In Florida, mangroves have responded to climate change by slowly migrating northward into traditional salt marsh habitat. However, little is understood about the relationships among mangrove growth form plasticity and environmental conditions. In addition, the effects of the mangrove northward expansion on pre-existing salt marsh communities are unknown, especially any influences of differences in tree morphology. The size, canopy structure, and root structure of the three mangrove species Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, and Laguncularia racemosa were measured at six sites along the east coast of Florida. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the multivariate relationships between environmental and biotic variables. Mangrove growth form varied widely with environmental variables. The results of this study suggest that R. mangle expansion into salt marsh may rely on interactions with salt marsh and shading as well as on climatic variables, which has implications for future mangrove expansion northward in Florida. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

La situation des mangroves dans le monde reste préoccupante malgré la prise de conscience de leur rôle dans le maintien de la biodiversité côtière. Les pratiques non durables de l’aquaculture extensive sont toujours majoritairement mises en cause. Le besoin d’une meilleure gestion côtière se fait sentir depuis une vingtaine d’années. Il faut reconnaitre que les avancées restent insuffisantes, particulièrement en Indonésie. Ce travail de thèse a été réalisé dans le cadre du projet INDESO. Ses objectifs étaient de décrire les changements dans les mangroves en termes de superficie, de structuration ou de composition spécifique afin d’étudier, à fine échelle spatiale, la diversité des peuplements de palétuviers, leur capacité de régénération et les tendances d’évolution de l’écosystème. Pour cela, j’ai utilisé 28 images satellitaires de télédétection optique à très haute résolution spatiale (THRS) acquises dans la période de 2001 à 2015 sur deux sites d’étude, Bali, Indonésie. J’ai participé aux inventaires forestiers et à l’identification des espèces de palétuviers du stade plantule au stade adulte. J’ai procédé par analyse visuelle des images pour différencier les plantations de palétuviers des forêts naturelles. J’ai examiné les différences entre les signatures spectrales des différentes formations de palétuviers en fonction des configurations angulaires. J’ai réalisé sur chaque image une classification supervisée qui m’a permis de comptabiliser avec une précision de quelques mètres carrés la superficie occupée par les mangroves et d’évaluer la robustesse d’une cartographie à fine échelle de zonations de mangroves.Les résultats obtenus sur l’estuaire du Perancak dégradé par l’aquaculture montrent que la surface de mangrove augmente après 2001 mais que les pratiques de plantations dans cette région n’ont rien à voir avec la réhabilitation de mangroves. Des différences majeures entre plantations et forêts naturelles existent. Ces plantations sont des cultures à très forte densité de Rhizophora, alors que les faciès naturels sont dominés par Avicennia et Sonneratia. Nos résultats montrent que la capacité de régénération dans ces plantations reste très inférieure à celle observée dans les forêts naturelles et que, si régénération il y a, c’est avec des plantules des espèces natives. A partir de l’analyse des imges, nous avons identifié les 136 bassins qui ont fait l’objet de plantations et donné l’année du semis. Le suivi de l’évolution du nombre de pixels classés ‘mangrove’ à l’intérieur de chaque bassin planté montre une grande variabilité des taux d’expansion sur 14 ans, ceci suggérant des conditions environnementales spécifiques à chaque bassin et donc l’inconséquence des pratiques généralisées de plantations à Rhizophora. Enfin, les capacités de colonisation des espèces natives y compris à l’intérieur de certains bassins semblent avérées dans cet estuaire pourtant très fragmenté. Les résultats obtenus sur les mangroves protégées de la région de Nusa Lembongan montrent le potentiel des images multi-spectrales satellitaires THRS pour cartographier différentes zonations de mangroves. Ce potentiel de discrimination est observé assez stable au cours du temps entre 4 espèces. Toutefois, des configurations angulaires avec un soleil de face ou un angle de visée proche de la verticale pourraient générer de la confusion notamment sur les peuplements à canopée ouverte. Nous avons obtenu probablement les premières cartes de mangrove de Nusa Lembongan qui montrent la complexité des zonations forestières et soutiennent l’enjeu de leur protection.L’ensemble de mon travail plaide pour une meilleure interprétation physique de la variabilité des signatures spectrales et texturales de mangrove. Il fournit des recommandations comme la nécessité d’un moratoire sur les monocultures à Rhizophora et des méthodes simples, embryons de futurs observatoires locaux pour l’évaluation et le suivi des plans de gestion côtière mis en place. / The situation of world’s mangroves remains a matter of concern, despite the public awareness about their role in the sustainability of coastal biodiversity. Extensive and intensive aquaculture practies are mainly called into question. The need for a better integrated coastal zone management arises since a couple of decades. It must be recognized that progress is insufficient especially in Indonesia.The present PhD work has been carried out in the frame of the INDESO project. The objective was to describe mangrove changes in terms of area expansion, forest structure and species composition before studying, at fine scales, the diversity of mangrove stands, their regeneration capacity and the evolution trends of the whole ecosystem in a given region.In order to achieve this aim, i used 28 very high spatial resolution (VHSR) optical satellite images aquired between 2001 and 2015. I also participated in forest inventories and species identification from the seedling to the adult stages. I visually analysed the set of images for allowing the discrimination of planted mangroves from natural ones. I examined the influence of acquisition geometry parameters on the variability of mangrove spectral signatures. Thanks to supervised maximum likelihood classifications, I succeeded in evaluating the expansion area of mangrove with an accurracy of few square meters and I proceeded in assessing the robustness of fine scale mapping of mangrove zonations.Results obtained in the analysis of the Perancak estuary highlighted that mangrove area is expanding since 2001. The plantation practices were however presented as disrespectful of any sustainable management plan. Indeed, our simple field data indicated strong differences between mangrove plantations and natural forests. Plantations were shown to be cultures of only Rhizophora species with high planting density whereas natural forest stands are composed of Sonneratia and Avicennia mangrove trees. In addition, we highlighted that the regeneration capacity in planted areas remains very lower than the ones clearly observed in natural areas. Moreover, the only regenetive process in plantations seems to be with native species and not with the planted ones. From the analysis of the VHSR images, we identified aquaculture ponds that were planted and their planting year. Consequently, we suceeded in monitoring the mangrove expansion inside every planted pond. Important variability of expansion rate was pointed out, this suggesting contrasting environments in each pond and the inadequacy of cultures of Rhizophora everywhere. The observation of natural colonization in many areas of the estuary, pond floors included, was an interesting point to mention.Besides, results obtained in the study of the protected mangrove region of Nusa Lembongan assessed the potential of multispectral VHSR satellite images for mapping mangrove zonations. Four mangrove zonations mainly dominated by different species exhibit signatures that can be differentiated over years. Different image acquisition parameters may, however, generate confusion in classification. This is particularyly true when forest stands with open canopies are observed with sun frontward or with a near vertical viewing angle because of sun light interaction with the clear waters. We probably obtained the first detailed maps of mangrove zonations in the region. They showed a complex spatial organization of mangrove zonations.The whole of my work advocated for further remote sensing works aiming at the physical interpretation of spectral and textural signatures of mangroves. It provided recommendations such as a moratorium onf Rhizophora plantation and simple methods that will be, we hope, starting points for closing the knowledge gap that hampers monitoring of future coastal zone management plans.

Mangrove ecosystems thrive in (sub)tropical, intertidal areas where adaptations<p>like vivipary and the hydrochorous dispersal of propagules become an absolute<p>necessity. As propagule dispersal and early growth allow for the replenishment of<p>existing stands and colonization of new habitats, many authors recognize the<p>importance of these stages in structuring mangrove populations and communities.<p>However, when it comes to the actual propagule dispersal and recruitment<p>mechanisms, there is an apparent lacuna in the current understanding of<p>mangrove ecology. The period between the mature propagule falling from the<p>parental mangrove tree and the early growth of the established seedling, under<p>various possible circumstances, remains in the dark. In this study we focus on this<p>particular period by investigating both the places where these propagules end up<p>as the pathways their dispersal units follow. And we go one step further.<p><p>Mangrove forests are being destroyed worldwide at a threatening pace despite<p>their tremendous asset to coastal human communities and associated biological<p>species. The effect of human-induced (cutting and mangrove conversion to<p>aquaculture ponds) as well as indirectly and/or ‘naturally’ evolving disturbances<p>(sea level rise) on propagule hydrochory occupies an important place in this study.<p><p>Dispersal of water-buoyant propagules of the family Rhizophoraceae and<p>Acanthaceae (now including the Avicenniaceae) was studied in Gazi Bay (Kenya),<p>Galle and the Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex (Sri Lanka). The study sites<p>differ both in tidal regime and vegetation structure, covering an interesting variety<p>of ecological settings to examine propagule dispersal. Field data and experiments<p>ranging from micro/ mesotopographical measurements and successive propagule<p>counts to hydrodynamic and propagule dispersal experiments were collected or<p>executed in situ.<p><p>Two main methodological approaches were employed. Firstly, the question on<p>mechanisms of propagule recruitment was addressed by statistically investigating<p>the effect of microtopography, top soil texture and above-ground-root complexes on<p>the stranding and self-planting of propagules (Chapter 2&3). Afterwards,<p>suitability maps were created using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to<p>assess whether a particular mangrove stand has the ability to succesfully<p>rejuvenate. Furthermore, the effect of degradation (tree cutting) (Chapter 2&3),<p>sea level rise (Chapter 2&4) and microtopography-altering burrowing activities of<p>the mangrove mud lobster Thalassina anomala (Chapter 3), was incoporated in the<p>GIS-analyses. Secondly, the combined set-up of hydrodynamic modelling and<p>ecological dispersal modelling was developed to simulate propagule dispersal<p>pathways influenced by dispersal vectors (tidal flow, fresh water discharge, wind),<p>trapping agents (retention by vegetation or aerial root complexes) and seed<p>characteristics (buoyancy, obligated dispersal period) (Chapter 5&6). This type of<p>approach provided the possibility to explore propagule dispersal within its<p>ecological context, but was also applied to an implication of shrimp pond area<p>restoration (Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex, Sri Lanka) (Chapter 5) and to<p>evaluate changes in propagule dispersal when sea level rises (Gazi Bay, Kenya)<p>(Chapter 6).<p><p>The main findings regarding propagule recruitment indicate that propagules are<p>not distributed equally or randomly within a mangrove stand, yet species-specific<p>distribution for anchorage occurs. Characteristics of the environment<p>(microtopography, top soil texture and above-ground root complex) influence<p>propagule recruitment in a way that complex root systems (e.g. pencil roots and<p>prop roots) facilitate the entanglement of dispersal units and a more compact soil<p>texture (like clay and silt) and a predominant flat topography creates suitable<p>areas for stranding and self-planting of propagules. This combines effects of<p>existing vegetation and abiotic factors on mangrove propagule establishment.<p>Since propagule dispersal is not solely determined by species-specific propagule<p>characteristics (e.g. buoyancy, longevity, etc.), I emphasize that propagule sorting<p>by hydrochory has to be viewed within its ecological context. Propagule retention<p>by vegetation and wind as a dispersal vector, deserve a prominent role in studies<p>on propagule dispersal. The significance of dense vegetation obstructing long<p>distance dispersal (LDD in its definition of this work), mainly in inner mangrove<p>zones, supports our main finding that propagule dispersal is largely a short<p>distance phenomenon. ‘Largely’ is here understood as quantitatively, not<p>excluding epic colonization events of rare but important nature.<p>In accordance with the Tidal Sorting Hypothesis (TSH) of Rabinowitz (1978a),<p>smaller, oval-shaped propagules were found to disperse over larger distances than<p>bigger, torpedo-shaped propagules. We can however not fully support the TSH<p>because (1) these differences are no longer valid when comparing between torpedoshaped<p>propagules of different sizes and (2) propagule dispersal is not always<p>directed towards areas more inland, but can be strongly concentrated towards the<p>edges of lagoons and channels<p><p>Anthropogenic pressure on mangrove ecosystems, more specifically clear-felling or<p>mangrove conversion to aquaculture ponds, imposes limitations on propagule<p>recruitment due to reduced propagule availability and a decrease in suitable<p>stranding areas where the architecture of certain root complexes, like prop roots<p>and pencil roots, function as propagule traps. These types of pressure appear to<p>have more severe consequences on propagule dispersal than the effect of sea level<p>rise on mangroves. Mangrove forests, which are not situated in an obviously<p>vulnerable setting, can be resilient to a relative rise in sea level if a landward shift<p>of vegetation assemblages and successful early colonization is not obstructed by<p>human-induced pressures. Also, and this renders mangrove forests vulnerable in<p>spite of their intrinsic resilience, when the ‘capital’ of forest is severely reduced or<p>impoverished as happens extensively worldwide, the ‘interest’ on this capital,<p>understood as propagule availability, delivery and trapping, will not allow them to<p>efficiently cope with sea level rise, putting sustainability of mangrove ecosystem<p>services and goods at risk.<p><p>In a larger framework of mangrove vegetation dynamics, knowledge on propagule<p>dispersal will benefit management strategies for the conservation of mangroves<p>worldwide, besides its fundamental interest to fully fathom the ecology of this<p>particular marine-terrestrial ecotone formation. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Folded map in pocket Bibliography: leaves 136-143

Mangroves are intertidal ecosystems found along the tropical and subtropical coastlines.<p>Though globally recognised as ecosystems of ecological, biological and economical<p>remarkable importance, these ecotone formations are characterised by a continuously<p>increasing anthropization. However, very little studies have been focused on the impact of<p>various anthropogenic activities on the mangrove vegetation structure.<p>We have firstly (a) assessed the commercial and subsistence utilization of mangrove<p>wood products in the Littoral region (Cameroon estuary). Then, we have confronted the<p>subsistence usages of mangrove wood products in the Southern region (close to the mouth of<p>the Nyong River and Mpalla village (Kribi)) in comparison with the Littoral region. By doing,<p>we have compared the local residents‟ perceptions on environmental changes that occurred<p>within the two regional mangrove forests. Also, we have (c) studied the structural dynamic of<p>mangrove vegetation neighbouring the Douala city (Cameroon). Always in the vicinity of this<p>town, we have (d) reconstructed the original structure of largely disturbed mangrove forests.<p>Moreover, we have (e) map the mangrove structure in a non peri-urban setting located within<p>the Cameroon estuary. Here, we have finally (f) analysed the spatial distribution of a black<p>mangrove namely Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn.<p>Our results underlined an excessive utilization of mangrove wood products in the<p>Cameroon estuary. We have showed that the frequency of mangrove harvesting was relatively<p>fewer in Kribi (Mpalla) and the mouth of the Nyong River. The local people inhabiting these<p>two localities perceived mangroves as less degraded areas. In contrast, those established<p>within the Cameroon estuary stated that mangroves were largely disturbed. When combining<p>the local people statements with our field observations, we recorded that it a complex mix of<p>causes (e.i. clear-felled corridors, agriculture, sand and gravel extraction, over-harvesting and<p>anarchic urbanization) that have led to the largely degradation (vegetation and sediment) of<p>the peri-urban mangroves in Cameroon. A diachronic analysis (1974, 2003, 2009) of their<p>coverage revealed that over the 35-year period, mangrove had decreases in cover of 53.16%<p>around Douala. We have also showed that in the peri-urban settings, wood harvesting was<p>commonly applied on the structurally more complex (highly dense stands neighbouring the<p>habitations) mangrove forests (Mboussa Essengue) and, in a lesser extent, on the structurally<p>more developed mangrove stands (fewer dense stands faraway from Douala). On the other<p>hand, the mapping analysis of the non peri-urban mangroves (distant from Douala) has<p>revealed that the structure of these intertidal forests was relatively less impacted. In the<p>Cameroon estuary, we also showed that A. germinans trees were randomly distributed on<p>almost one-half of the sampling plots and clumped at some scales on the remaining plots.<p>Accordingly, this species might play a significant role in the recovery process of artificial<p>gaps found in the non peri-urban areas.<p>The multi-disciplinary approach employed in this study has allowed a better<p>understanding of the direct and indirect impacts of anthropogenic activities on the mangrove<p>vegetation structure in Cameroon. These results constitute a fundamental data base quite<p>useful for the multi-temporal monitoring of these littoral ecosystems perpetually disturbed.<p>The application of similar approach in other mangroves facing high anthropogenic pressures<p>appears important. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished