The influence of three mangrove species on the distribution of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in the Quanzhou Bay estuarine wetland soils

This study aims to investigate the effects of region and three regional dominated mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum and Kandelia candel) on the distribution of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus. Measurement of the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus and enzymatic activities was carried out in soils covered by three mangrove species in the Quanzhou Bay estuarine wetlands, a typical coastal wetland in China. Species with a higher biomass in upstream and midstream absorb more nitrogen from soils, and the retention of the available phosphorus in the soils of different regions causes the regional variation of phosphorus. In areas dominated by A. marina, nitrate nitrogen is lower while available phosphorus is higher. Meanwhile, nitrate nitrogen and available phosphorus are higher in the soils covered by K. candel. Moreover, all three species affect the elemental and enzymic stoichiometry. The mangrove species influences the diversity of the elemental and enzymic stoichiometric relationship through differential microenvironments, which induce the biodiversity of wetland ecosystems. Thus, this study may facilitate a better understanding of the transformation ability of mangroves to nitrogen and phosphorus and will therefore be beneficial for providing a basis for the ecological restoration of estuarine wetlands.     

Efficacy of alternative low-cost approaches to mangrove restoration,American Samoa

Three mangrove restoration methods were tested at Nu’uuli, Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Since clearing 27 years ago converted the mangrove into a mudflat, the ecosystem was sufficiently altered that it could not self-correct; the ecosystem showed no natural regrowth despite an ample supply of propagules. While several years of monitoring may ultimately be required to determine the project’s success, and several decades could be required to fully return the full suite of functions, the project’s low-cost, nontechnical restoration techniques, using readily available materials, have proven to be modestly successful, with 38% sapling survival after six months. Several years of monitoring will be necessary to determine if the restoration site’s small elevation deficit relative to a reference site ultimately requires modifying the site’s physical structure to correct the hydrology. Direct community participation in the project was critical to reduce the risk of human disturbance of the restoration site. One year project costs were about USD 2,150 or USD2,150 or USD 13,030 ha⁻¹. Labor comprised 84% of expenses; replicating the restoration project in developing countries would cost less due to lower wage levels. Six months after initial restoration activities, there was a highly significant difference betweenBruguiera gymnorrhiza andRhizophora mangle sapling survival, with 21% and 45% of the original 42R. mangle and 95B. gymnorrhiza saplings remaining, respectively. The lowerR. mangle survival may have resulted from an unavoidable need to source saplings from an area with different environmental conditions than the restoration site. Saplings were transplanted into tires filled with sediment as a simple, low-cost method to raise the elevation of the sediment surface. Saplings were also transplanted adjacent to rebar and without any support mechanism. There was no significant difference in sapling survival by treatment for individual or combined species. The restoration project is a model for the community-based, simple, low-cost approaches to ecological restoration needed in the region. Pilot projects using similar techniques may be worth pursuing at the other 15 Pacific Island countries and territories where mangroves are indigenous.     

Investigations of the availability and survival of submersed aquatic vegetation propagules in the tidal Potomac River

The establishment of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) at unvegetated sites in the freshwater tidal Potomac River was limited primarily by factors other than propagule availability. For two years, traps were used to quantify the amount of plant material reaching three unvegetated sites over the growing season. The calculated flux values provided a gross estimate of the flux of propagules that could potentially survive if other site factors were suitable. The mean flux ofHydrilla verticillata and all other species (≥0.01 gdw m^?2 d^?1) appeared sufficient to favor the establishment of vegetation, particularly considering the high viability (70–100%) of whole plants and fragments under controlled conditions. However, median water clarity values (i.e., for light attenuation, Secchi depth, total suspended solids, and chlorophylla) were below SAV restoration goals at all unvegetated sites. Additionally, sediments from unvegetated sites showed a potential for nitrogen limitation of the growth ofH. verticillata. Our findings support the hypothesis that in the tidal Potomac River, water clarity and nutrient (especially nitrogen) levels in sediment are key to plant community establishment.     

Analysis and Simulation of Propagule Dispersal and Salinity Intrusion from Storm Surge on the Movement of a Marsh–Mangrove Ecotone in South Florida

Coastal mangrove–freshwater marsh ecotones of the Everglades represent transitions between marine salt-tolerant halophytic and freshwater salt-intolerant glycophytic communities. It is hypothesized here that a self-reinforcing feedback, termed a “vegetation switch,” between vegetation and soil salinity, helps maintain the sharp mangrove–marsh ecotone. A general theoretical implication of the switch mechanism is that the ecotone will be stable to small disturbances but vulnerable to rapid regime shifts from large disturbances, such as storm surges, which could cause large spatial displacements of the ecotone. We develop a simulation model to describe the vegetation switch mechanism. The model couples vegetation dynamics and hydrologic processes. The key factors in the model are the amount of salt-water intrusion into the freshwater wetland and the passive transport of mangrove (e.g., Rhizophora mangle) viviparous seeds or propagules. Results from the model simulations indicate that a regime shift from freshwater marsh to mangroves is sensitive to the duration of soil salinization through storm surge overwash and to the density of mangrove propagules or seedlings transported into the marsh. We parameterized our model with empirical hydrologic data collected from the period 2000–2010 at one mangrove–marsh ecotone location in southwestern Florida to forecast possible long-term effects of Hurricane Wilma (24 October 2005). The model indicated that the effects of that storm surge were too weak to trigger a regime shift at the sites we studied, 50 km south of the Hurricane Wilma eyewall, but simulations with more severe artificial disturbances were capable of causing substantial regime shifts.     

Reproductive Ecology of Black Mangrove (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Avicennia germinans</Emphasis>) Along the Louisiana Coast: Propagule Production Cycles,Dispersal Limitations,and Establishment Elevations

Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) reproduces by producing propagules through the process of cryptovivipary, which requires a significant energy investment. We conducted a series of field and greenhouse studies to track propagule production in years of high and low disturbances (i.e., hurricanes), the effects of time and salinity on propagule dispersal potential, and the relationship between hydrology and propagule establishment elevations. Trees tended to produce greater numbers of propagules in years after hurricanes, and individual trees alternated the amount of energy they invested in reproduction in consecutive years. In the greenhouse, propagule buoyancy was affected by salinity with propagules in 36 remaining buoyant for over 110 days and establishment success decreasing with dispersal period length. Finally, a field survey across five sites in southeastern Louisiana revealed that the 2009 cohort of propagules established at significantly lower elevations than mature trees occurred. These findings elucidate some salient features of black mangrove reproductive biology in the northern portion of its North American distribution.     

Tropicalization of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Impacts of Salt Marsh Transition to Black Mangrove Dominance on Faunal Communities

The tropically associated black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) is expanding into salt marshes of the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). This species has colonized temperate systems dominated by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in Texas, Louisiana, Florida and, most recently, Mississippi. To date, little is known about the habitat value of black mangroves for juvenile fish and invertebrates. Here we compare benthic epifauna, infauna, and nekton use of Spartina-dominated, Avicennia-dominated, and mixed Spartina and black mangrove habitats in two areas with varying densities and ages of black mangroves. Faunal samples and sediment cores were collected monthly from April to October in 2012 and 2013 from Horn Island, MS, and twice yearly in the Chandeleur Islands, LA. Multivariate analysis suggested benthic epifauna communities differed significantly between study location and among habitat types, with a significant interaction between the two fixed factors. Differences in mangrove and marsh community composition were greater at the Chandeleurs than at Horn Island, perhaps because of the distinct mangrove/marsh ecotone and the high density and age of mangroves there. Infaunal abundances were significantly higher at Horn Island, with tanaids acting as the main driver of differences between study locations. We predict that if black mangroves continue to increase in abundance in the northern GOM, estuarine faunal community composition could shift substantially because black mangroves typically colonize shorelines at higher elevations than smooth cordgrass, resulting in habitats of differing complexity and flooding duration.     

Taraxerol and Rhizophora pollen as proxies for tracking past mangrove ecosystems

Angola Basin and Cape Basin (southeast Atlantic) surface sediments and sediment cores show that maxima in the abundance of taraxerol (relative to other land-derived lipids) covary with maxima in the relative abundance of pollen from the mangrove tree genus Rhizophora and that in the surface sediments offshore maxima in the relative abundance of taraxerol occur at latitudes with abundant coastal mangrove forests. Together with the observation that Rhizophora mangle and Rhizophora racemosa leaves are extraordinarily rich in taraxerol, this strongly indicates that taraxerol can be used as a lipid biomarker for mangrove input to the SE Atlantic. The proxy-environment relations for taraxerol and Rhizophora pollen down-core show that increased taraxerol and Rhizophora pollen abundances occur during transgressions and periods with a humid climate. These environmental changes modify the coastal erosion and sedimentation patterns, enhancing the extent of the mangrove ecosystem and/or the transport of mangrove organic matter offshore. Analyses of mid-Pleistocene sediments show that interruption of the pattern of taraxerol maxima during precession minima occurs almost only during periods of low obliquity. This demonstrates the complex environmental response of the interaction between precession-related humidity cycles and obliquity-related sea-level changes on mangrove input.     

Assessing Decomposition Rates of Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa Leaves in a Tropical Mangrove

Studies exploring leaf decomposition in mangroves in the Brazilian northeast are scarce. Therefore, in a mangrove of the Cachoeira River estuary at Ilhéus, Bahia, the decomposition of senescent leaves of Rhizophora mangle L. and Laguncularia racemosa Gaertn was studied. The litter-bag method and the Olson exponential model were applied to estimate the decomposition rates. The decay pattern of leaf material of both species was similar to those reported in the literature, with rapid initial weight loss, followed by a deceleration and period of slow weight loss. L. racemosa had the highest decay constants at all the study sites which suggest that their leaves are more easily degraded than those of R. mangle. The constantly submerged site presented the highest decay constants of 0.022 g g^?1 day^?1 for R. mangle and 0.031 g g^?1 day^?1 for L. racemosa. Most (95 %) of the leaf material of the two species was lost in 135 and 98 days, respectively. Benthic macrofauna organisms were recorded in the litter bags from the fifth day after the start of the experiment. Such organisms play a key role in the first phase of decomposition in this mangrove system. The decay constants of the leaf litter were generally higher than those reported in other tropical and subtropical regions. This suggests that differences in the process of decomposition are in response to environmental conditions at each location.     

Wetland-water column exchanges of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in a southern Everglades dwarf mangrove

We used enclosures to quantify wetland-water column nutrient exchanges in a dwarf red mangrove, (Rhizophora mangle L.) system near Taylor River, an important hydraulic linkage between the southern Everglades and eastern Florida Bay, Florida, USA. Circular enclosures were constructed around small (2.5–4 m diam) mangrove islands (n=3) and sampled quarterly from August 1996 to May 1998 to quantify net exchanges of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The dwarf mangrove wetland was a net nitrifying environment with consistent uptake of ammonium (6.6–31.4 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹) and release of nitrite +nitrate (7.1–139.5 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹) to the water column. Significant flux of soluble reactive phosphorus was rarely detected in this nutrient-poor, P-limited environment. We did observe recurrent uptake of total phosphorus and nitrogen (2.1–8.3 and 98–502 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively), as well as dissolved organic carbon (1.8–6.9 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹) from the water column. Total organic carbon flux shifted unexplainably from uptake, during Year 1, to export, during Year 2. The use of unvegetated (control) enclosures during the second year allowed us to distinguish the influence of mangrove vegetation from soil-water column processes on these fluxes. Nutrient fluxes in control chambers typically paralleled the direction (uptake or release) of mangrove enclosure fluxes, but not the magnitude. In several instances, nutrient fluxes were more than twofold greater in the absence of mangroves, suggesting an influence of the vegetation on wetland-water column processes. Our findings characterize wetland nutrient exchanges, in a mangrove forest type that has received such little attention in the past, and serve as baseline data for a system undergoing hydrologic restoration.     

Mangrove Range Expansion Rapidly Increases Coastal Wetland Carbon Storage

The climate change-induced expansion of mangroves into salt marshes could significantly alter the carbon (C) storage capacity of coastal wetlands, which have the highest average C storage per land area among unmanaged terrestrial ecosystems. Mangrove range expansion is occurring globally, but little is known about how these rapid climate-driven shifts may alter ecosystem C storage. Here, we quantify current C stocks in ecotonal wetlands across gradients of marsh- to mangrove-dominance, and use unique chronological maps of vegetation cover to estimate C stock changes from 2003 to 2010 in a 567-km² wildlife refuge in the mangrove-salt marsh ecotone. We report that over the 7-yr. period, total wetland C stocks increased 22 % due to mangrove encroachment into salt marshes. Newly established mangrove stands stored twice as much C on a per area basis as salt marsh primarily due to differences in aboveground biomass, and mangrove cover increased by 69 % during this short time interval. Wetland C storage within the wildlife refuge increased at a rate of 2.7 Mg C ha^?1 yr.^?1, more than doubling the naturally high coastal wetland C sequestration rates. Mangrove expansion could account for a globally significant increase of terrestrial C storage, which may exert a considerable negative feedback on warming.     

Impact and response of southwest Florida mangroves to the 2004 hurricane season

Although hurricane disturbance is a natural occurrence in mangrove forests, the effect of widespread human alterations on the resiliency of estuarine habitats is unknown. The resiliency of mangrove forests in southwest Florida to the 2004 hurricane season was evaluated by determining the immediate response of mangroves to a catastrophic hurricane in areas with restricted and unrestricted tidal connections. The landfall of Hurricane Charley, a category 4 storm, left pronounced disturbances to mangrove forests on southwest Florida barrier islands. A significant and negative relationship between canopy loss and distance from the eyewall was observed. While a species-specific response to the hurricane was expected, no significant differences were found among species in the size of severely impacted trees. In the region farthest from the eyewall, increases in canopy density indicated that refoliation and recovery occurred relatively quickly. There were no increases or decreases in canopy density in regions closer to the eyewall where there were complete losses of crown structures. In pre-hurricane surveys, plots located in areas of management concern (i.e., restricted connection) had significantly lower stem diameter at breast height and higher stem densities than plots with unrestricted connection. These differences partially dictated the severity of effect from the hurricane. There were also significantly lower red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedling densities in plots with restricted connections. These observations suggest that delays in forest recovery are possible in severely impacted areas if either the delivery of propagules or the production of seedlings is reduced by habitat fragmentation.     

Stand structure and productivity of the introducedRhizophora mangle in Hawaii

Since its introduction in the early part of this century,Rhizophora mangle L. has spread extensively through most of the main islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. We investigated the structural properties and estimated productivity of aR. mangle population at Nuupia Ponds Wildlife Management Area (NPWMA), on windward Oahu, where the mangroves were being controlled due to their propensity to overgrow archaeological sites and the habitat of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Mangroves within NPWMA were very dense (>24,000 trees ha⁻¹) and most were relatively small (only 3.3% of the trees were ≥10 cm DBH). Mean basal area, aboveground biomass, and number of seedlings were all high, at 37.2 m² ha⁻¹, 279 t (dry wt) ha⁻¹, and 121 m⁻², respectively. The seedling, density may be particularly unusual and appears to be due to extremely high rates of propagule, production coupled with low rates of propagule predation. Stand productivity was estimated by stem growth (allometry), litterfall, and a light attenuation approach to determining net canopy photosynthetic production. All three methods yielded estimates that are higher than previously, reported forR. mangle and comparable with estimates of highly productiveRhizophora spp.-dominated stands in Australia and Asia. The high density, biomass, and productivity of this stand relative to stands within the species' native range may be due to a combination of favorable site conditions, lack of competition from other woody plants, and very low rates of herbivory and propagule predation.     

Mangrove ecology,aquatic primary productivity,and fish community dynamics in the Teacapán-Agua Brava Lagoon-Estuarine system (Mexican Pacific)

Aquatic primary productivity, mangrove ecology, and fish community dynamics were investigated in the Teacapán-Agua Brava lagoon-estuarine system, the most extensive mangrove ecosystem on the Pacific coast of Mexico with three species of mangroves distributed heterogeneously (Laguncularia racemosa, Rhizophora mangle, andAvicennia germinans). Tree density was 3,203 trees ha^?1 and basal area was 14.0 m² ha^?1. Litterfall was 1,417 g m^?2 yr^?1, characteristic of a productive riverine forest. The degradation constant forLaguncularia racemosa leaves varied from 1.71 to 4.7 yr^?1 and mean annual net aquatic productivity was 0.41 g C m^?3 d^?1. There were high concentrations of humic substances (up to 150 mg l^?1) early in the wet season. Seasonal variations of the above parameters seemed closely related to the ecology of fish populations. There were 75 fish species distributed in two principal assemblages associated with wet and dry seasons. Diversity and biomass analysis indicated 18 dominant species. Total biomass of the community in this coastal system was estimated at 10 g wet wt m^?2. The highest biomass occurred in the wet season. The most common fish species wereMugil curema, Achirus mazatlanus, Galeichthys caerulescens, Arius liropus, Diapterus peruvianus, Lile stolifera, Centropomus robalito, andEucinostomus sp., all of which have fishery importance. Primary productivity and fish community ecology are controlled by habitat characteristics, river discharge, and climatic seasonality.     

Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Avicennia germinans</Emphasis> (Black Mangrove) and the Soil Microbial Community to Nitrogen Addition in a Hypersaline Wetland

The responses of dwarf black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) and components of the microbial community to the addition of nitrate over a 2-year period were examined. The field study was conducted in the Indian River Lagoon (Florida) in a mangrove-dominated impoundment that was established for purposes of mosquito control. The responses of mangroves to the regular addition of nitrate were insignificant or relatively minor compared to responses of the components of the microbial community. Denitrification rates, measured in the field and laboratory, increased significantly in fertilized plots and nitrous oxide emission rates were almost six times higher in fertilized plots. Nitrogen fixation was significantly lower in fertilized plots. Results suggest that mangrove systems in the N-limited Indian River Lagoon are likely to be long-term sinks for any increases in N loading.     

Tampa Bay Coastal Wetlands: Nineteenth to Twentieth Century Tidal Marsh-to-Mangrove Conversion

Currently, mangroves dominate the tidal wetlands of Tampa Bay, Florida, but an examination of historic navigation charts revealed dominance of tidal marshes with a mangrove fringe in the 1870s. This study's objective was to conduct a new assessment of wetland change in Tampa Bay by digitizing nineteenth century topographic and public land surveys and comparing these to modern coastal features at four locations. We differentiate between wetland loss, wetland gain through marine transgression, and a wetland conversion from marsh to mangrove. Wetland loss was greatest at study sites to the east and north. Expansion of the intertidal zone through marine transgression, across adjacent low-lying land, was documented primarily near the mouth of the bay. Generally, the bay-wide marsh-to-mangrove ratio reversed from 86:14 to 25:75 in 125?years. Conversion of marsh to mangrove wetlands averaged 72?% at the four sites, ranging from 52?% at Old Tampa Bay to 95?% at Feather Sound. In addition to latitudinal influences, intact wetlands and areas with greater freshwater influence exhibited a lower rate of marsh-to-mangrove conversion. Two sources for nineteenth century coastal landscape were in close agreement, providing an unprecedented view of historic conditions in Tampa Bay.     

Nutrient stoichiometry and eutrophication in Indian mangroves

Stoichiometry of dissolved nutrients in five important mangrove ecosystems of India (Sundarban, Bhitarkanika, Coringa, Pichavaram and Mangalavanam) was analyzed to describe the ecological and nutrient status of the inter-tidal mangroves in response to increasing human perturbations. The stoichiometric proportions of dissolved nutrients in mangroves highly deviated from the standard Redfield ratio (Si:N:P = 16:16:1), primarily because of the allochthonous nutrients derived from anthropogenic activities. In all mangroves, Si:N ratios were >1, which indicates that high silica is supplied from the terrestrial weathering to mangrove waters. Despite high phosphate loadings along with nitrogen from both point and non-point sources to mangrove waters, N:P ratios (Sundarban 11.43; Bhitarkanika 6.48; Coringa, 5.46; Pichavaram, 7.31 and Mangalavanam 4.64) demonstrate that phosphorus was a limiting nutrient in all mangrove ecosystems. The long-term nutrient analysis in Pichavaram mangrove water explains that the significant increase in dissolved nutrients since the 1980s is mainly derived from non-point sources (e.g., agriculture, aquaculture, etc.) that alter biogeochemical processes in this ecosystem. This study clearly reports that the ecological status of the Indian sub-continent mangroves is highly disturbed by anthropogenic impacts. Therefore, an appraisal of the nutrient ratios and sufficiency in mangroves facilitated an understanding of the current environmental conditions of coastal ecosystems, which further led to the proposal of the long-term observational research coupled with modeling to develop sustainable management strategies for conservation and restoration of mangroves.     

Habitat Affects Survival of Translocated Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say 1822), in Lower Chesapeake Bay

Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) populations existed in Chesapeake Bay until 1933, when they declined dramatically due to a loss of seagrass habitat. Since then, there have been no documented populations within the Bay. However, some anecdotal observations of live bay scallops within the lower Bay suggest that restoration of the bay scallop is feasible. We therefore tested whether translocated adults of the southern bay scallop, Argopecten irradians concentricus, could survive during the reproductive season in vegetated and unvegetated habitats of the Lynnhaven River sub-estuary of lower Chesapeake Bay in the absence of predation. Manipulative field experiments evaluated survival of translocated, caged adult scallops in eelgrass Zostera marina, macroalgae Gracilaria spp., oyster shell, and rubble plots at three locations. After a 3-week experimental period, scallop survival was high in vegetated habitats, ranging from 98% in their preferred habitat, Z. marina, to 90% in Gracilaria spp. Survival in Z. marina was significantly higher than that in rubble (76%) and oyster shell (78%). These findings indicate that reproductive individuals can survive in vegetated habitats of lower Chesapeake Bay when protected from predators and that establishment of bay scallop populations within Chesapeake Bay may be viable.     

Coupling near-surface geomorphology with mangrove community diversity at the estuarine scale: A case study at Dongzhaigang Bay,China

Coastal wetlands are key features of the Earth's surface and are characterized by a diverse array of coupled geomorphological and biological processes. However, the links between the distribution of biodiversity (for example, species and structural diversity) and the formation of coastal geomorphology are not well-understood on a landscape scale most useful to coastal zone managers. This study describes the relationship between select geomorphological and biological mangrove community features (i.e. species composition and functional root type) in a landscape-distributed coastal zone of Dongzhaigang Bay, north-eastern Hainan Island, China. A total of 11 mangrove species and five functional aerial root types were encountered, with the location of species by root types being controlled by the elevation of the soil surface. Plank roots, prop roots and pneumatophores occupied the lowest intertidal elevations, while knee roots and fibrous roots of the mangrove fern, Acrostichum aureum, preferred the highest intertidal elevations. Surface sediment deposition in areas with mangroves was greater than deposition in non-mangrove forest zones, establishing an important biological mechanism for this large-area response because surface erosion/compaction was also more prominent within mangrove roots. Indeed, functional root type influenced the magnitude of deposition, erosion and compaction, with knee roots and pneumatophores being more effective in promoting deposition and preventing surface erosion/compaction than prop roots. These results indicate a potential role for vegetation type (especially functional root type) to influence coastal geomorphological processes at large landscape scales. While soil surface elevation is correlated to the distribution of mangrove species and functional root types, a significant feedback exists between elevation change and the capacity of those root types to influence coastal geomorphological differentiation within sustainable intertidal elevations. An enhanced understanding of geomorphological development, mangrove species distribution and functional root type may improve management to support nature-based solutions that adjust more effectively to sea-level rise through feedbacks.     

Phytoplankton production and seasonal biomass variation of seagrass,Ruppia maritima L., in a tropical Mexican lagoon with an ephemeral inlet

Plankton metabolism andRuppia maritima biomass were measured seasonally during 1982–83 in El Verde Lagoon, a small coastal lagoon with an ephemeral inlet on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Total net aquatic primary production was 521 g C m^?2 y^?1. The water column was slightly heterotrophic, with an annual P/R ratio of 0.89. Our analysis indicates that tropical and subtropical coastal lagoons with restricted or seasonal inlets have generally higher net aquatic primary productivity levels than lagoons with permanently open inlets. We hypothesize that this is due to retention of nutrients and plankton stocks during the dry season. The seasonal pattern of water column metabolism was related to rainfall and riverflow, with higher values generally occurring during the wet season. Net production and respiration were about three times lower during the 1982 dry season as compared to the 1983 dry season which received considerable rains due to abnormal climatic conditions. The biomass ofR. maritima ranged from zero to 620 g dry wt m^?2. Growth occurred only during the dry season and there were two distinct biomass peaks representing two separate crops. The second crop was heavily epiphytized with nitrogen-fixing algae. There was an apparent succession in dominance of water column productivity over the year, withRuppia dominating during the dry season and phytoplankton more important during the wet season.