River Mangrove Maintains Certain Level Na+ and Cl- in Leaves to Adapt Seasonal Freshwater
Abstract Background: Mangrove environments are often characterized by large fluctuations in salinity, ranging from freshwater to hypersaline conditions. Most reports have focused on the mechanisms by which mangroves adapt to high salinity. However, how mangroves cope with seasonal freshwater habitats has seldom been studied. To address this question, we surveyed the river salinity and leaf traits (chlorophyll fluorescence, ion concentrations, carbon isotope ratios and osmolality) of Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco (river mangrove) along a freshwater-dominated river.Results: Aegiceras corniculatum at the upstream site was subjected to low salinity, being in fresh water for a long period (up to 310 h) in the wet season and experiencing a short term of low salinity in the dry season. The actual photosystem II efficiency (ФPSII) and electron transport rates (ETR) of the leaves at the upstream site decreased in the wet season, and recovered substantially in the dry season. Quenching analysis indicated that there was only a down-regulation of photoprotection, but no photoinhibition at the upstream site in the wet season. An explanation for this is that high levels of Na+ and Cl- were maintained in the leaves in the wet season.Conclusions: Long-term freshwater is a stressful environment for A. corniculatum. Aegiceras corniculatum maintains certain level Na+ and Cl- to adapt the seasonal freshwater.