With the reduction of suitable mudflat for afforestation, island mudflats with strong waves and high salinity are becoming alternative sites for mangrove ecological restoration. The selection of appropriate seedlings is the crucial for the success of afforestation efforts. To provide a scientific reference for future ecological restoration of mangroves in similar island mudflat environments, a field planting experiment was conducted on a non- residential island, and physiological and biochemical parameters of Avicennia marina (A. marina) were measured in this study. The conclusions drawn are as follows: (1) The survival rate of two-year-old seedlings is the highest among three different ages of A. marina seedlings. The survival rates are 54% for one-year seedlings (Am1), 80% for two-year seedlings (Am2), and 44% for three-year seedlings (Am3). (2) Am2 and Am3 have completed their life cycle. One-year seedlings exhibit the most prominent in height increment (△H) and basal diameter increment (△D), with height increment following the order Am1>Am2>Am3 and base diameter increment following the order Am3>Am2>Am1. (3) No significant trends were observed in the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, and antioxidant enzymes levels of A. marina seedlings across different ages. (4) The △H and △D of A. marina are significantly positively correlated with salinity and monthly evaporation. Except for one-year-old seedlings, the △H and △D of two-year-old and three-year-old A. marina seedlings were significantly negatively correlated with MDA. No significant correlations were found between chlorophyll content and photosynthetic factors.
Wu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.