Hypocotyle
Fruit
extended
1st year
422
383
2nd year
801
602
20
13
B. Reproductive phenology
Reproductive material was present in litter
samples all over the year. Flower bud,
comprising the bud primordia, immature bud
and mature bud, showed the highest peak
during summer and the lowest was in winter
(Fig. 3). Rhizophora stylosa has primordia and
flower buds with resting periods, about one
year each, a long period of around 2 years
being required for development of flower.
Rhizophora apiculata Blume needed 2 and half
years to develop flower [32]. Bud production
occurs throughout the year in Rhizophora
apiculata in Southern Thailand, although
-S Sharma et al.
120
100
-2
-1
140
80
60
40
20
0
AM J J AS OND J FMAM J J AS OND J FM
30
25
-2
-1
35
20
15
10
5
0
-1
100
-2
80
60
40
20
0
400
350
-2
-1
24
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
-2
-1
4
3
2
1
0
-2
-1
16
AM J J AS ON D J FM AM J J AS ON D J FM
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
40
AM J J A S ON D J F MAM J J A S ON D J FM
-2
-1
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
AM J J A S ON D J F MAM J J A S ON D J FM
-1
25
-2
20
15
10
AM J J A S ON D J F MAM J J A S ON D J FM
-1
150
-2
IV. CONCLUSION
25
100
50
AM J J A S ON D J F MAM J J A S ON D J FM
2008
2009
2010
Month
-S Sharma et al.
26
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The preliminary version of the paper was
presented at the International Conference on
Environmental Aspects of Bangladesh (ICEAB
10) [Paper Code FM 01]. We are grateful to
our colleagues, Drs. S.M. Feroz, R. Suwa and
W. Min, and Messer. R. Deshar, for their
cooperation and active participation in the
field work. This study was financed in part by
a Grant-in-Aid of Scientific Research (No.
20510011) from the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
Japan.
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