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Carbon, nitrogen contents and stable carbon isotope abundance in mangrove leaves from an east African coastal lagoon (Kenya)
Rao, R.; Woitchik, A.F.; Goeyens, L.; Van Riet, A.; Kazungu, J.; Dehairs, F.A. (1994). Carbon, nitrogen contents and stable carbon isotope abundance in mangrove leaves from an east African coastal lagoon (Kenya). Aquat. Bot. 47: 175-183
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Non-open access 244103 [ request ]
Keywords
    Chemical elements > Nonmetals > Atmospheric gases > Nitrogen
    Chemical elements > Nonmetals > Carbon
    Isotopes > Stable isotopes
    Mangroves
    ISW, Kenya, Gazi Bay [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal; Brackish water
Authors  Top 
  • Rao, R.
  • Woitchik, A.F.
  • Goeyens, L.
  • Van Riet, A.
  • Kazungu, J.
  • Dehairs, F.A.
Abstract
    Fresh and senescent leaves were collected from eight mangrove species: Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamarck, Ceriops tagal (Perr. ) C.B. Rob., Heritiera littoralis (Dryand) Air., Lumnitzera racemosa Van Steenis, Rhizophora mucronata Lamarck, Sonneratia alba J. Smith and Xylocarpus granatum Koenig occurring at the Gazi Bay on the coast of Kenya. They were analyzed for organic carbon and nitrogen. Statistical analysis of the data has shown that the eight species differ significantly in C:N atomic ratios. C:N ratios for fresh leaves are: Rhizophora 78 ± 9; Bruguiera 70 ± 9; Ceriops 69 ± 4; Xylocarpus 39 ± 7; Lumnitzera 39 ± 1; Sonneratia 34 ± 1; Avicennia 27± 5; Heritiera 24 ± 1. A change in mean C:N ratio, for all the species, from 47.5 ± 21 in fresh leaves to 129 ± 60 in senescent leaves indicates that approximately 64% of nitrogen is resorbed by the plants. The mean J'3C value for the mangrove leaves is -27.3 ± 1.4‰ and is representative of C3 terrestrial plants.
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