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Recruitment, mortality and growth of mangrove (Rhizophora sp.) seedlings in Ulugan Bay, Palawan, Philippines

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Abstract

Propagule dispersal, establishment and recruitment to the sapling stage are critical steps in the life cycle of mangroves. Specific (i.e., per capita) rates of recruitment and mortality, and the growth rates of Rhizophora seedlings in three mangrove stands in Ulugan Bay (Palawan, Philippines) were estimated between March 1999 and February 2001. Recruitment and mortality were variable in space and time, with mortality exceeding rates of recruitment at all sites. The specific rates of seedling recruitment and mortality were higher in Buenavista (0.66 year−1 and −1.67 year−1) than in Umalagan (0.05 year−1 and −0.33 year−1) and Oyster Bay (0.13 year−1 and −0.24 year−1). The annual rate of production of internodes by the main stem was similar at the three sites (5.4–5.5 internodes year−1), but the annual rate of elongation of the main stem was higher in Buenavista (10.6 cm year−1) than in Oyster Bay (7.6 cm year−1) and Umalagan (5.6 cm year−1).

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Acknowledgments

This study was performed within the framework of the PREDICT project, funded by the INCO-DC program of the European Commission (contract number, ERBIC18-CT98-0292). We thank Glenda Gollod and the kids at Palawan State University (Mai, Sweetie, Agnes, Aris, Daniel, and Roy) for assistance in the field, Tutu Almonte and Mayor Hagedorn and his staff at Rita Island for accommodation, Jens Borum for the elemental analysis of the leaves, and the seagrass laboratory staff at MSI Zayda, Day, Hildie, Napo and Roger, and Mike Mapa for enduring support. We thank the comments of the reviewers and Dr. M.C. Ball which helped us to improve former versions of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Institute, College of Sciences, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines

    C. Padilla & M. D. Fortes

  2. IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Grupo de Oceanografía Interdisciplinar, Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, Miquel Marqués 21, Esporles, 07190, Mallorca, Spain

    C. M. Duarte  & J. Terrados

  3. Freshwater Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Helsingørsgade 51, 3400, Hillerød, Denmark

    L. Kamp-Nielsen

Authors
  1. C. Padilla
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  2. M. D. Fortes
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  3. C. M. Duarte
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  4. J. Terrados
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  5. L. Kamp-Nielsen
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Correspondence to J. Terrados.

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Padilla, C., Fortes, M.D., Duarte , C.M. et al. Recruitment, mortality and growth of mangrove (Rhizophora sp.) seedlings in Ulugan Bay, Palawan, Philippines. Trees 18, 589–595 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0351-x

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