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1.
海南东寨港红树林沉积物中重金属的分布及其生物有效性 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
对东寨港红树林湿地沉积物中7种典型重金属元素(Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd 和Pb)的有效态含量和全量进行测定,并讨论了红树林湿地沉积物中重金属元素的分布特征及其生物有效性.结果表明: 7种重金属在东寨港红树林湿地的含量大于亚龙湾和三亚湾的红树林湿地,但与中国南方和世界各地的典型红树林湿地相比仍处于中等偏低水平.东寨港红树林湿地光滩、林缘、林内表层沉积物的重金属含量存在差异;在柱状沉积物中重金属伴随沉积明显,表现出较强的同源性.经EDTA萃取出的有效态金属在表层沉积物中含量依次为Cu>Cr>Zn>Ni>As>Pb>Cd;垂直梯度重金属有效态含量占总量的比例的最大值(除Ni外)均出现在表层或中上层;目标重金属元素有效态和总量在空间分布上具有明显正相关性,元素总量指标能较好地评估该元素的生物有效性 相似文献
2.
对福建漳江口红树林沉积物中重金属汞(Hg)含量的时空分布进行了研究。结果表明漳江口红树林湿地汞含量为0.0815 mg·kg-1—0.3431 mg·kg-1。在潮间带水平分布上,从光滩到高潮位汞含量显著上升(P<0.05),相对光滩,红树林沉积物更易富集汞,其中高潮位红树林底泥中汞含量最高。在垂直方向上,大多数的汞富集在表层及亚表层,随着深度的加深,汞含量呈现下降趋势。汞在红树林湿地沉积物中的积累主要与有机碳(TOC),含水率,盐度相关。从计算的单一污染指数(Pi)来看,漳江口地区汞污染等级为Ⅲ级以下,大多数采样点属于自由污染或轻度污染。就该地区汞污染的时空变化趋势以及和其他红树林区汞污染状况的对比来看,漳江口地区存在一定程度的汞污染威胁加剧的现象,值得引起注意。 相似文献
3.
雅鲁藏布江山南宽谷风沙化土地土壤养分和粒度特征 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
在雅鲁藏布江山南宽谷区,选择流动沙地、平缓沙砾地、半固定沙地、固定沙地和覆沙河滩地等类型样地,研究了不同深度(0—10 cm、10—20 cm和20—40 cm)土壤层的养分状况和粒度特征,探讨了风沙运动对土壤粒度组成和养分含量的影响。结果表明:1)风沙化土地土壤pH值呈中性、碱性和强碱性,土壤有机质和全氮含量均很低,但全磷和全钾均很高。土壤粒度组成表现为砂粒含量(53.83%—95.93%)>粉粒(3.3%—40.5%)>粘粒(0.77%—5.68%)。2)粘粒和粉粒含量均以覆沙河滩地(分别为4.02%和27.95%)最大、半固定沙地(分别为1.35%和5.27%)最小。粘粒含量表现为覆沙河滩地>固定沙地(2.98%)>河滩流动沙地(2.89%)>平缓沙砾地(1.69%)>河岸流动沙地(1.54%)>山坡流动沙地(1.49%)>半固定沙地。不同类型沙地粉粒含量的大小顺序与粘粒含量相似,仅在山坡流动沙地和河岸流动沙地的大小顺序有所差别。砂粒含量以半固定沙地(为93.40%)最大、覆沙河滩地最小(68.05%)。不同类型沙地的砂粒含量与粉粒含量的大小顺序正好相反。3)土壤养分含量与粘粒、粉粒、极细砂粒和细砂粒等细沙物质的相关性较强,与中砂粒、粗砂粒和极粗砂粒等粗沙物质呈负相关或相关性较弱。其中,粘粒和极细砂粒含量的增加对土壤养分的增加贡献较大。流动沙丘随风沙运动而不断往复摆动的现象和土壤细颗粒的迁移和损失,对不同类型沙地和沙丘部位的土壤养分状况及其再分配过程产生较大影响。 相似文献
4.
