PJB-2026-111
Impacts of climate variables on mangrove phenology of Avicennia marina in Rahima Bay, Saudi Arabia
Jeff Bogart R. Abrogueña
Abstract
Mangrove phenology is an essential information to ascertain in planning any mangrove plantation initiatives. In Saudi Arabia, this information particularly from an actual field perspective is relatively none. We conducted a ground-based field assessment of a single phenological cycle of the mature grey mangroves, Avicennia marina, in Rahima Bay, Saudi Arabia. The objectives were: (1) to describe the timing of phenology from budding to fruiting stages; (2) to estimate the abundance of flowers to propagules in the area; and (3) to examine which climatic variables (e.g., air temperature, wind direction, wind speed, relative humidity, dewpoint, barometric pressure, and solar radiation) has the most significant influence on the phenology. Results revealed that budding, flowering, and fruiting occurred April, May, and August, respectively. Number of buds ranged from 308 to 10,000 per tree. Flower count ranged between 23 to 3000 per tree with highest record found in a 420 cm tall and 620 cm canopy wide tree. However, only one of nine tree samples have produced propagules with roughly 15-17 propagules of varying sizes, indicating asynchronous development. Solar radiation (SRAD) was the most influential variable shaping the flower production. The decline of SRAD and prolong summer heat may have affected the underdevelopment of seeds. The role of SRAD on the phenology of mangroves should not be overlooked in future mangrove research especially in the arid Arabian Gulf of Saudi Arabia.
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