Dynamic Shifts of Heavy Metals During Mixed Leaf Litter Decomposition in a Subtropical Mangrove

Mangrove ecosystems play a critical role in sequestering heavy metals pollutants, yet the dynamics of heavy metals accumulation during mixed litter decomposition remain poorly understood. This study investigated the seasonal and species-specific variations in heavy metals accumulation during the decomposition of <i>Kandelia obovata</i> (KO) and <i>Avicennia marina</i> (AM) leaf litter mixtures in a subtropical mangrove forest in the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian, China. Using the litterbag technique, we monitored eight heavy metals (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd) across three mixing ratios (KO:AM = 1:2, 1:1, 2:1) in summer and winter. Results revealed that V concentrations were influenced by both season and litter ratio, with higher KO proportions enhancing V accumulation in summer but reducing it in winter. In contrast, Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Se, and Cd were primarily regulated by litter ratios: KO-dominated mixtures promoted Cr and Ni accumulation, while AM-dominated mixtures favored Cu, As, Se, and Cd. Zn exhibited the highest variability and was unaffected by season or ratio. Total organic carbon (TOC) and carbon/metal (C/M) ratios significantly correlated with reduced bioavailability of most heavy metals, whereas total nitrogen (TN) and C/N ratios showed no consistent relationship. The heavy metals accumulation index (<i>MAI</i>) indicated higher accumulation in summer than in winter, with the highest <i>MAI</i> observed in the KO:AM = 2:1 treatment group during summer (<i>MAI</i> = 1.36), whereas winter decomposition slowed accumulation rates. These findings highlight the dual regulatory roles of species composition and environmental factors in mangrove heavy metals cycling, offering critical insights for ecological risk assessment and contaminated soil remediation strategies in coastal ecosystems.