PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “low salinity”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

The use of waters with a low saline content (oligomineral waters) in the feeding of babies.

The problem of the dilution of foodstuffs for early infancy is discussed, with particular reference to artificial milks. The authors briefly consider the influence of calcium salts in the course of curdling, both for milks enriched with such salts and in diluted milks, as well as the importance of a correct well-dosed saline content in the diet for the early stages of infancy. They then control experimentally, using scalar dilutions (1:100; 1:1000; 1:5000) of pepsin at a known titre, the coagulation of commercial powdered milk and of fresh cow's milk, diluted with various types of mineral waters (chlorinated-sodic oligomineral water; bicarbonate-calcic oligomineral water; bicarbonate-alkaline-terrous mineral water).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Food deprivation alters osmoregulatory and metabolic responses to salinity acclimation in gilthead sea bream Sparus auratus.

The influence of acclimation to different environmental salinities (low salinity water, LSW; seawater, SW; and hyper saline water, HSW) and feeding conditions (fed and food deprived) for 14 days was assessed on osmoregulation and energy metabolism of several tissues of gilthead sea bream Sparus auratus. Fish were randomly assigned to one of six treatments: fed fish in LSW, SW, and HSW, and food-deprived fish in LSW, SW, and HSW. After 14 days, plasma, liver, gills, kidney and brain were taken for the assessment of plasma osmolality, plasma cortisol, metabolites and the activity of several enzymes involved in energy metabolism. Food deprivation abolished or attenuated the increase in gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity observed in LSW- and HSW-acclimated fish, respectively. In addition, a linear relationship between renal Na+,K+-ATPase activity and environmental salinity was observed after food deprivation, but values decreased with respect to fed fish. Food-deprived fish acclimated to extreme salinities increased production of glucose through hepatic gluconeogenesis, and the glucose produced was apparently exported to other tissues and served to sustain plasma glucose levels. Salinity acclimation to extreme salinities enhanced activity of osmoregulatory organs, which is probably sustained by higher glucose use in fed fish but by increased use of other fuels, such as lactate and amino acids in food-deprived fish.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2005

Enzymatic and feeding behaviour of Argopecten purpuratus under variation in salinity and food supply.

Argopecten purpuratus is a bivalve filter feeder inhabiting protected areas of the Peruvian coastline and northern and central Chile. The species is commercially valuable and the natural stocks are over-exploited in Chile, mainly in the central region. Expansion of aquaculture farms to the geographically protected coastline of southern Chile is a potential solution to this problem. So, the objective of the present study was to determine the acute feeding and digestive response of A. purpuratus in relation to short acclimation periods (1, 3 and 7 days) and exposure to variable salinity (24 per thousand, 27 per thousand and 30 per thousand) with two different diets. The feeding behaviour of A. purpuratus follows that described for other species of bivalves whereby the decrease in salinity produces a reduction in the clearance and ingestion rates. This behaviour is not affected by the diet type or the 7 day acclimation period. Lower values of absorption efficiency are associated with increasing food concentration. The response of the AE at 24 per thousand salinity and low organic content diet indicates that the interaction of low salinity and low organic content diet reduces the AE to values approaching zero. The enzymatic investment of A. purpuratus at low salinity (24 per thousand) is similar for both diets and more reduced than for 30 per thousand and 27 per thousand salinity. The results show that osmotic stress leads to a reduction of the enzymatic response capacity. The multiple regression analysis indicates that different responses are observed as a function of the enzymatic activity and the organ. A reduction of the carbohydrase activities in the digestive gland was observed to low salinity (24 per thousand), specifically amylase and celullase. The results of this study are ecophysiologically relevant and highlight a relationship between digestive enzymatic activity and salinity, and may explain the possible differences in the energetic balance of A. purpuratus in response to changes in salinity.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2004

Coliform concentration reduction and related performance evaluation of a down-flow anaerobic fixed bed reactor treating low-strength saline wastewater.

