1. Litter fall beneath Rhizophora stylosa griff., Vaitupu, Tuvalu, South Pacific
- Author
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Colin D. Woodroffe and Timothy J. Moss
- Subjects
Litter fall ,Ecology ,ved/biology ,ved/biology.organism_classification_rank.species ,Rhizophoraceae ,Plant Science ,Rhizophora stylosa ,Aquatic Science ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Rhizophora ,Stipule ,Agronomy ,Dry weight ,Litter ,Mangrove - Abstract
A total dry weight of litter fall of 2423 g was collected beneath a restricted stand of the mangrove, Rhizophora stylosa Griff., 4–6 m tall, on Vaitupu, Tuvalu, over a period of 64 weeks. Leaves comprised 84% of this total, stipules 13% and reproductive parts and twigs 2 and 1%, respectively. The average annual litter fall rate was 777 ± 93 g dry wt./m 2 /year, which is similar to rates observed in mangroves elsewhere. Litter fall rates were lowest in July and August, but seasonal trends were not pronounced. In terms of litter production, inland mangrove stands of low stature on Pacific Islands can be as productive per unit area as mangrove communities in more diverse and more extensive swamplands.
- Published
- 1984
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