Phosphorus Dynamics in Mangroves of India

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient which plays a key role in global biogeochemical cycles. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves are an important sink which can trap significant quantities of P. The phosphorus as such deposited in sediments is not available to the organisms, but is converted to bioavailable forms as dissolved orthophosphate through a series of biogeochemical reactions. Several studies on phosphorus reservoirs, transport rates (fluxes) and residence times are reported from different ecosystems across the world. In the present article, an effort has been made to compile and review the scientific research carried out on phosphorus biogeochemistry in the mangroves of India.