Decomposition of leaf and root litter of Avicennia marina at Westernport Bay,Victoria, Australia

After 3 days in sea water, leaching losses caused a 13% reduction in the weight of new leaf litter of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., and a 20% reduction of N, 35–40% of P, 60–85% of K, 30–40% of Mg and 0–12% of Ca. In the field, leaf litter in litter bags lost 80–90% of its initial weight and 89–99% of its initial K, 90–95% of its Mg, 85–90% of its P, 70–80% of its Ca and 60–80% of its N after 230–270 days. During this same period, Avicennia fibrous- and main-root litter in bags buried at a depth of 10–15 cm lost an average of 10–15% and 60% of their initial weight, respectively. Fibrous roots lost 80% of their K, 40–50% of their P, 15% of their N, 10–15% of their Mg and 5–10% of their Ca. Elemental losses from main roots ranged from 90% for K to 30% for Mg, with P, Ca and N losses of 70, 70 and 50%, respectively. Litter decomposition curves for leaf litter and fibrous-root litter begun at different times were not significantly different. A study with unbagged leaf litter indicated that crabs ate about 50% of the litter retained in the mangrove zone. Unbagged litter not eaten by crabs lost weight more rapidly than bagged litter because it lost leaf fragments more readily as it aged. We estimate from our studies and field observations that about 40% of the leaf litter produced each summer is exported from the mangrove zone in the form of whole leaves, particulate organic matter and dissolved organic matter. Root litter is neither exported from the mangrove zone nor eaten by crabs.