The chemical composition of soil and leaves, and nutrient use efficiency of Avicennia schaueriana Stapf & Leachman, Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn e Rhizophora mangle L. were analysed in the mangrove of Guaratuba, PR. Given the complex interaction between biotic and abiotic factors of mangrove ecosystems the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) was applied. In the study area ten individuals for each species were marked for leaf sampling. Soil samples were also collected at 0-10 cm depth under the crown projection of the selected trees. The analysed soil attributes, did not differ among species except C, N and O.M. which were greater in the area of R. mangle. The three studied species presented different leaf nutrient concentrations, showing selective absorption, even sharing the same soil. In general and in ascending order, the nutrient use efficiency obeyed the following sequence: L. racemosa > R. mangle > A. shaueriana. The results suggest that the studied species show distinct strategies related to nutrient storage and usage. The greater amount of a determined nutrient in leaf not necessarily means lower nutrient use efficiency, particularly due to the various strategies utilized by the plants for maintenance of ionic equilibrium.
Avicennia schaueriana; Laguncularia racemosa; Rhizophora mangle