黄河三角洲不同水位梯度下芦苇植被生态特征及其与环境因子相关关系 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
《生态学杂志》2014,(10)
对黄河三角洲滨海湿地不同水位条件下芦苇植被生态特征进行动态调查,并分析其与土壤理化性质的相关关系。结果表明:芦苇湿地土壤电导率随水位梯度变化差异显著,长期水淹的芦苇区土壤电导率最低;在不同水位梯度下,芦苇生态特征表现出较强的差异性,相比之下,在水位较高的条件下,芦苇株高、茎粗、盖度和生物量均为最高值,产量达到了10 t·hm-2;研究区土壤营养元素含量总体均处于较低水平,且不同水位条件下营养元素在各土层中的分布具有一定的差异;相关性分析表明,土壤粘粒、粗粘粒、细粉粒、粗粉粒与土壤营养元素均呈现不同程度的相关性,土壤有效磷含量与高度、茎粗、盖度、生物量均呈极显著正相关,因此土壤有效磷可能是黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇植被生长的限制性营养因子。 相似文献
5.
选取2008年寒害后和恢复重建5年后红树林群落水土生要素进行纵向对比,选取水域pH、化学需氧量(COD)、溶解氧(DO)、总悬浮物(TSS)、总无机氮(TIN)、正磷酸盐(PO_4-P)等水环境指标和(S)pH、氧化还原电位(Eh)、有机质(OM)等沉积物指标进行不同类型红树林群落间的横向对比。自变量指标中水环境指标所占比例较大,约为2—3,弥补了红树林湿地植被、沉积物和水文等3个自然因素中水文条件研究较为缺乏的现状。结合各类红树林群落水、土、生三要素进行典范对应分析(CCA)的结果表明:1)典范对应分析方法用于分析淇澳岛大围湾各类红树林典型群落寒害后及寒害5年后的群落生物过程特征与各种生境因子间的相关关系,效果良好,前4组自变量的典型变量可以解释标准变量中绝大部分(约80%以上)的信息。2)恢复重建5年后,淇澳岛大围湾各类红树林群落中中潮位的无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)群落和高潮位的桐花树(Aegiceras comiculatum)群落拓展最快,面积分别增加26.58hm~2和23.1 hm~2,而互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)群落因无瓣海桑群落的扩张而受到抑制,面积下降31.51hm~2。3)水域pH、沉积物(S)pH、OM、DO、COD等水土指标与冠幅、胸径、基径、盖度和高度等生物过程指标依次正相关,而PO_4-P、TSS和TIN等水域指标与生物过程指标依次负相关。4)珠海淇澳岛大围湾红树林湿地生态系统对水域悬浮物和营养元素的固定效果明显,但其植被生物过程受水土因素,尤其是水文因素,影响较大,其中影响最大的生境因素是pH值(包括水域pH值和沉积物(S)pH值)。低中潮位、中性至弱碱性的表层沉积物生境条件较为适合无瓣海桑和老鼠簕(Acanthus ilicifolius)等红树植物群落的初期恢复。 相似文献
6.
福建漳江口红树林湿地沉积物中四种重金属的空间分布特征 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
对漳江口红树林湿地沉积物中4种重金属(Pb、Cd、Ni、Fe)含量空间分布的研究表明,漳江口红树林湿地沉积物中Pb、Fe含量较高,Cd、Ni含量相对较低;林内沉积物的Pb、Cd含量显着高于林外沉积物;在垂岸方向上,表层沉积物中除Ni外其它三种元素含量均表现出从林外到林内增加的趋势;在垂直梯度上,四种元素含量均随着沉积物深度增加而逐渐降低. 相似文献
7.
湛江高桥红树林湿地有机碳分布及埋藏特征 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
红树林是世界上单位生产力最高的生态系统之一,其能够持续地固定有机碳,对全球碳平衡和生物地球化学循环有着深远影响。以广东湛江国家级红树林自然保护区高桥核心区为研究区,旨在分析我国典型红树林湿地的固碳潜力,为红树林湿地碳计量提供依据。在垂直于海岸线的两条样线上选取6个不同潮位的样点进行沉积柱取样分析,通过重铬酸钾氧化-外加热法测定有机碳含量,基于放射性同位素~(210)Pb定年推演沉积率,并对湿地有机碳密度和埋藏率进行计算。结果表明:研究区红树林湿地有机碳含量2.14—36.94 g/kg,平均(12.79±9.91)g/kg。红树林湿地有机碳密度为(0.0100±0.0056)g/cm3,空间上差异显著显著,水平方向上两条样线均以中带样点的有机碳密度最大,近陆侧(内带)样点的有机碳密度高于近海侧(外带);垂直方向上,内带和外带样柱的有机碳密度均以表层最高,而且随深度增加而减小。研究区红树林湿地百年尺度上沉积率为6.5—11mm/a,且外带样点沉积速率显著快于内带样点。有机碳埋藏率空间差异大,外带样点为(34.58±7.67)g m-2a-1,而中带样点可达150.56 g m-2a-1。红树林湿地有机碳的分布受潮位的影响大,更高潮位点和表层的有机碳含量和密度更高,而处于低潮位的外带样点的有机碳沉积更快。研究区红树林湿地有机碳含量和密度比更低纬度带低,但均高于地带性陆地植被,且其能够通过持续的沉积过程来捕捉和固定有机碳,固碳潜力大。 相似文献
8.
