Mangrove ecosystems are structured by strong environmental gradients, particularly salinity, which can influence plant functional traits and species distribution. This study evaluated leaf morphological, biomass-related, and physiological traits of six dominant mangrove tree species ( Heritiera fomes , Excoecaria agallocha , Ceriops decandra , Sonneratia apetala , Rhizophora mucronata , and Bruguiera sexangula ) across two contrasting zones of the Sundarbans, Bangladesh, representing oligohaline (Karamjal) and euhaline (Hiron Point) conditions. Two-way ANOVA showed that most traits were significantly affected by species identity, whereas site effects were generally weaker and mainly expressed through significant species × site interactions. Leaf size traits (length, breadth, and area) declined under euhaline conditions in several species, while others exhibited neutral or positive responses, indicating species-specific trait plasticity rather than uniform environmental effects. Biomass-related traits (fresh, turgid, and dry weight) displayed clearer between-site variation, with increases in R. mucronata and S. apetala but reductions in H. fomes under euhaline conditions. In contrast, physiological traits, including SPAD chlorophyll index, leaf dry matter content, and relative water content, were comparatively stable across sites. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed coordinated variation among structural and biomass traits, whereas physiological traits contributed to secondary axes of variation. Overall, the findings indicate that trait responses across contrasting zones of the Sundarbans are primarily species-dependent and interaction-driven. These results provide trait-based insights into mangrove ecological strategies, although direct environmental measurements are needed to strengthen causal interpretation of site differences.
Kashem et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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