Impact of soil salinity on mangrove restoration in a semiarid region: a case study from the Saloum Delta, Senegal

Mangrove restoration efforts in semiarid regions face significant challenges due to soil salinity, with red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) showing severe reductions in growth and survival at salinities above 60 ppt. This study highlights that such conditions severely impair stomatal conductance, photosystem II efficiency, and seedling survival after 1–3 years. In contrast, black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) thrive in exceptionally hypersaline environments (90 ppt), representing some of the most saline vegetated ecosystems on Earth. The research, conducted in the Saloum Delta, Senegal, provides critical insights for improving species selection in coastal wetland restoration projects to enhance their success rates.

Devaney, J. L., Marone, D., & McElwain, J. C. (2020). Impact of soil salinity on mangrove restoration in a semiarid region: a case study from the Saloum Delta, Senegal. Restoration Ecology, 29(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13186