Hydroperiod is the main driver of the spatial pattern of dominance in mangrove communities

Abstract

Aim: Many mangrove communities form bands parallel to the shoreline with each community dominated by a single species. However, the key determinants of mangrove species distribution across the intertidal zone are not well understood. We aimed to quantify the relationship between species' dominance and the hydroperiod (defined as the duration of inundation in a year), soil salinity and the salinity of inundating water for three dominant species, Sonneratia alba, Rhizophora stylosa and Ceriops tagal. Location: An extensive (20,000 ha), largely intact mangrove forest in northern Australia, of some note as mangrove forests are threatened globally. Methods: We related species dominance to the exp..