采集了汕头国际湿地核心区红树林表层沉积物上层(0~10 cm)和下层(10~20cm)样品,用超声溶剂萃取和GC-MS法分析了沉积物中的多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)、有机碳、黑碳和粒径的组成.结果显示,沉积物上、下层均以4环PAHs的含量最高,不同环数PAHs表现为中环数含量较高,低环和高环含量较低;上层∑PAHs含量明显大于下层,同时沉积物上层∑PAHs含量、有机碳和黑碳及粘粒、粉砂的质量分数均高于下层;pH没有变化.相关性分析显示,沉积物上、下层中的有机碳与∑PAHs含量无相关关系,黑碳、PAHs含量和粉砂表现为两两显著相关,表明沉积物中粉砂是影响PAHs在沉积物中行为和归宿的重要因素,而黑碳是形成分层效应的根本影响因素. 相似文献
9.
泉州湾红树林湿地沉积物中汞分布及形态特征 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
采集了泉州湾红树林湿地表层沉积物样品,测定了沉积物中不同形态汞的含量,研究了汞的分布特征、赋存形态及其生物有效性.泉州湾红树林湿地表层沉积物中总汞含量范围0.03~0.22 mg·kg-1,除14#采样点外,其余各采样点均符合海洋沉积物质量(GB 18668-2002) Ⅰ类标准;沉积物中不同形态汞占总汞的比例为可氧化态(84.0%)>残渣态(14.0%)>可还原态(1.8%)>弱酸溶态(0.2%);沉积物中汞的生物有效性较高,对红树林生态系统存在一定的潜在危害. 相似文献
10.
长江口潮滩湿地土壤酶活性的陆向变化以及与环境因子的相关性 总被引:12,自引:0,他引:12
研究了长江口崇明东滩潮滩湿地表层沉积物的土壤酶活性和环境因子沿高程的陆向变化及其它们之间的相关性。结果表明,在潮滩湿地表层沉积物中的全磷(TP)、全氮(TN)和有机质(OM)的含量,随着高程的增加,其含量呈上升趋势,而沉积物平均粒径(AGS)和溶解无机磷(DIP)含量逐渐降低。崇明东滩表层沉积物中碱性磷酸酶活性沿高程梯度有增加的趋势,与沉积物平均粒径和溶解无机磷含量呈极显著负相关(p<0.01),与有机质、总氮、总磷含量呈显著正相关(p<0.05),反映出碱性磷酸酶活性受底物和产物并存机制的诱导或抑制。过氧化氢酶活性随高程也有逐渐增大的趋势,其活性与有机质、总氮、总磷呈显著正相关与溶解无机磷和沉积物平均粒径呈负相关(p<0.05),充分反映了随着演替的发展,沉积物的肥力逐渐增高的特点,也反映了沿高程梯度沉积物生物氧化作用逐渐增强。转化酶活性从藻类盐渍带到芦苇(Phragmites australis)带变化并不明显,在海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)带略高。蛋白酶活性从藻类盐渍带到芦苇带有降低的趋势,蛋白酶活性的高低更决定于有机质中蛋白质的含量而与有机质总量无关,说明蛋白酶可能主要由硅藻产生。 相似文献
11.
