The impact of land use change on morphological and anatomical adaptations of Rhizophora species

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The ongoing destruction of mangrove forests highlights the urgent need for mitigation and control efforts. Indonesia, home to a rich diversity of mangrove species, has the potential to provide viable solutions to address this issue. Researchers primarily focus on preserving the existence of each species. It is crucial that research data support control and mitigation strategies to ensure efficient and optimal management of these ecosystems. Understanding a species’ resilience to changes in land use can provide valuable insights into its adaptability. This adaptability can be evaluated by examining changes in leaf morphology and anatomy. This study investigated the morphological and anatomical characteristics of three species in the Rhizophoraceae family: Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora apiculata, and Rhizophora stylosa, which thrive in three distinct mangrove ecosystems in North Sumatra Province. The objective was to evaluate how well these species have adapted to changes in their environmental conditions. The objectives of the current study were to determine how well these species adapted to changing habitat environmental conditions in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia.METHODS: This study involved selecting locations that represented three distinct land uses: residential areas in Belawan Sub-District, healthy mangrove forests in Sitardas Village, and mangrove areas utilized as fish ponds in Percut Sei Tuan Sub-District. Observations were made on three mangrove species: Rhizophora apiculata Blume, Rhizophora mucronata Poir, and Rhizophora stylosa Griff, to assess how their leaf morphology and anatomy respond to changes in land use within their natural environments. Leaf samples were collected from three different locations, with ten trees of each species at each location. Each tree had five branches, and from each branch, five healthy leaves were selected for measurement and analysis. Data were gathered on ۱۲ distinct characters. The preparation of leaf material for observing stomatal characteristics utilized the stomatal printing method. Data were collected on seven characteristics. Stomatal density and stomatal index were measured across ۱۵ units per leaf. The morphological and anatomical characteristics of Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, and Rhizophora stylosa were statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance. Additionally, the environmental parameters were illustrated in a principal component analysis graphic to highlight variations among the sampling sites. FINDINGS: The results revealed that the varying land use conditions at each study site affected the three species of Rhizophora. Rhizophora stylosa was unable to grow at the Medan Belawan study site due to severe damage and pollution. In contrast, the other two sites, Percut Sei Tuan and Sitardas, are lightly polluted environments that are suitable for all three Rhizophora species. This finding demonstrates that certain Rhizophora species, specifically Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora mucronata, can thrive in habitat conditions and environmental factors that are unsuitable for Rhizophora stylosa. Additionally, all three Rhizophora species exhibited significant differences in the stomatal index. Rhizophora apiculata had a stomatal index of ۱۹.۶۹, Rhizophora mucronata had a value of ۱۱۱.۷, and Rhizophora stylosa had a value of ۲۴.۶۷. These variations may impact their efficiency in adapting to their respective environments.CONCLUSION: This study offers insight into how three Rhizophora species adapt to changes in land use. Each species demonstrates distinct adaptations influenced by various factors. The findings of this study will be valuable for recommending species that are suitable for restoration activities in mangrove ecosystems.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anatomical ، mangrove ، morphological ، Rhizophora spp