Low-strength saline wastewater may be generated by tourist facilities, industries and communities located in coastal areas. Sea salts, mostly chlorides, when present in wastewaters at high concentrations, can cause inhibition on biological treatment processes. In this study, a laboratory down-flow anaerobic fixed bed reactor (DFAFBR) was used for treating saline wastewater. This wastewater was simulated by dilution of piggery manure in a synthetic saline water to obtain a final total COD concentration in the range of 1100-2900 mg/l and a salt concentration of 15 g/l. The DFAFBR was operated at hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 96, 48, 24 and 12 h. The results showed that at sea salts concentrations in the range from 5 to 15 g/l, total coliform concentration reduction efficiencies higher than 97% were achieved. A decrease in the total and faecal coliform concentration reduction efficiencies from 99.5% to 90.5% and 92.5%, respectively, was observed when the HRT decreased from 96 to 12 h. Enumeration of coliform bacteria isolated from the biofilm in different zones of the reactor showed that more than 94% of the total amount was removed in the upper zone. A HRT of 24 h was required to obtain total COD, organic-N, total-P and faecal coliform concentration reduction efficiencies higher than 72%, 51%, 39% and 98%, respectively. A concentration of 8.4 g/l for chlorides, 1.25 g/l for sulphates and 4.6 g/l for sodium did not affect the process performance.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2006

Effect of low environmental salinity on plasma composition and renal function of the Atlantic stingray, a euryhaline elasmobranch.

Marine elasmobranchs maintain internal osmolality higher than their external environment, resulting in an osmotic gradient for branchial water uptake. This gradient is markedly increased in low-salinity habitats. The subsequent increase in water uptake presents a challenge to volume homeostasis. The Atlantic stingray is a marine elasmobranch that inhabits a remarkable range of environmental salinities. We hypothesized that the ability of these stingrays to regulate fluid volume in low-salinity environments is due primarily to a renal glomerular and tubular functional reserve. We tested this hypothesis by measuring renal excretory function after a rapid and sustained 50% reduction in the osmolality of the external medium. Atlantic stingrays were maintained in harbor water [control salinity (CS) approximately 850 mosmol/kgH(2)O] for 1 wk. Rays were then either transferred to diluted harbor water [low salinity (LS) approximately 440 mosmol/kgH(2)O] or maintained in CS for a further 24 h. Renal excretory function was markedly higher in the rays subjected to low salinity. Glomerular filtration rate was threefold higher and urine flow rate ninefold higher in the LS group. The clearance of solute-free water was greater, and solute-free water comprised a significantly larger proportion of the urine output for the stingrays transferred to dilute harbor water. We conclude that 1) the kidneys of Atlantic stingrays have a remarkable glomerular and tubular functional reserve, and 2) the marked increase in renal function attenuates the increase in fluid volume when these fish move into low-salinity habitats.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1995

Intracellular chloride activity of leech neurones and glial cells in physiological, low chloride saline.

Leech blood apparently contains considerably less chloride than generally used in physiological experiments. Instead of 85-130 mM Cl- used in experimental salines, leech blood contains around 40 mM Cl- and up to 45 mM organic anions, in particular malate. We have reinvestigated the distribution of Cl- across the cell membrane of identified glial cells and neurones in the central nervous system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis L., using double-barrelled Cl(-)- and pH-selective microelectrodes, in a conventional leech saline, and in a saline with a low Cl- concentration (40 mM), containing 40 mM malate. The interference of anions other than Cl- to the response of the ion-selective microelectrodes was estimated in Cl(-)-free salines (Cl- replaced by malate and/or gluconate). The results show that the absolute intracellular Cl- activities (aCli) in glial cells and neurones, but not the electrochemical gradients of Cl- across the glial and the neuronal cell membranes, are altered in the low Cl-, malate-based saline. In Retzius neurones, aCli is lower than expected from electrochemical equilibrium, while in pressure neurones and in neuropil glial cells, aCli is distributed close to its equilibrium in both salines, respectively. The steady-state intracellular pH values in the glial cells and Retzius neurones are little affected (< or = 0.1 pH units) in the low Cl-, malate-based saline.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of developmental acclimation on adult salinity tolerance in the freshwater-invading copepod Eurytemora affinis.

