Temporal and Vertical Variations in Photosynthetic Drivers in Mangrove Canopies, Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

The mangrove is characterized by the subdaily fluctuations of tidal inundation and, importantly, has many sources of CO₂ such as autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration and marine organisms. For these reason, the mangrove ecosystem would be expected to possess different microclimatic profile characteristics from those of terrestrial ecosystems. The objective of this study is to determine the characteristics of vertical profile of CO₂, H₂O, and air temperature within and above the canopies of mangrove forests at Okukubi River, Okinawa, Japan. The mangrove canopy had low CO₂ concentrations, high H₂O concentrations in air, and variable temperature. Tidal inundation provides a control on microclimatic variation not experienced by dryland forests.