Avicennia alba, an Additional Potential Carbon Sequester in Mangrove Ecosystems

Abstract

Mangrove forests have exceptional carbon sequestration capacity for mitigating climate change impacts. Increased atmospheric CO₂ can accelerate crops growth, improves water-use efficiency, and disrupt soil-plant balance. The performance of Avicennia alba in terms of morphometrics and biomass under environmental stresses such as elevated CO₂ was poorly understood. Thus, this study aims to determine the growth response and survivability of A. alba by examining height, leaf number, and growth rate under elevated CO₂ from the early stages of development. A number of 120 seed samples of A. alba was divided into two groups; 60 germinated seeds placed in a CO₂ incubator and 60 in a shade house as control. The growth rate, plant height, leaf number, and mortality were compared between the two groups and statistical analyses were conducted. Increased concentrations of CO₂ enhance the development and survival of seedlings by promoting greater photosynthesis and more effective water use. The decrease in leaf production is most likely due to a shift in resource allocation, where plants prioritize the accumulation of total biomass over leaf formation. An understanding of this trade-off elucidates the potential response of plants to increasing CO₂ levels in climate change scenarios.