Invasive species are commonly thought to have broad tolerances that enable them to colonize new habitats, but this assumption has rarely been tested. In particular, the relative importance of acclimation (plasticity) and adaptation for invasion success are poorly understood. This study examined effects of short-term and developmental acclimation on adult salinity tolerance in the copepod Eurytemora affinis. This microcrustacean occurs in estuarine and salt marsh habitats but has invaded freshwater habitats within the past century. Effects of short-term acclimation were determined by comparing adult survival in response to acute versus gradual salinity change to low salinity (fresh water). Effects of developmental acclimation on adult tolerance were determined using a split-brood 4 x 2 factorial experimental design for one brackish-water population from Edgartown Great Pond, Massachusetts. Twenty full-sib clutches were split and reared at four salinities (fresh, 5, 10, and 27 practical salinity units [PSU]). On reaching adulthood, clutches from three of the salinity treatments (no survivors at fresh) were split into low- (fresh) and high- (40 PSU) salinity stress treatments, at which survival was measured for 24 h. Short-term acclimation of adults did not appear to have a long-term affect on low-salinity tolerance, given that gradual transfers to fresh water enhanced survival relative to acute transfers in the short term (after 7 h) but not over a longer period of 8 d. Developmental acclimation had contrasting effects on low- versus high-salinity tolerance. Namely, rearing salinity had a significant effect on tolerance of high-salinity (40 PSU) stress but no significant effect on tolerance of low-salinity (freshwater) stress. In addition, there was a significant effect of clutch on survival under freshwater conditions, indicating a genetic component to low-salinity tolerance but no significant clutch effect in response to high salinity. While developmental acclimation might enhance survival at higher salinities, the minimal effect of acclimation and significant effect of clutch on low-salinity tolerance suggest the importance of natural selection during freshwater invasion events.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2002

Differences in maintenance energy expenditure by two estuarine shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio and P. vulgaris) that may permit partitioning of habitats by salinity.

The estuarine shrimp Palaemonetes pugio and P. vulgaris co-occur across a broad range in salinity. Field surveys and laboratory lethality tests suggest that low salinity conditions favor P. pugio over P. vulgaris. This study compared energetic expenditures across a range in salinity (0.5-35 ppt) to test the hypothesis that P. pugio experiences lower maintenance-energy requirements than P. vulgaris in low-salinity habitats. Standard metabolic rate (SMR) was measured as the minimum oxygen consumption rate at 25 degrees C to estimate daily maintenance-energy expenditure. SMR was greatest at 0.5 and least at 10 ppt (irrespective of species), and greater for P. vulgaris than for P. pugio. At low salinity (1.5-3 ppt), SMR was lower for P. pugio than for P. vulgaris. Energy expenditure did not coincide with the pattern predicted based upon osmoregulatory costs alone; no reduction was observed near the reported hemolymph concentration for P. vulgaris, although a minimum was observed near the hemolymph isoionic concentration for P. pugio. A local minimum in SMR by P. pugio between 1.5 and 3 ppt contrasted with relatively high SMR of P. vulgaris across this range. It appears that low-salinity habitats are energetically more favorable for P. pugio than for P. vulgaris. The results suggest an adaptive mechanism allowing P. pugio to occupy environments that present its competitor, P. vulgaris, with greater energetic challenges. While long-term exposure to very low salinity may be detrimental to both species, energetic traits of P. pugio may confer it with greater success than P. vulgaris in habitats in which salinity periodically fluctuates to low values.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Methylation and demethylation of mercury under controlled redox, pH and salinity conditions.

In estuarine sediments, the microbially mediated processes of methylation, demethylation, and volatilization determine the state and overall toxicity of mercury pollutants. The effects of redox potential (Eh) and salinity on the above microbial processes were investigated in reactors constructed to allow for continuous monitoring and adjustment of the pH (6.8) and Eh of freshly collected estuarine sediments. For measurements of methylation and demethylation activity, sediment slurries adjusted to appropriate salinity were spiked with HgCl2 or CH3HgCl, respectively, and were incubated in the reactors. Methylmercury was measured by gas chromatography. Volatilized elemental mercury (Hg0) was trapped and determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Volatilization of Hg0 and CH3HgCH3 were found to be minimal. Methylation of Hg2+ was favored at Eh-220 mV as compared to +110 mV. At -220 mV, high salinity (2.5%) inhibited methylation, and low salinity (0.4%) favored it. At +110 mV, the salinity effect was less pronounced. Demethylation of CH3HgCl was favored at +110 mV regardless of the salinity level. Low redox potential under low salinity conditions inhibited demethylation, but high salinity reversed this inhibition. These findings are helpful for interpreting and predicting the behavior of mercury pollutants in estuarine sediments.

