TY - JOUR

T1 - Seabird nutrient subsidies enrich mangrove ecosystems and are exported to nearby coastal habitats

AU - Appoo, J.

AU - Bunbury, N.

AU - Jaquemet, S.

AU - Graham, N.A.J.

N1 - Export Date: 27 March 2024

PY - 2024/4/19

Y1 - 2024/4/19

N2 - Eutrophication by human-derived nutrient enrichment is a major threat to mangroves, impacting productivity, ecological functions, resilience, and ecosystem services. Natural mangrove nutrient enrichment processes, however, remain largely uninvestigated. Mobile consumers such as seabirds are important vectors of cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies to islands but how they influence mangrove ecosystems is poorly known. We assessed the contribution, uptake, cycling, and transfer of nutrients from seabird colonies in remote mangrove systems free of human stressors. We found that nutrients from seabird guano enrich mangrove plants, reduce nutrient limitations, enhance mangrove invertebrate food webs, and are exported to nearby coastal habitats through tidal flow. We show that seabird nutrient subsidies in mangroves can be substantial, improving the nutrient status and health of mangroves and adjacent coastal habitats. Conserving mobile consumers, such as seabirds, is therefore vital to preserve and enhance their role in mangrove productivity, resilience, and provision of diverse functions and services.

AB - Eutrophication by human-derived nutrient enrichment is a major threat to mangroves, impacting productivity, ecological functions, resilience, and ecosystem services. Natural mangrove nutrient enrichment processes, however, remain largely uninvestigated. Mobile consumers such as seabirds are important vectors of cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies to islands but how they influence mangrove ecosystems is poorly known. We assessed the contribution, uptake, cycling, and transfer of nutrients from seabird colonies in remote mangrove systems free of human stressors. We found that nutrients from seabird guano enrich mangrove plants, reduce nutrient limitations, enhance mangrove invertebrate food webs, and are exported to nearby coastal habitats through tidal flow. We show that seabird nutrient subsidies in mangroves can be substantial, improving the nutrient status and health of mangroves and adjacent coastal habitats. Conserving mobile consumers, such as seabirds, is therefore vital to preserve and enhance their role in mangrove productivity, resilience, and provision of diverse functions and services.

U2 - 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109404

DO - 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109404

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38510135

VL - 27

JO - iScience

JF - iScience

SN - 2589-0042

IS - 4

M1 - 109404

ER -