Avicennia alba, an Additional Potential Carbon Sequester in Mangrove Ecosystems

Mangrove forests have exceptional carbon sequestration capacity for mitigating climate change impacts. Increased atmospheric CO2 can accelerate crop growth, improve water-use efficiency, and disrupt soil-plant balance. The performance of Avicennia alba in terms of morphometrics and biomass under environmental stresses such as elevated CO2 was poorly understood. Thus, this study aims to determine the growth response and survivability of A. alba by examining height, leaf number, and growth rate under elevated CO2 in the early stages of development. A number of 120 seed samples of A. alba was divided into two groups; 60 germinated seeds were placed in a CO2 incubator and 60 in a shade house as a control. The growth rate, plant height, leaf number, and mortality were compared between the two groups and statistical analyses were conducted. The treated seedlings exhibited significantly greater mean height (11.98 ± 1.09 cm), improved growth rates (1.09 ± 0.76 vs. 1.07 ± 0.46), and higher survivability (U = 1470, p-value < 0.05). There is a significant positive relationship between height and number of leaves (β = 0.298, R² = 0.535, p-value < 0.001), indicating that taller seedlings tend to produce more leaves. A comprehensive understanding of the balance between enhanced growth and reduced leaf production under elevated CO₂ levels provides valuable insights into how plants may adapt or respond to changing environmental conditions in future climate change scenarios.