Forestation of dredging islets using two species of mangroves in a coastal lagoon of the Gulf of California, Mexico

The purpose of this study is on digging islands created with dredge material. A nursery station was generated in order to produce propagules of Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle. Tide amplitude, low energy zones, salinity, and mangrove zonation were considered for propagules recruitment within random experimental quadrants on the islands. Survival rates of A. germinans were 78[%] and 72[%] for plants with container and without container, respectively. Rhizophora mangle showed a 43[%] and 34[%] for the same parameters. Plants extracted from their natural environment presented a survival rate of 34[%] for A. germinans, and 21[%] for R. mangle. Avicennia germinans growth from nursery station presented 3.2 cm/month, while plants from their natural environment 1.5 cm/month. Rhizophora mangle showed 1.4 cm/month in comparison with natural environment with 0.8 cm/month. Results showed a higher growth and survival rate of plants from nursery station compared to plants from the natural environment. There was no natural recruitment during the study; therefore, nursery station mangrove plants should be used in artificial islands considering tide amplitude, natural zonation, low energy zones, and the hydroperiod.