A simulation model of organic matter and nutrient accumulation in mangrove wetland soils 总被引:13,自引:0,他引:13
The distribution and accumulation of organic matter, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in mangrove soils at four sites along the Shark River estuary of south Florida were investigated with empirical measures and a process-based model. The mangrove nutrient model (NUMAN) was developed from the SEMIDEC marsh organic matter model and parameterized with data from mangrove wetlands. The soil characteristics in the four mangrove sites varied greatly in both concentrations and profiles of soil carbon, N and P. Organic matter decreased from 82% in the upstream locations to 30% in the marine sites. Comparisons of simulated and observed results demonstrated that landscape gradients of soil characteristics along the estuary can be adequately modeled by accounting for plant production, litter decomposition and export, and allochthonous input of mineral sediments. Model sensitivity analyses suggest that root production has a more significant effect on soil composition than litter fall. Model simulations showed that the greatest change in organic matter, N, and P occurred from the soil surface to 5 cm depth. The rapid decomposition of labile organic matter was responsible for this decrease in organic matter. Simulated N mineralization rates decreased quickly with depth, which corresponded with the decrease of labile organic matter. The increase in organic matter content and decrease in soil bulk density from mangrove sites at downstream locations compared to those at upstream locations was controlled mainly by variation in allochthonous inputs of mineral matter at the mouth of the estuary, along with gradients in mangrove root production. Research on allochthonouns sediment input and in situ root production of mangroves is limited compared to their significance to understanding nutrient biogeochemistry of these wetlands. More accurate simulations of temporal patterns of nutrient characteristics with depth will depend on including the effects of disturbance such as hurricanes on sediment redistribution and biomass production. 相似文献
12.
Fuentes Hernández MV 《Revista de biología tropical》2000,48(Z1):261-268
The basal behaviour and relationship with organic carbon (Corg) content and prevailing granulometric fractions, of organic nitrogen (Norg), total phosphorus (P-total) and C/N ratio in surface sediments of Chacopata lagoon, Sucre State, Venezuela, were studied. Concentrations and spatial gradients were determined in sixteen stations following a common method for marine sediments. Norg concentrations varied between 0.102 and 0.510% (x = 0.237%), total phosphorus between 0.012 and 0.094% (x = 0.058%) and C/N ratio between 9.27 and 44.47 (x = 20.53). The higher contents of Norg and total phosphorus are from sections with an abundance of mangroves, marine phanerogams, macroalgae, benthonic biomass and migratory birds shelters. The C/N ratio shows the typical values for carbonated sediments, indicating that the nitrogenous compounds are rapidly degraded and the organic matter presents itself as humic substances. This parameter was moderately associated with silt and clay, and showed antagonism with sand, whereas Norg and phosphorus showed no correlation with them. The organic contribution is purely autochthonous: no anthropogenous contributions were found. 相似文献
13.
Heidi Völkel Jhoanata M. Bolivar Carlos A. Sierra 《Wetlands Ecology and Management》2018,26(5):931-942
Mangrove forests of the Sinú river delta in Cispatá bay, Colombia, show large differences in soil carbon storage between fringe (oceanic) and basin (estuarine) mangroves. We were interested in testing whether these differences in soil carbon are associated with sediment transport processes or whether most of the carbon is produced in situ within the mangrove system. Given past sedimentation dynamics of the Sinú river, we hypothesized that a large portion of soil carbon in basin mangroves is due to sedimentation. We determined total organic carbon content (TOC) as 660.93 ± 259.18 MgC ha?1 for basin soils up to a sampling depth of 1 m, and as 259 ± 42.61 MgC ha?1 for fringe soils up to 80 cm depth (maximum soil depth for fringe soils). Using analyses of mineralogy (Al- and Fe-oxides, clay minerals) as well as isotopic analyses of carbon (δ13C), the origin of the sediments and their carbon was determined. We found that basin soils in Cispatá bay show similar mineralogical composition than those of fluvial sediments, but the carbon concentration of river sediments was close to zero. Given the large capacity of the Fe and Al oxides in clay minerals to store dissolved carbon, and that the isotopic composition of the carbon is mostly of plant origin, we concluded contrary to our initial hypothesis that the carbon stored in basin mangrove soils are produced in situ. The deposited fluvial sediments do play an important role for carbon storage, but mostly in providing binding surfaces for the stabilization of organic carbon. 相似文献
14.
