Abstract:
Mangrove ecosystems play an important role in carbon sequestration and stabilize the coastal areas through sedimentation processes. Therefore, coastal restoration by mangrove plantations can mitigate coastal erosion. Mangrove vegetation, particularly the roots, influences sedimentation processes in mangrove forests. This study aims to investigate the influences of quantitative characteristics of Avicennia alba roots on sedimentation in the Bangpu mangrove plantations in Samut Prakarn Province from September 2020 to November 2021. The results showed that the quantitative characteristics of A. alba pneumatophores varied across the distance from the shore; the height, density, total basal area, total volume, and total surface area of the pneumatophores decreased towards the interior. In contrast, the tree basal area (BA) and seedling density increased towards the interior. The sedimentation rates in mangrove plantations were higher than that in the mudflat without vegetation, where the sedimentation rates were high at 50 and 70 m from the shore (0.1231±0.02 and 0.1114±0.04 g/cm2/day, respectively). In addition, the quantitative characteristics of pneumatophores (i.e., height, total surface area, and total volume) showed a negative correlation with sedimentation rates. This indicated that the aboveground structures of vegetation created water turbulence and facilitated the transportation of fine sediments into the interior of the plantation. The increasing fine root density toward the interior had a positive correlation with the mud contents (clay and silt particles), which inferred the ability of fine roots in sediment binding influencing elevation change in the plantations. The elevation changes varied in the narrow range in mangrove plantations compared to that of the mudflat which resulted in positive net elevation changes in the plantation and negative values in the non-vegetated mudflat over one year of study. This indicated the sediment accretion in the plantation and the erosion on the mudflat. In conclusion, the quantitative characteristics of A. alba roots including pneumatophores and belowground roots influenced sedimentation in mangrove plantation that functioned synergistically with trees and seedlings increasing sediment accretion and enhancing sediment stability at Bangpu mangrove plantations. Our results suggested that the restored mangrove vegetation can sustainably stabilize and mitigate erosion in coastal areas and the sediment accretion can be used as an indicator of successful mangrove rehabilitation based on its ecosystem services.