Dealkylation↗
PubMed2001

Ecophysiological adaptation to salinity throughout a life cycle: a review in homarid lobsters.

Adaptations to salinity are reviewed throughout development in both species of the genus Homarus. Some populations of homarid lobsters are known to inhabit coastal and estuarine areas where salinity fluctuates. Salinity tolerance varies during development, with 50 % lethal salinities (LS(50)) ranging from approximately 15-17 in larvae to approximately 12 in postlarvae and 10 in adults. Larval and adult lobsters can avoid low-salinity areas using behavioural strategies. When exposed to low salinity, the capacity to osmoregulate varies with development. Embryos are osmoconformers and are osmotically protected by the egg membranes. Larvae are also osmoconformers, and the pattern of osmoregulation changes at metamorphosis to hyper-regulation, which is retained throughout the later stages up to the adult stage. Exposure to low salinity increases the activity of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in postlarvae and later stages. The level of osmoregulation evaluated through the osmoregulatory capacity (the difference between haemolymph and medium osmolalities) is negatively affected by low temperature (2 degrees C). The variations in haemolymph osmolality resulting from osmoconforming or partial osmoregulation are compensated by intracellular iso-osmotic regulation. Neuroendocrine control of osmoregulation appears in postlarvae and seems to involve the crustacean hyperglycaemic hormone. In adult lobsters, the gills appear to have a respiratory function only, and extracellular osmoregulation is effected by the epipodites, with the addition of the branchiostegites at low salinity. These organs are present at hatching. Transmission electron microscopy and immunolocalization of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase reveal that the epipodites become functional in larvae and that the branchiostegites become functional in postlarvae. An integrated series of events links the appearance of osmoregulatory tissues, the increase in Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity, the occurrence in postlarvae of hyper-regulation at low salinity and the increase in salinity tolerance. Further ecological and physiological studies are proposed for a better understanding of the adaptive significance of the ontogeny of osmoregulation in lobsters.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing the sporulation and cyst formation of Aphanomyces invadans, etiological agent of ulcerative mycosis in Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus.

Oomycete infections caused by Aphanomyces invadans occur in freshwater and estuarine fishes around the world. Along the east coast of the USA, skin ulcers caused by A. invadans are prevalent in Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus. From laboratory observations low salinities appear crucial to transmission of the pathogen. To better understand aspects of transmission, we characterized sporulation and cyst formation of secondary zoospores of two isolates of A. invadans at different salinities and temperatures. Sporulation occurred only at low salinities. At room temperature (ca. 20-22 C), using "pond water" augmented with artificial sea salts, the endemic strain WIC and the Thailand strain PA7 of A. invadans produced free-swimming secondary zoospores at salinities of 0, 1 and 2 psu (practical salinity unit = per thousand), but not at 4 psu or higher. Secondary zoospores of another species, ATCC-62427 (Aphanomyces sp.), were observed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 psu but not at 0 and 12 psu. Secondary zoospores of all three isolates, especially WIC, were abundant and motile 1-2 d postsporulation. Sporulation was temperature dependent and occurred over a relatively narrow range. No sporulation occurred at 4, 30 or 35 C for either WIC or PA7. For both strains zoospore production within 1-3 d after the initiation of sporulation was more prolific at 25 C than at 20 and 15 C. At 15 C production of zoospores was sustained over 11 d for WIC and 5 d for PA7. At room temperature single WIC secondary zoospores remained motile 12-18 h. Salinities exceeding 4 psu or vigorous shaking caused immediate cyst formation of WIC secondary zoospores. Exposure to menhaden tissue, but not tissues of other fishes to secondary zoospores (WIC), caused rapid (2 h) cyst formation. Cysts were capable of excysting when transferred to 1 psu water within 2-3 h of cyst formation. Cysts that had remained encysted in 6.5 psu for 24 h did not excyst when transferred to 1 psu water. Salinity and temperature requirements for sporulation indicate that juvenile menhaden must acquire infections during rain or in low salinity oligohaline waters.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Neuroendocrine regulation of carbonic anhydrase expression in the gills of the euryhaline green crab, Carcinus maenas.

The relationship between branchial carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, CA gene expression and salinity, and potential mechanisms of regulation, was investigated in the euryhaline green crab, Carcinus maenas, acclimated to 33 ppt and transferred to 10 ppt, and the stenohaline rock crab, Cancer irroratus, acclimated to 32 ppt and transferred to 18 ppt. CA activity in green crabs acclimated to high and low salinity was a function of CA mRNA expression, with low salinity exposure resulting in an increase in both CA expression and activity. Eyestalk ablation (ESA) in green crabs acclimated to high salinity resulted in an increase in CA expression in the posterior, ion-transporting gills, in the absence of the low salinity stimulus. There were no changes in CA activity or expression in the anterior, respiratory gills. ESA also potentiated low salinity-stimulated CA induction, again, only in posterior gills. There were no changes in CA activity in any gills of Cancer irroratus, in response to either ESA or low salinity. These results suggest that CA expression in euryhaline, osmoregulating species, is under inhibitory regulation by a putative repressor found in the eyestalk, and that this mechanism is absent in stenohaline, osmoconforming species. CA expression is maintained at low, baseline levels in crabs acclimated to high salinity by the presence and action of this compound. The effects of the repressor appear to be reduced upon exposure to low salinity, allowing CA induction to occur.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Coupling between flow and structure for a lamellar surfactant phase

The flow-structure relation of lamellar phases is studied using rheometry and cross-polarized microscopy under flow. The equilibrium phases show different defects. Low salinities lead to very viscous, "onion" phases, whereas at high salinity, a low viscosity plane lamellar phase is found. Under shear, the latter shows a sudden transition to a viscoelastic gel, with a texture and viscosity very similar to that of the onions. Gelation occurs after a certain delay time, increasing rapidly with salinity, by the nucleation of onions. This allows one to relate the delay time to the defect energy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Amino acid metabolism in euryhaline bivalves: regulation of glycine accumulation in ribbed mussel gills.

Glycine levels in isolated ribbed mussel (Modiolus demissus) gill tissue increased slightly and decreased markedly when incubated at high and low salinities, respectively. Low levels of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of serine from triose phosphate intermediates, the serine hydroxymethyltransferase, and serine dehydrase were detected in gill tissue homogenates. Experiments using gill tissue incubated with (U-14C)-glycine and (U-14C)-serine indicated interconversion between serine and glycine and transfer of label to alanine, asparate, glutamate, CO2, organic acids, and protein. Glyoxylate was metabolized more slowly than glycine and was probably converted to glycine for catabolism. Studies using (1-14C)-glycine and (2-14C)-glycine with isolated gill tissue and mitochondria indicated that the mitochondrial glycine cleavage enzyme was the major route of glycine catabolism. Metabolic controls activating or inhibiting the glycine cleavage enzyme regulate tissue glycine accumulation and catabolism during hypersalinity or hyposalinity stress.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2005

Factorial effects of salinity, dietary carbohydrate and moult cycle on digestive carbohydrases and hexokinases in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931).

