Growth and water use of the mangroves Rhizophora apiculata and R. stylosa in response to salinity and humidity under ambient and elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO₂

Two mangrove species, Rhizophora apiculata and R. stylosa, were grown for 14 weeks in a multifactorial combination of salinity (125 and 350 tool m^-3 NaCl), humidity (43 and 86% relative humidity at 30°C) and atmospheric CO₂ concentration (340 and 700 cm³ m^-3). Under ambient [CO₂], growth responses to different combinations of salinity and humidity were consistent with interspecific differences in distribution along natural gradients of salinity and aridity in northern Australia. Elevated [CO₂] had little effect on relative growth rate when it was limited by salinity but stimulated growth when limited by humidity. Both species benefited most from elevated [CO₂] under relatively low salinity conditions in which growth was vigorous, but relative growth rate was enhanced more in the less salt-tolerant and more rapidly growing species, R. apiculata. Changes in both net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio contributed to changes in relative growth rates under elevated [CO₂], with leaf area ratio increasing with decrease in humidity. Increase in water use efficiency under elevated [CO₂] occurred with increase, decrease or no change in evaporation rates; water use characteristics which depended on both the species and the growth conditions. In summary, elevated [CO₂] is unlikely to increase salt tolerance, but could alter competitive rankings of species along salinity x aridity gradients.