Data from: Interaction between plants through litter input in mangrove succession in the Red River Delta
Data files
Jan 16, 2025 version files 336.02 KB
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data_growth.xlsx
70.44 KB
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data_soils_metabolomics.xlsx
223.64 KB
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data_soils.xlsx
15.72 KB
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data_survival.xlsx
24.91 KB
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README.md
1.32 KB
Abstract
Aims: Dominant or pioneer species litter decomposition was found to be involved in the recruitment of following species during succession in terrestrial plant communities, while knowledge remains scarce in wetland forests such as mangroves. Our study evaluated the influence of pioneer species leaf litter decomposition on (i) the settlement success of species following them or not in the natural succession and (ii) on soil characteristics.
Location: Red River Delta, Vietnam
Methods: We set-up an in-situ experiment in mesocosms that followed survival and growth of three species (Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum and Rhizophora stylosa) planted in soils of Avicennia marina or Sonneratia caseolaris, with or without leaf litter addition for 203 days. Soils nutrient contents were determined at the beginning and end of the experiment, and their metabolic fingerprints were compared using an untargeted metabolomic approach, to highlight potential allelochemicals, when a phytotoxic effect was observed.
Results: Seedling response to litter addition was species-specific, which can be linked to their successional status. K. obovata was most affected by litter addition, showing better growth with both litter types. Meanwhile, A. marina litter substantially decreased survival rates by 50% for K. obovata and 33% for R. stylosa, suggesting a strategy to delay its replacement by these species through the release of phytotoxic decomposition by-products. Metabolic fingerprints of A. marina soils planted with K. obovata showed no shift in global chemical composition, but 12 features were found significantly more abundant in the presence of litter. Putative annotations revealed sulfur-containing metabolites, which are probable products of organic matter sulfurization, a frequently occurring process in mangrove sediments. These unusual compounds may act as allelochemicals and should be further assessed.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that allelopathic processes through litter decomposition may be at play in mangrove community assembly and could be a tool for restoration purposes.
README: Data from: Interaction between plants through litter input in mangrove succession in the Red River Delta
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4qrfj6qjw
Description of the data and file structure
This supplementary dataset, integral to our research paper, contains data crucial for understanding the key findings of our study. It includes the growth (height and number of leaves) and survival response of target seedlings during our assay, the results of soil nutrient analysis, and the soil metabolomics dataset.
Files and variables
File: data_soils.xlsx
Description: contains results of soils nutrient content analyses
Variables
- total organic carbon
- available nitrogen
- available phosphorus
- CN ratio
File: data_survival.xlsx
Description: contains survival response of target seedlings during our assay
Variables
- number seedlings alive and dead
File: data_soils_metabolomics.xlsx
Description: contains a list of features detected by UHPLC-ESI-qToF in each analyzed soil sample
Variables
- relative abundances
File: data_growth.xlsx
Description: contains growth response of target seedlings during our assay
Variables
- height
- number of leaves
Code/software
Microsoft Excel