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Litter production and decomposition in mangroves – A review

Litter production and decomposition are important in nutrient cycling and detritus based food chain. Litter production in mangrove varies widely with species, forest type, stand age, geographical location and environmental parameters (e.g. rainfall, temperature, wind). Higher rate of litter production is observed at the lower latitudes (tropical region) and it decreases linearly with increasing latitude (sub-tropical region). Decomposition of leaf litter is characterized by an initial leaching of soluble organic and inorganic compounds with subsequent colonization by micro-organisms, which initiates physical and biological fragmentation of plant material. Litter degradation rate varies with species, geographical location, degree and frequency of tidal inundation, climatic and edaphic factors and presence of litter consuming fauna in the mangrove forest. In mangroves, higher rate of microbial decomposition of litter is observed in litter with lower content of tannin and leaves with thin cuticle, wet season and lower tidal inundation classes.