Short Communication: The relationship between content of particular metabolites of fallen mangrove leaves and the rate at which the leaves decompose over time

DAFIT ARIYANTO (Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Asahan. Jl. Jend. Ahmad Yani, Kisaran, Asahan 21216, North Sumatra, Indonesia.)
DIETRIECH G. BENGEN (Department of Marine Science and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Institut Pertanian Bogor. Jl. Agatis No. 1, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.)
TRI PRARTONO (Department of Marine Science and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Institut Pertanian Bogor. Jl. Agatis No. 1, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.)
YUSLI WARDIATNO (Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Institut Pertanian Bogor. Jl. Agatis No. 1, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 19 No. 3 (2018)

Ariyanto D, Bengen DG, Prartono T, Wardiatno Y. 2018. Short Communication: The relationship between content of particular metabolites of fallen mangrove leaves and the rate at which the leaves decompose over time. Biodiversitas 19: 780-785. Fallen mangrove leaves contain metabolites that play a role in their decomposition in coastal conditions. This research was conducted from September 2016 to February 2017 in Pasar Banggi, Rembang, Central Java, with the purpose of investigating the impact of the leaf metabolites of various mangrove species on the rate of decomposition of the leaves in exposed litter bags The results suggested that secondary metabolites are closely involved in the decomposition of the mangrove leaves. The fastest rate of decomposition was found in Avicennia marina, and the slowest in Rhizophora stylosa. The leaves of A. marina required 10 days (half-life, t50) to decompose by 50% and this was closely related to the phosphorus content of the leaves. On the other hand, R. stylosa required 24 days (half-life, t50) to decompose by 50%.