Damage to mangroves from extreme cold in early 2008 in southern China

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.02.010

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Unusually low temperatures associated with heavy rain, snow and frost occurred in 19 provinces in southern China in January-February 2008. Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of the cold weather event on mangroves and to compare differences in cold tolerance between exotic and native mangrove species.

Methods In March 2008, we conducted an intensive survey of cold damage in ten mangrove nature reserves along the coastal areas of mainland China. Parameters such as scorch percentage, defoliation percentage and leaf F_v/F_mvalues (an indicator of leaf physiological health) were determined on selected seedlings and trees of the mangrove species at each site.

Important findings With low latitudes in Hainan, Guangxi and Zhanjiang of Guangdong, low air temperature coupled with the ebb tide at night, which caused serious damage to several mangrove species. However, native mangrove species in Fujian, such as Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia marina and transplanted Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, which were adapted to low temperature events in winters, had higher cold resistance. Among all mangrove species surveyed, K. obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina were the most cold-resistant, followed by B. gymnorrhiza, B. sexangula and Rhizophora stylosa, which belong to the family Rhizophoraceae. Sonneratia caseolaris was the least cold-resistent mangrove species, having suffered serious damage or even complete loss in some locations. S. apetala introduced from Bangladesh showed much less damage than its counterpart S. caseolaris, indicating higher resistance to low temperature. Furthermore, mangrove seedlings were more sensitive than mature trees. The extreme cold event killed many mangrove seedlings in the nurseries and caused immature flowers and fruits to drop from trees, which would have an adverse effect on mangrove natural reproduction and reforestation projects. Thus, it is essential to consider cold resistance in future mangrove afforestration and restoration projects.

Key words: chilling, climate change, cold resistance, extreme temperature, mangroves

CHEN Lu-Zhen, WANG Wen-Qing, ZHANG Yi-Hui, HUANG Li, ZHAO Chun-Lei, YANG Sheng-Chang, YANG Zhi-Wei, CHEN Yue-Chao, XU Hua-Lin, ZHONG Cai-Rong, SU Bo, FANG Bai-Zhou, CHEN Nai-Ming, ZENG Chuan-Zhi, LIN Guang-Hui. Damage to mangroves from extreme cold in early 2008 in southern China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(2): 186-194.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.02.010

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2010/V34/I2/186

Figures/Tables 10

References 16

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调查地点 Investigation site	纬度 Latitude (N)	年均温 Mean annual temperature (°C)	最低月均温 Coldest month temperature (°C)	年均降雨 Mean annual rainfall (mm)	潮汐类型 Tide type
福建省 Fujian Province
宁德 Ningde	26o41′	19.0	10.3	1 250	正规半日潮 Regular semi-diurnal tide
龙海 Longhai	24o26′	21.0	12.2	1 365	正规半日潮 Regular semi-diurnal tide
云霄 Yunxiao	23o54′	21.2	12.9	1 714	正规半日潮 Regular semi-diurnal tide
广东省 Guangdong Province
深圳 Shenzhen	22o32′	22.5	14.1	1 927	不正规半日潮 Irregular semi-diurnal tide
湛江高桥 Gaoqiao in Zhanjiang	21o34′	23.0	16.0	1 500	混合全日潮 Mix diurnal tide
湛江雷州 Leizhou in Zhanjiang	21o00′	23.0	16.0	1 500	不正规半日潮 Irregular semi-diurnal tide
广西壮族自治区 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
防城港 Fangchenggang	21o28′	22.5	14.1	2 220	正规全日潮 Regular diurnal tide
钦州 Qinzhou	21o43′	22.0	13.4	2 075	不正规全日潮 Irregular diurnal tide
海南省 Hainan Province
海口 Haikou	19o54′	23.8	12.1	1 676	不正规全日潮 Irregular diurnal tide
文昌 Wenchang	19o34′	24.0	18.3	1 974	不正规全日潮 Irregular diurnal tide

