Avicennia germinans leaf traits in degraded, restored, and natural mangrove ecosystems of Guyana.

ABSTRACT: Mangrove leaves have unique features that enable them to cope with shifting environmental conditions while preserving their general functionality and efficiency. We examined the morphological characteristics and chlorophyll content (spectroscopically) of 600 mature Avicennia germinans leaves selected from 30 trees located in one degraded, one restored, and one natural mangrove ecosystem along Guyana's coastline. Systematic sampling was carried out using the closest individual sampling method in the wet and dry seasons. We hypothesized that both habitat type and seasonality influence the leaf traits and chlorophyll content of A. germinans. Our findings showed that A. germinans leaves are mesophyllous, and traits such as leaf perimeter, area, length, width, dry mass, wet

SUBMITTER: Dookie S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10711649 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature