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| Publication Type | J |
| Authors | Ukpong, I. |
| Title | Relation between vegetation, soil nutrient content and salinity in an estuarine mangrove swamp in West Africa |
| Source | Polish Journal of Ecology |
| Abstract | The vegetation, nutrient status and salinity variation of soils from a mangrove swamp in West Africa were studied. Nypa fruticans was the dominant species of the tree layer, in association with Rhizophora spp, and Avicennia africana. The fern Acrostichum aureum dominated the ground layer. The soils had a high cation exchange capacity (21.8-53.6 me cntdot 100 g-1), with magnesium and calcium as the predominant cations. Lowest values occurred in Nypa fruticans soils while highest values occurred in Avicennia/Rhizophora mangle soils. Phosphorus values were high for Pandanus and Raphia soil (10.5-18.9 ugml-1). High levels of total nitrogen (0.13-1.16%) were restricted to Pandanus soils. Salinity gradients were accounted for by seasonal freshwater inputs and subsurface seepage. Apart fron variation in phosphorus and organic carbon, the nutrient content of the soils showed little relationship to community assemblages and should be related to such habitat variables as tidal inundation, physiography, climate and soil drainage. |
| ISSN | 1505-2249 |
| ISBN | 1505-2249 |
| Year Published | 1998 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Beginning Page | 65-73 |
| Unique Article Identifier | BCI:BCI199900276716 |
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