Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) reproduction and seedling colonization after hurricane charley: Comparisons of Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay

  • Published:
Estuaries and Coasts Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Reproductive aspects of life history are known to be important in recovery following disturbance in many plant species although this has not been well studied in mangroves. Hurricane Charley devastated large areas of mangroves in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, in August 2004. We surveyed 6 forests in Charlotte Harbor (2002, 2003, and 2005) and 16 in Tampa Bay, Florida (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005) for total numbers of reproducing trees and trees heterozygotic for albinism that produce both normal and albino propagules. Tree size (estimated height and diameter at breast height) was also recorded for sentinel heterozygotic trees. Total number of reproducing trees km−1 was used as an index of reproductive output of the population, and deviation from the 3∶1 (normal:albino propagules) ratio on heterozygotic trees expected with 100% selfing was used to estimate outcrossing. Numbers ofRhizophora mangle reproducing trees km−1 of shoreline in Charlotte Harbor were reduced by an order of magnitude following Hurricane Charley, while numbers of reproducing trees in Tampa Bay were similar to those of previous years. Reduced reproduction in Charlotte Harbor was accompanied by fewer new recruits in plots on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Numbers of new recruits after the storm also tended to be fewer in plots where canopy loss was greater. More new recruits occurred in sites that had higher densities of pre-stormRhizophora seedlings and greater relative dominance byRhizophora. Outcrossing of sentinel trees was 2.5 times greater, in Charlotte Harbor (mean site−1=33.6±6.7%; with 17% of forest sites completely selfing) than in Tampa Bay (mean site−1=13.4±4.7%; with 40% of sites completely selfing), although the implications for seedling recruitment of this difference are not known.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Baldwin, A., M. Egnotovich, M. Ford, andW. Platt. 2001. Regeneration in fringe mangrove forests damaged by Hurricane Andrew.Plant Ecology 157:149–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnette, S. C. H. andB. C. Husband. 1990. The genetics of plant migration and colonization, p. 254–281.In A. H. D. Brown, M. T. Clegg, A. L. Kahler, and B. S. Weir (eds.), Plant Population Genetics, Breeding, and Genetic Resources. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruno, J. F. andM. D. Bertness. 2001. Habitat modification and facilitation in benthic marine communities, p. 201–218.In M. D. Bertness, S. D. Gaines, and M. E. Hay (eds.), Marine Community Ecology. Sinaeur Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahoon, D. R., P. Hensel, J. Rybczyk, K. L. McKee, C. E. Proffitt. andB. C. Perez. 2003. Mass tree mortality leads to mangrove peat collapse at Bay Islands, Honduras after Hurricane Mitch.Journal of Ecology 91:1093–1105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, P. J. andR. A. Kerrigan. 2000. Do forest gaps influence the population structure and species composition of mangrove stands in northern Australia.Biotropica 32:642–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dayton, P. K. 1972. Toward an understanding of community resilience and the potential effects of enrichments to the benthos at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, p. 81–96.In B. C. Parker (ed.), Proceedings of the Colloquium and Conservation Problems in Antarctica. Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devlin, D. J. 2004. Effects ofCoccotrypes rhizophorae on the population and community structure of forests dominated byRhizophora mangle in Florida. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, K. R., C. E. Proffitt, andS. E. Travis. 2005. Ecological and genetic impacts of a large-scale marsh dieback onSpartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) in the northern Gulf of Mexico.Estuaries 28:204–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, A. M. andE. J. Farnsworth. 1993. Seedling survivorship, growth, and response to disturbance in Belizean mangal.American Journal of Botany 80:1137–1145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feller, I. C., D. F. Whigham, K. L. McKee, andC. E. Lovelock. 2003. Nitrogen limitation of growth and nutrient dynamics in a disturbed mangrove forest, Indian River Lagoon, Florida.Oecologia 134:405–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwillie, C., S. Kalisz, andC. G. Eckert. 2005. The evolutionary enigma of mixed mating systems in plants: Occurrence, theoretical explanations, and empirical evidence.Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 36:47–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hensel, P. and C. E. Proffitt. 2003. Hurricane Mitch: Acute impacts on mangrove forest structure and an evaluation of recovery trajectories. Biological Resources Discipline, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 03-182, Washington, D.C.

  • Lowenfeld, R. C. andE. Klekowski. 1992. Mangrove genetics. I. Mating system and mutation rates ofRhizophora mangle in Florida and San Salvador Island, Bahamas.International Journal of Plant Science 153:394–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuinness, K. A. 1997. Seed predation in a tropical mangrove forest: A test of the dominance-predation model in northern Australia.Journal of Tropical Ecology 13:293–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKee, K. L. 1993. Determinants of mangrove species distribution in neotropical forests: Biotic and abiotic factors affecting seedling survival and growth. Ph.D. Dissertation, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKee, K. L. 1995. Interspecific variation in growth, biomass partitioning, and defensive characteristics of neotropical mangrove seedlings: Response to light and nutrient availability.American Journal of Botany 82:299–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKee, K. L., I. A. Mendelssohn, andM. W. Hester. 1988. Reexamination of pore water sulfide concentrations and redox potentials near the aerial roots ofRhizophora mangle andAvicennia germinans.American Journal of Botany 4:1352–1359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milbrandt, E. C., J. M. Greenawalt, andS. A. Bortone. 2006. Impact and Response of Southwest Florida mangroves to the 2004 Hurricane Season.Estuaries and Coasts 29:979–984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minchinton, T. E. 2001. Canopy and substratum heterogeneity influence recruitment of the mangroveAvicennia marina.Journal of Ecology 89:888–902.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proffitt, C. E., R. Chiasson, A. Owens, K. R. Edwards, andS. E. Travis. 2005. Facilitation and suppression of high marsh species bySpartina alterniflora in an early successional salt marsh.Journal of Ecology 93:404–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proffitt, C. E. andD. J. Devlin. 2005. Long-term growth and succession in restored and natural mangrove forests in southwestern Florida.Wetlands Ecology and Management 13:531–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proffitt, C. E. andS. E. Travis. 2005. Albino mutation rates in red mangroves as a bioassay of contamination history in Tampa Bay, Florida.Wetlands 25:326–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proffitt, C. E., S. Travis, andK. Edwards. 2003. Genotype and elevation influenceSpartina alterniflora colonization and growth in a created marsh.Ecological Applications 13:180–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seliskar, D. M., J. L. Gallagher, D. M. Burdick, andL. A. Mutz. 2002. The regulation of ecosystem function by ecotypic variation in the dominant plant: ASpartina alterniflora saltmarsh case study.Journal of Ecology 90:1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sengupta, R., B. Middleton, C. Yan Mzuro, andH. Hartman. 2005. Landscape characteristics ofRhizophora mangle forests and propagule deposition in coastal environments of Florida.Landscape Ecology 20:63–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, R. E., T. J. Fahey, andJ. J. Battles. 2000. Small scale disturbance and regeneration dynamics in a neotropical mangrove forest.Journal of Ecology 88:165–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silvertown, J. 1987. Introduction to Plant Population Ecology, 1st edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, III,T. J. 1987. Effects of light and intertidal position on seedling survival and growth in tropical tidal forests.Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 110:133–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, III,T. J., M. B. Roblee, H. R. Wanless, andT. Doyle. 1994. Mangroves, hurricanes, and lightening strikes: Assessment of Hurricane Andrew suggests an interaction across two differing scales of disturbance.BioScience 44:256–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, W. P., S. P. Quek, andB. J. Mitchell. 2003. Regeneration ofRhizophora mangle in a Caribbean mangrove forest: Interacting effects of canopy disturbance and a stem boring beetle.Oecologia 137:436–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SYSTAT. 2002. SYSTAT for Windows, version 10.2. SYSTAT Software, Inc., Richmond, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teas, H. andS. Handler. 1979. Notes on the pollination biology ofRhizophora mangle L.Proceedings of the International Symposium on Mangrove Biogeography and Evolution in the Southern Hemisphere 2:357–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson, P. B. 1986. The Botany of Mangroves, 1st edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Travis, S. E., C. E. Proffitt, andK. Ritland. 2004. Population structure and inbreeding vary with successional stage in createdSpartina alterniflora marshes.Ecological Applications 14:1189–1202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, c/o Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, 5600 U.S. 1 North, 34946, Fort Pierce, Florida

    C. Edward Proffitt

  2. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, 900A Tarpon Bay Road, 33957, Sanibel, Florida

    Eric C. Milbrandt

  3. U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, 700 Cajundome Boulevard, 70506, Lafayette, Louisiana

    Steven E. Travis

Authors
  1. C. Edward Proffitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eric C. Milbrandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Steven E. Travis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Edward Proffitt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Edward Proffitt, C., Milbrandt, E.C. & Travis, S.E. Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) reproduction and seedling colonization after hurricane charley: Comparisons of Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Estuaries and Coasts: J ERF 29, 972–978 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02798658

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02798658

Keywords

Search

Navigation