Barnacle fouling impedes the gaseous exchange and food production of the mangroves <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kandelia obovata</Emphasis>, a dominant mangrove species in Hong Kong and Taiwan |
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Authors: | S W Li Benny K K Chan Nora F Y Tam |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong;(2) Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan |
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Abstract: | Barnacle fouling has shown to impede gas exchange ability of mangroves. Fouled mangrove plants may therefore obtain less carbon
dioxide and water for photosynthesis, resulting in reduced food and chloroplasts production, but such hypothesis remains untested.
The objective of the present study compared the stomata density (essential for obtaining carbon dioxide and water molecules)
and leaf chlorophyll concentration (essential for photosynthesis) of fouled and non-fouled (control) of seedlings, juveniles
and adults of the mangroves Kandelia obovata, in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The seedlings and juveniles of the dominant mangrove plant species, Kandelia obovata, in Hong Kong and Taiwan had a higher density of stomata but a lower chlorophyll concentration in the leaves, when the trunks
and twigs were fouled by the barnacle Fistulobalanus albicostatus. Fouled K. obovata appears to develop more stomata in the leaves to compensate the blocking effect of the lenticel from barnacle fouling. As
fouling impacts the gaseous exchange ability of mangroves, fouled plants could obtain less carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis,
resulting in reduced food and chloroplasts production. Fouled adult plants, however, had variable responses in leaf chlorophyll
concentrations among the study sites, suggesting adults were more tolerant of barnacle fouling. The present study reveals
seedling and juvenile mangrove plants are very susceptible to barnacle fouling, which impedes the gaseous exchange mechanism
and food production, which can subsequently result in reduced growth, fitness and survival.
Handling editor: P. Viaroli |
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Keywords: | Barnacles Mangrove Chlorophyll concentration Stomata density |
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