Work

Benthic functional diversity as a valuable tool to identify vulnerable mangrove forests

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mangrove forests are biodiverse systems that harbour a plethora of highly specialised species. The size of a mangrove forest can influence its biodiversity, but the relationship between these two characteristics is not always linear. In the present study, carried out in 36 medium- to small-size mangrove patches across Hong Kong, we determined the size of each mangrove stand, its taxonomic richness, and the functional diversity, redundancy and vulnerability of crab assemblages, to identify those that were more at risk of functional loss. Eight sites displayed a combination of critically low levels of functional richness, functional redundancy and high functional vulnerability. These sites have either lost some of its ecosystem functions or are at risk of losing them. We also highlighted five sites in good condition that could potentially act as reservoirs or supply sites for nearby threatened locations, and that should be the focus of conservation efforts. Our data show that species composition, diversity and functional role of the associated fauna plays a more important role than size in the functioning of such ecosystems. We then simulated the local extinction of eight crab species in light of future climate change and recalculated the previous functional analyses. Our analyses show that the adopted functional indices are effective in comparing the functionality of mangroves at local scales and determining their degradation. Such indices, however, were less reliable for predicting future trends in functionality of the studied mangrove forests, due to lack of long-term datasets and shifted baselines.

Source: Ecological Indicators

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114225

Authors: Henrique Bravo, Christine L.Y. Cheng, Sara Fratini, Pedro Julião Jimenez, Stefano Cannicci

Institutions: University of Groningen, Nanyang Technological University, Earth Observatory of Singapore, University of Hong Kong, University of Florence

Language: English

Topic: Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650