Soil nutrient content and water level variation drive mangrove forest aboveground biomass in the lagoonal ecosystem of Aldabra Atoll

Aldabra Atoll's lagoonal mangrove ecosystem stores approximately 66,100 Mg of carbon in standing biomass, with soil nutrient content and water level variation being key drivers of mangrove aboveground biomass (AGB). The study estimated a mean AGB of 82 ± 13 Mg ha−1 across 54 plots, totaling nearly 140,600 Mg for the mangrove area. Using a structural equation model, researchers found that soil nutrient content had the greatest influence on AGB variation, while high water level variation indirectly increased AGB by enhancing nutrient availability. These findings underscore the importance of nutrient cycling and hydrological processes in lagoonal mangrove conservation, offering insights for global mangrove protection strategies.

Constance, A., Oehri, J., Bunbury, N., Wiesenberg, G. L. B., Pennekamp, F., A’Bear, L., Fleischer-Dogley, F., & Schaepman-Strub, G. (2022). Soil nutrient content and water level variation drive mangrove forest aboveground biomass in the lagoonal ecosystem of Aldabra Atoll. Ecological Indicators, 143, 109292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109292