Jack J. Middelburg Joop Nieuwenhuize Frederik J. Slim Boaz Ohowa 《Biogeochemistry》1996,34(3):133-155
The biogeochemistry of mangrove sediments was investigated in several mangrove forest communities in Gazi Bay, a coastal lagoon in Kenya, Africa. Carbon dioxide fluxes, sediment median grain sizes, sedimentary organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents and pore-water characteristics (ammonium, nitrate, sulfate and chloride) could be related to forest type. Mangrove sediments have pH values that range from 3.5 to 8.3 due to the limited buffer capacity of these sediments and intense acidifying processes such as aerobic degradation of organic matter, oxidation of reduced components, ammonium uptake by roots and root respiration. The mangrove sediments are nitrogen-rich compared to mangrove litter, as a result of microbial nitrogen retention, uptake and fixation, and import of nitrogen-rich material. It appears that mangrove sediments in Gazi Bay act as a nutrient and carbon sink rather than as a source for adjacent seagrass and reef ecosystems. 相似文献
15.
In addition to carbon accumulation in plants, processes of organic carbon in mangrove ecosystems include origins of sediment organic carbon, carbon fluxes between mangroves and their adjacent systems (coastal waters and atmosphere), and cycling processes. Sediment organic carbon originates from suspending solids in coastal waters, mangrove plants and benthic algae. In mangroves with low organic carbon content in sediments, tidal seawater is the main origin of sediment organic carbon, while in mangroves with high sediment organic carbon contents, sediment organic carbon mainly originates from mangrove plants. Due to tidal flush, there is large material exchange between mangrove ecosystems and their adjacent coastal waters. In China, exports of organic carbon in litter falls and dissolved organic carbon from mangroves to their adjacent coastal waters have not been documented. Processes of mangrove litter falls, including production, decomposition, export and animal consumption, determine linkages among organic carbon among mangrove plants, secondary production and coastal ocean. Consumers especially benthic animals may influence organic carbon in mangrove ecosystems, because (1) their consumption rates are high, and their selective feeding on some food sources will change the relative quantities of export, bury and mineralization of organic carbon from different origins; (2) their consumption is much more than assimilation, resulting in the changes in sizes, forms and qualities of non-assimilated organic matters, and then the changes in availability of export, consumption or mineralization of organic carbon. Respiration and sulfate reduction are important mineralization processes of organic carbon in mangrove sediments. Mineralization rates of organic carbon in mangrove sediments are influenced by quantities, activities and particle sizes of organic matters, and other factors such as forest ages, root activities and animal burrowing activities. Researches on processes of mangrove organic carbon should be based on open systems, and ecological processes of organic carbon should be coupled with vegetation restoration. 相似文献
16.
In addition to carbon accumulation in plants, processes of organic carbon in mangrove ecosystems include origins of sediment organic carbon, carbon fluxes between mangroves and their adjacent systems (coastal waters and atmosphere), and cycling processes. Sediment organic carbon originates from suspending solids in coastal waters, mangrove plants and benthic algae. In mangroves with low organic carbon content in sediments, tidal seawater is the main origin of sediment organic carbon, while in mangroves with high sediment organic carbon contents, sediment organic carbon mainly originates from mangrove plants. Due to tidal flush, there is large material exchange between mangrove ecosystems and their adjacent coastal waters. In China, exports of organic carbon in litter falls and dissolved organic carbon from mangroves to their adjacent coastal waters have not been documented. Processes of mangrove litter falls, including production, decomposition, export and animal consumption, determine linkages among organic carbon among mangrove plants, secondary production and coastal ocean. Consumers especially benthic animals may influence organic carbon in mangrove ecosystems, because (1) their consumption rates are high, and their selective feeding on some food sources will change the relative quantities of export, bury and mineralization of organic carbon from different origins; (2) their consumption is much more than assimilation, resulting in the changes in sizes, forms and qualities of non-assimilated organic matters, and then the changes in availability of export, consumption or mineralization of organic carbon. Respiration and sulfate reduction are important mineralization processes of organic carbon in mangrove sediments. Mineralization rates of organic carbon in mangrove sediments are influenced by quantities, activities and particle sizes of organic matters, and other factors such as forest ages, root activities and animal burrowing activities. Researches on processes of mangrove organic carbon should be based on open systems, and ecological processes of organic carbon should be coupled with vegetation restoration. 相似文献
17.
