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This dataset package encompasses measurements from field surveys of mangrove regeneration, porewater variables, and light conditions across six mangrove sites in the coastal Everglades. The goal of this project was to quantify mangrove regeneration of seedlings and saplings in mid- and downstream locations within three estuaries in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. We assessed the effects of porewater variables and light conditions on the observed regeneration patterns. The package includes seven datasets: FCE1268_Porewater: Contains measurements of porewater salinity, sulfide, ammonia, nitrite, orthophosphate, and nitrate at a 30 cm depth. Porewater surveys were conducted biannually from 09-10-2020 to 05-17-2022. See also similar porewater data for Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) long-term sites in data packages knb-lter-fce.1169 and knb-lter-fce.1171, which contain data for SRS-5 and SRS-6, available in the FCE LTER website's data catalog or the EDI repository. FCE1268_Foliar_Nutrient_Content dataset, collected in August 2022, includes measurements of foliar nutrient content (total carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus) for three mangrove species (A. germinans, L. racemosa, R. mangle) of two life stages—seedlings (height < 1 m) and saplings (height ≥ 1 m and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) < 2.5 cm). FCE1268_Light contains light intensity (foot-candle) measurements taken at 1-hour intervals from 09-18-2020 to 08-29-2022 at mangrove sites and converted photosynthetic active radiation values from an outdoor mesocosm experiment. FCE1268_Sapling_Density provides biannual count measurements of individuals at the sapling plot level (4 m^-2) within each site from 07-09-2020 to 08-29-2022. FCE1268_Seedling_Density contains biannual count measurements of individuals at the seedling plot level (m^-2) within each site from 07-07-2020 to 08-29-2022. FCE1268_Sapling_Regeneration contains height, crown area, and stem elongation measurements of tagged sapling individuals at the plot level (4 m^-2) from 07-09-2020 to 08-29-2022. FCE1268_Seedling_Regeneration contains height, crown area, and stem elongation measurements of tagged seedling individuals at the plot level (m^-2) from 07-07-2020 to 08-29-2022. Data collection for all datasets is complete.
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Multiple factors explain species‐specific regeneration of mangrove seedlings and saplings after a major hurricane
Abstract Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating hurricane impacts in coastal ecosystems, and their adaptive traits enable regeneration and forest recovery following these disturbances. Yet, how species‐specific regeneration varies across life stages and interacts with environmental conditions is poorly understood. We quantified regeneration rates of three dominant species of mangrove seedlings and saplings (Avicennia germinans,Laguncularia racemosa, andRhizophora mangle) recovering from a major hurricane. We selected forests with varying light availability and phosphorus (P) gradients in the Everglades (Florida, USA). From 2020 to 2022, we measured biannual stem elongation, height, and density of seedlings and saplings, and collected porewater variables (salinity, sulfide, and inorganic nutrients) and continuous light intensity to assess species‐specific drivers of regeneration. Species‐specific growth rates, total height, and density varied across sites, driven by differences in porewater P and light. Growth rates ofR. mangleseedlings and bothR. mangleandL. racemosasaplings were influenced by light, whileA. germinansgrowth rates were unaffected. OnlyR. mangleandL. racemosasaplings were influenced by porewater P, while growth of both seedlings and saplings was unaffected by porewater salinity and sulfide. Mangrove regeneration post‐disturbance is explained by spatial differences in subsidies and stressors and the composition of species and life stages, underscoring complex regeneration strategies in mixed‐species forests.
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- PAR ID:
- 10610388
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Ecosphere
- Volume:
- 16
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 2150-8925
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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