Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 2015, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 604-615.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2015.0058

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ecological wood anatomy of Rhizophora stylosa

DENG Chuan-Yuan1,*(), ZHENG Jun-Ming1, ZHANG Wan-Chao1, GUO Su-Zhi2, XUE Qiu-Hua1, YE Lu-Ying1, SUN Jian-Wen1   

  1. 1College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
    2College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
  • Received:2015-09-18 Accepted:2015-04-14 Online:2015-06-01 Published:2015-07-02
  • Contact: Chuan-Yuan DENG
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    # Co-first authors

Abstract: <i>Aims</i>

Mangrove forest is desirable for studying variations in wood structure along an ecological gradient because mangroves are subjected to considerable habitat changes apart from salt stress within a small area. To elucidate the adaptive capability of wood structures towards fluctuating environmental conditions, variations in wood structures were investigated in 18 individuals of Rhizophora stylosa representing 6 populations along a natural soil physicochemical gradient in the National Nature Reserve of Dongzhai Harbor, Hainan Province.

<i>Methods</i>

Soil physicochemical properties were determined at the sites of 18 sampling trees in six R. stylosa populations. The anatomical characteristics of the secondary xylem were studied in details in the 18 trees by means of light microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Variations in the quantitative wood anatomical features in R. stylosa were assessed in details. Relationships between soil physicochemical variables and the quantitative wood anatomical features were analyzed by means of statistical methods.

<i>Important findings</i>

Some common specialized wood structures were observed in R. stylosa growing in different habitats, suggesting that these features may function for safely conducting water under high negative pressure and are thus adaptive to intertidal habitats. These common features include the occurrence of: 1) some fibriform vessel elements and a few vasicentric tracheids; 2) vesturing in pits of vessels and helical structures on vessel walls; 3) growth rings; 4) starch grains in ray cells and septate fibers. The quantitative anatomical characteristics have great plasticity in response to heterogeneous habitats. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that the total salt, contents of Mn2+, Na+, Cl-, Ca2+, organic matters, and total phosphorus of soils, and soil pH all have significant effects on quantitative wood anatomical features. Variations in the quantitative wood anatomical features in R. stylosa growing at different sites are adaptive to fluctuating environmental conditions in the intertidal areas.

Key words: ecological anatomy, Rhizophora stylosa, soil physicochemical factors, wood structure