LL Andrade D Leite E Ferreira L Ferreira GR Paula M Maguire C Hubert R Peixoto R Domingues A Rosado 《BMC microbiology》2012,12(1):186
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Mangrove forests are coastal wetlands that provide vital ecosystem services and serve as barriers against natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes and tropical storms. Mangroves harbour a large diversity of organisms, including microorganisms with important roles in nutrient cycling and availability. Due to tidal influence, mangroves are sites where crude oil from spills farther away can accumulate. The relationship between mangrove bacterial diversity and oil degradation in mangrove sediments remains poorly understood. RESULTS: Mangrove sediment was sampled from 0--5, 15--20 and 35--40 cm depth intervals from the Surui River mangrove (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), which has a history of oil contamination. DGGE fingerprinting for bamA, dsr and 16S rRNA encoding fragment genes, and qPCR analysis using dsr and 16S rRNA gene fragment revealed differences with sediment depth. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene diversity revealed changes with depth. DGGE for bamA and dsr genes shows that the anaerobic hydrocarbon-degrading community profile also changed between 5 and 15 cm depth, and is similar in the two deeper sediments, indicating that below 15 cm the anaerobic hydrocarbon-degrading community appears to be well established and homogeneous in this mangrove sediment. qPCR analysis revealed differences with sediment depth, with general bacterial abundance in the top layer (0--5 cm) being greater than in both deeper sediment layers (15--20 and 35--40 cm), which were similar to each other. 相似文献
18.
William A. House 《Biogeochemistry》2003,63(3):317-334
Dissolved oxygen concentrations in river-sediment porewaters are reported and modelled using a zero-order reaction rate and the Monod equation. After mixing the sediments and allowing settling, the dissolved oxygen profile in the bed-sediment was expected to reach a steady-state rapidly (< 1 h). However changes in the vertical profile of oxygen over a period of 38 days revealed that the penetration of oxygen increased and the dissolved oxygen flux at the interface decreased with time, probably as the oxidation kinetics of organic matter and redox reactions in the sediment changed. Experiments with three contrasting silt and sand dominated sediments (organic matter content between 0.9 and 18%) at two water velocities (ca 10 and 20 cm s–1) showed that the dissolved oxygen profiles were independent of velocity for each of the sediments. The most important controls on the reaction rate were the organic matter content and specific surface area of the sediment. A viscous diffuse-boundary-layer above the sediment was only detected in the experiments with the silt sediment where the sediment oxygen demand was relatively high. In the coarser sediments, the absence of a diffuse layer indicated that slow oxidation processes in the sediment controlled the dissolved oxygen flux at the interface. The problem of determining a surface reference in coarse sediment is highlighted. The results are discussed with reference to other studies including those concerned with estuarine and marine sediments. 相似文献
19.
J.O. Bosire F. Dahdouh-Guebas J.G. Kairo S. Cannicci N. Koedam 《Biodiversity and Conservation》2004,13(6):1059-1074
Recolonisation by crab species and sediment-infauna taxa (at class level) in artificially regenerated mangrove stands of Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia alba (5 yr old) were studied using respective bare sites (open without mangroves or denuded) and natural sites (relatively undisturbed) as controls. The controls were chosen based on site history, physical proximity and tidal inundation class in reference to the particular reforested mangrove stand and samples randomly taken. A number of environmental variables were measured; interstitial water salinity and temperature (measured at low tide) were lower, whereas sediment organic matter content was higher in the areas with mangrove cover, with the natural sites having the highest content. The bare sites were generally sandier, whereas the areas with mangrove cover had higher proportions of clay and silt. Generally, there was a higher crab density in the reforested sites than in the bare sites, whereas crab species diversity (Shannon diversity index) did not vary from one site to another for any of the mangrove species. In terms of crab species composition, the reforested sites were more similar (Sørensen similarity coefficient) to the natural sites and less to the bare controls. For sediment-infauna, the reforested sites had a significantly higher density than the respective bare controls, while the natural sites had the highest density. The number of sediment-infauna taxa in both the reforested and natural sites of all the mangrove species was similar and higher than in the comparable bare sites. The results suggest that the reforested sites are supporting more faunal recolonisation, and therefore becoming more akin to the natural mangrove sites in terms of the investigated functional indicators. The findings seem to support the use of artificial mangrove regeneration (in areas where natural regeneration has been impeded by physical conditions or otherwise) as an effective management tool in the restoration and conservation of the functional integrity of degraded mangrove habitats.Key words: Crabs, Environmental variables, Kenya, Recolonisation, Restored mangroves, Sediment-infauna 相似文献