Litopenaeus vannamei were reared in close cycle over seven generations and tested for their capacity to digest starch and to metabolise glucose at different stages of the moulting cycle. After acclimation with 42.3% of carbohydrates (HCBH) or 2.3% carbohydrates (LCBH) diets and at high salinity (40 g kg(-1)) or low salinity (15 g kg(-1)), shrimp were sampled and hepatopancreas (HP) were stored. Total soluble protein in HP was affected by the interaction between salinity and moult stages (p<0.05). Specific activity of alpha-amylase ranged from 44 to 241 U mg protein(-1) and a significant interaction between salinity and moult stages was observed (p<0.05), resulting in highest values at stage C for low salinity (mean value 196.4 U mg protein(-1)), and at D0 in high salinity (mean value 175.7 U mg protein(-1)). Specific activity of alpha-glucosidase ranged between 0.09 and 0.63 U mg protein(-1), an interaction between dietary CBH and salinity was observed for the alpha-glucosidase (p<0.05) and highest mean value was found in low salinity-LCBH diet treatment (0.329 U mg protein(-1)). Hexokinase specific activity (range 9-113 mU mg protein(-1)) showed no significant differences when measured at 5 mM glucose (p>0.05). Total hexokinase specific activity (range 17-215 mU mg protein(-1)) showed a significant interaction between dietary CBH and salinity (p<0.05) with highest value (mean value 78.5 mU mg protein(-1)) found in HCBH-high salinity treatment, whereas in the other treatments the activity was not significantly different (mean value 35.93 mU mg protein(-1)). A synergistic effect of dietary CBH, salinity and moult stages over hexokinase IV-like specific activity was also observed (p<0.05). As result of this interaction, the highest value (135.5+/-81 mU mg protein(-1)) was observed in HCBH, high salinity at D0 moult stage. Digestive enzymes activity is enhanced in the presence of high starch diet (HCBH) and hexokinase can be induced at certain moulting stages under the influence of blood glucose level. Perspectives are opened to add more carbohydrates in a growing diet, exemplifying the potential approach for less-polluting feed.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Changes in free amino acids in the hemolymph of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii exposed to varying salinities: relationship to osmoregulatory ability.

Changes in free amino acids (FAA) in the hemolymph of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were examined in individuals exposed to varying salinities for up to 1 week. In freshwater and under conditions of low salinity, total FAA concentrations were maintained between approximately 0.85 and 1 mM and did not exhibit changes in response to salinity exposure. Under high salinities, total FAA concentrations increased dramatically, reaching up to 2.1 mM depending on treatment. Examination of individual amino acid concentrations revealed that these increases were based on specific changes in glycine, arginine, alanine, proline and lysine. Among these, alanine showed the greatest increases, resulting in levels six-fold higher under high salinity than in freshwater and under low salinity. The other amino acid species showed increases of 2.5-fold compared to original values. These five FAAs in freshwater and under low salinity together occupied approximately 45% of total FAA contents and under high salinity comprised more than 70% of total FAA contents. These results suggest that specific hemolymph FAAs are involved in mediating response to salinity exposure in freshwater prawns.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2006

Salinity and light interactively affect neotropical mangrove seedlings at the leaf and whole plant levels.

We have studied the interactive effects of salinity and light on Avicennia germinans mangrove seedlings in greenhouse and field experiments. We hypothesized that net photosynthesis, growth, and survivorship rates should increase more with an increase in light availability for plants growing at low salinity than for those growing at high salinity. This hypothesis was supported by our results for net photosynthesis and growth. Net daily photosynthesis did increase more with increasing light for low-salinity plants than for high-salinity plants. Stomatal conductance, leaf-level transpiration, and internal CO(2) concentrations were lower at high than at low salinity. At high light, the ratio of leaf respiration to assimilation was 2.5 times greater at high than at low salinity. Stomatal limitations and increased respiratory costs may explain why, at high salinity, seedlings did not respond to increased light availability with increased net photosynthesis. Seedling mass and growth rates increased more with increasing light availability at low than at high salinity. Ratios of root mass to leaf mass were higher at high salinity, suggesting that either water or nutrient limitations may have limited seedling growth at high salinity in response to increasing light. The interactive effects of salinity and light on seedling size and growth rates observed in the greenhouse were robust in the field, despite the presence of other factors in the field--such as inundation, nutrient gradients, and herbivory. In the field, seedling survivorship was higher at low than at high salinity and increased with light availability. Interestingly, the positive effect of light on seedling survivorship was stronger at high salinity, indicating that growth and survivorship rates are decoupled. In general, this study demonstrates that environmental effects at the leaf-level also influence whole plant growth in mangroves.

Avicennia↗