Author: Marco  Fusi,  Dr (Edinburgh Napier University)

Designation: 

Description:
Mangrove restoration success has typically been evaluated by measuring number of trees or area forested. Although other biotic components, such as macrofaunal and micro-eukaryotic communities (MMC), are important for the ecology of the re-establishing ecosystems, they are usually ignored. Integrating these communities into the assessment of restored forests requires suitable indicators. Using compositional model analysis, we investigated the diversity and the dispersion of community composition of MMC’s at two locations in North Sulawesi in (i) monospecific (MoRe) and (ii) multi-specific planted (MuRe) mangrove forests, and (iii) adjacent stands unaffected by deforestation as reference sites (REF). Functional and taxonomic diversity patterns were correlated with tree composition. MMC dispersion was higher in MoRe followed by MuRe, with the lowest value recorded in REF. This pattern was mirrored by the diversity, with a less diverse and less even community at MoRe and MuRe sites compared to REF. Our results suggest that the changes in MMC assembly were driven by the restoration practice/planted tree species. The high dispersion index of MMC at the restored sites indicates that these mangrove stands still have a less predictable faunal composition post-restoration compared to the reference sites. We advocate factoring MMC communities and their functional roles into the restoration planning when the aim is to restore diverse and multifunctional mangroves and show how integrated multi-taxonomical assessments can be used in evaluating the ecological status of restored forests.

Category: Scientific Program Abstract > Special Sessions > CS02 Management and Conservation of Aquatic Systems