调查地点 Investigation site	纬度 Latitude (N)	年均温 Mean annual temperature (°C)	最低月均温 Coldest month temperature (°C)	年均降雨 Mean annual rainfall (mm)	潮汐类型 Tide type
福建省 Fujian Province
宁德 Ningde	26o41′	19.0	10.3	1 250	正规半日潮 Regular semi-diurnal tide
龙海 Longhai	24o26′	21.0	12.2	1 365	正规半日潮 Regular semi-diurnal tide
云霄 Yunxiao	23o54′	21.2	12.9	1 714	正规半日潮 Regular semi-diurnal tide
广东省 Guangdong Province
深圳 Shenzhen	22o32′	22.5	14.1	1 927	不正规半日潮 Irregular semi-diurnal tide
湛江高桥 Gaoqiao in Zhanjiang	21o34′	23.0	16.0	1 500	混合全日潮 Mix diurnal tide
湛江雷州 Leizhou in Zhanjiang	21o00′	23.0	16.0	1 500	不正规半日潮 Irregular semi-diurnal tide
广西壮族自治区 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
防城港 Fangchenggang	21o28′	22.5	14.1	2 220	正规全日潮 Regular diurnal tide
钦州 Qinzhou	21o43′	22.0	13.4	2 075	不正规全日潮 Irregular diurnal tide
海南省 Hainan Province
海口 Haikou	19o54′	23.8	12.1	1 676	不正规全日潮 Irregular diurnal tide
文昌 Wenchang	19o34′	24.0	18.3	1 974	不正规全日潮 Irregular diurnal tide

调查地点 Investigation site	秋茄 Ko	桐花树 Ac	白骨壤 Am	木榄 Bg	红海榄 Rs	海莲 Bs	海桑 Sc	无瓣海桑 Sa
宁德 Ningde	N	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
龙海 Longhai	N	N	N	E	E	E	-	E
云霄 Yunxiao	N	N	N	N	-	-	-	-
深圳 Shenzhen	N	N	N	N	-	E	E	E
湛江高桥 Gaoqiao in Zhanjiang	N	N	N	N	N	-	-	E
湛江雷州 Leizhou in Zhanjiang	N	N	N	-	N	E	-	E
防城港 Fangchenggang	N	N	N	N	-	-	-	E
钦州 Qinzhou	N	N	N	N	N	-	-	-
海口 Haikou	N	N	N	N	N	N	E	E
文昌 Wenchang	N	N	N	N	-	N	N	-

调查地点 Investigation site	秋茄 Ko	桐花树 Ac	白骨壤 Am	木榄 Bg	红海榄 Rs	海莲 Bs	海桑 Sc	无瓣海桑 Sa
宁德 Ningde	N	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
龙海 Longhai	N	N	N	E	E	E	-	E
云霄 Yunxiao	N	N	N	N	-	-	-	-
深圳 Shenzhen	N	N	N	N	-	E	E	E
湛江高桥 Gaoqiao in Zhanjiang	N	N	N	N	N	-	-	E
湛江雷州 Leizhou in Zhanjiang	N	N	N	-	N	E	-	E
防城港 Fangchenggang	N	N	N	N	-	-	-	E
钦州 Qinzhou	N	N	N	N	N	-	-	-
海口 Haikou	N	N	N	N	N	N	E	E
文昌 Wenchang	N	N	N	N	-	N	N	-

调查地点 Investigation site	桐花树 Ac	白骨壤 Am	木榄 Bg	红海榄 Rs	海莲 Bs	海桑 Sc	无瓣海桑 Sa
宁德 Ningde	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
龙海 Longhai	0	0	5	50	20	-	5
云霄 Yunxiao	0	0	0	-	-	-	-
深圳 Shenzhen	0	0	0	ND	97	100	20
湛江高桥 Gaoqiao in Zhanjiang	0	0	35	45	-	-	50
湛江雷州 Leizhou in Zhanjiang	0	5	ND	15	90	-	50
防城港 Fangchenggang	0	30	ND	-	-	-	100
钦州 Qinzhou	0	40	30	100	-	-	-
海口 Haikou	0	0	0	ND	0	75	40
文昌 Wenchang	0	0	0	ND	0	80	-