The role of saltwort (Batis maritima L.) in regeneration of degraded mangrove forests

Published source details Milbrandt E.C. & Tinsley M.N. (2006) The role of saltwort (Batis maritima L.) in regeneration of degraded mangrove forests. Hydrobiologia, 568, 369-377.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Introduce nurse plants to aid focal trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link
	Directly plant trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link

Introduce nurse plants to aid focal trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands

A replicated, controlled study in 2005 on a mudflat in Florida, USA (Milbrandt & Tinsley 2006) reported that planting saltwort Batis maritima as a nurse plant had no clear effect on survival of planted black mangrove Avicennia germinans. Statistical significance was not assessed. After seven weeks, 6% of black mangrove seedlings planted into newly created saltwort patches were alive, compared to 11% of black mangrove seedlings planted into a bare mudflat. This followed fluctuations over the previous six weeks, when mangrove survival was sometimes higher in saltwort stands than on the bare mudflat (two weeks), sometimes lower (three weeks) and sometimes equal (one week). Methods: In June 2005, saltwort seedlings were planted into a mudflat, where a former mangrove forest had died off, to create patches of saltwort. The study does not clearly report patch number, density or size. Within five days, 18 nursery-reared black mangrove seedlings were planted into the saltwort and 18 were planted into the adjacent bare mudflat. Survival was measured over seven weeks.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
Directly plant trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands

A replicated study in 2005 on a mudflat in Florida, USA (Milbrandt & Tinsley 2006) reported that only 6–34% of planted black mangrove Avicennia germinans seedlings survived over seven weeks, and that planted seedlings grew less quickly than naturally colonizing seedlings. Statistical significance was not assessed. Survival was 34% for seedlings planted into established stands of saltwort Batis maritima, 11% for seedlings planted into bare mudflat and 6% for seedlings planted into freshly created saltwort stands. In established saltwort stands, planted seedlings grew 20 mm/week, compared to 50 mm/week for naturally colonizing seedlings. Methods: In June 2005, fifty-four nursery-reared black mangrove seedlings (43 cm tall) were planted into a mudflat where mangrove forest had died off. This area was lower than an adjacent area with healthy forest. Eighteen seedlings were planted in each habitat type: established saltwort stands, saltwort stands planted <5 days earlier, and bare mudflat. Survival and height were measured after seven weeks. The initial and final heights of 36 naturally colonizing seedlings were also recorded.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)