Red mangroves emit hydrocarbons

Authors

Jordan G. Barr, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of VirginiaFollow
Jose D. Fuentes, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of VirginiaFollow
Daniel Wang, Environment Protection Service, Environment Canada
Yolanda Edmonds, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia
Jay C. Zieman, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of VirginiaFollow
Bruce P. Hayden, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia
Dan Childers, Biology Department, Florida International UniversityFollow

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate hydrocarbon species and amounts released by red mangrove foliage and determine if these quantities warrant future research on atmospheric chemical processing of these compounds. The field investigation took place during July 2001 at Key Largo, Florida Bay, Florida. Foliage still attached to plants was enclosed in cuvettes while air of known flow rates circulated around leaves to study, hydrocarbon emissions. Cuvette air samples underwent gas chromatographic analyses to determine species and amounts of hydrocarbons released by mangrove foliage. Red mangrove foliage emits isoprene and trace amounts of the monoterpenes of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, camphene, and d-limonene. The mangrove flowers released these latter compounds in amounts ranging from 0.5 to 10 mg (monoterpene) per gram of dry biomass per hour. These fluxes are normalized to, the foliage temperature of 30 degreesC. When normalized to the foliage temperature of 30 degreesC and light levels of 1000 mumol m(-2) s(-1), isoprene emission rates as high as 0.092 +/- 0.109 mug (isoprene) per gram of dry biomass per hour were measured. Compared to terrestrial forest ecosystems, red mangroves are low isoprene emitters. During peak flowering periods in the summertime, however, red mangroves may emit sufficient amounts of monoterpenes to alter ground-level ozone concentrations and contribute to biogenic aerosol formation.

Comments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Barr, J.G., J.D. Fuentes, N. Wang, Y. Edmonds, J.C. Zieman, B.P. Hayden, D.L. Childers. 2003. Red mangroves emit hydrocarbons. Southeastern Naturalist 2(4): 499-510.