Nutrient Dynamics in Mangroves: From Biogeochemical Cycling to Ecosystem Function

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems are critical to coastal protection, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration, playing an essential role in environmental stability and biodiversity. Their occurrence under challenging conditions, including high salinity, waterlogging, and low oxygen availability, is supported by diverse physiological and ecological mechanisms that regulate nutrient acquisition, storage, and utilization. This review synthesizes published literature on macro and micronutrients in mangrove ecosystems, focusing on nutrient cycling, plant physiological responses, and ecosystem functioning. Relevant literature was reviewed using major scientific databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with emphasis on studies addressing nutrient dynamics, plant–nutrient interactions, and ecosystem processes. Nutrient availability varies substantially among mangrove ecosystems and is influenced by sediment characteristics, tidal and riverine inflows, organic matter accumulation, and anthropogenic nutrient enrichment. The synthesis indicates that nitrogen and phosphorus are frequently limiting nutrients, while nutrient availability strongly influences species-specific nutrient acquisition, retranslocation, storage, productivity, and ecosystem processes. Various mangrove species exhibit specialized nutrient strategies, such as nutrient retranslocation and storage in leaves and roots, which allow them to thrive in nutrient-poor environments. These species-specific strategies influence plant productivity, litter production, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem processes and trophic interactions. The reviewed evidence also indicates that changes in nutrient inputs can modify biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning, highlighting the importance of understanding nutrient–plant interactions in mangrove conservation and restoration. This paper provides an integrated understanding of nutrient dynamics and species-specific physiological responses, which is essential for assessing mangrove ecosystem functioning and developing effective management strategies.