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Variations in water use by a mature mangrove of Avicennia germinans, French Guiana

Variations de la consommation d’eau d’une mangrove adulte à Avicennia germinans, en Guyane française

Annals of Forest Science volume 66, page 803 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • In the tropical intertidal zones, little is known on water uptake by mangroves. Transpiration rates are generally measured at leaf level, but few studies exist on water use at tree or stand levels.

  • • The objective of this study was to measure sap flow in trees of different sizes to appreciate the range of variation in water use that may exist in a site dominated by 80% mature Avicennia germinans.

  • • The results showed that from the dry to the wet season the mean water use increased from 3.2 to 5.3 dm3 d−1 in small trees (DBH ∼ 13 cm), from 11.5 to 30.8 dm3 d−1 in medium trees (∼24 cm) and from 40.8 to 64.1 dm3 d−1 in large ones (∼45 cm).

  • • Sapwood remained active up to a depth of 8 cm with radial variations within the stem. Weak correlations were obtained with VPD and net radiation.

  • • This study confirmed that transpiration was larger under low levels of salinity. Water use at stand level (∼1900 living stems ha−1) was estimated to be in the range of 5.8 to 11.8 m3 ha−1 d−1 according to the season.

Résumé

  • • Dans les zones intertidales tropicales, des taux de transpiration sont généralement mesurés au niveau des feuilles, mais il existe peu d’études sur la consommation d’eau à l’échelle de l’arbre ou de la parcelle.

  • • L’objectif de cette étude était de mesurer les flux de sève dans des arbres de différentes tailles pour apprécier la gamme de variation de la consommation d’eau qui peut exister dans un site dominé à 80 % par des Avicennia germinans adultes.

  • • Les résultats montrent que la consommation moyenne d’eau, entre une saison sèche et humide, augmente de 3.2 à 5.3 dmha3 jour−1 chez les petits arbres (DHP ∼13 cm), de 11.5 à 30.8 dm3 jour−1 chez les arbres moyens (∼24 cm) et de 40.8 à 64.1 dm3 jour−1 chez les plus gros (∼45 cm).

  • • L’aubier restait actif jusqu’à une profondeur de 8 cm avec des variations radiales dans le tronc. Les corrélations avec le DPV ou le rayonnement se sont révélées globalement faibles.

  • • Cette étude confirme que les mangroves transpirent plus avec des salinités faibles et indique qu’au niveau de la parcelle (∼1900 pieds vivants ha−1) la consommation d’eau varie de 5.8 à 11.8 m3 ha−1 jour−1 selon la saison.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UPS, INP, EcoLab (Laboratoire d’écologie fonctionnelle UMR 5245), Université de Toulouse, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055, Toulouse, France

    Etienne Muller, Luc Lambs & François Fromard

  2. EcoLab, CNRS, 31055, Toulouse, France

    Etienne Muller, Luc Lambs & François Fromard

Authors
  1. Etienne Muller
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  2. Luc Lambs
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  3. François Fromard
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Correspondence to Etienne Muller.

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Muller, E., Lambs, L. & Fromard, F. Variations in water use by a mature mangrove of Avicennia germinans, French Guiana. Ann. For. Sci. 66, 803 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009079

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X