In situ degradation of mangrove tissues (note)

In situ degradation rates of feeder roots, pneumatophores, and leaves of the New Zealand mangrove Avicennia marina (Forsk) Vierh. var. resinifera (Forst. f) Bakh. are described. At the sediment‐water interface, leaves degrade faster than roots, which degrade faster than pneumatophores, whereas roots and pneumatophores immersed in sediment degrade at the same rate. However, roots and pneumatophores degrade faster at the sediment‐water interface than in sediment. Added nitrogen accelerates feeder root and pneumatophore degradation in sediment; added phosphorus has little influence on pneumatophore degradation but inhibits root degradation in sediment.