Effects of Mangrove Zonation and the Physicochemical Parameters of Soil on the Distribution of Macrobenthic Fauna in Kadolkele Mangrove Forest, a Tropical Mangrove Forest in Sri Lanka

Figure 4

Ordination of the 3 mangrove zones based on PC1 and PC2 scores of PCA of the physicochemical parameters of soil in Kadolkele mangrove forest. Rhizophora zone is characterized by the higher depth of redox layer, high pH, and high sand, silt, and clay percentages while upper Lumnitzera zone is characterized by high pH, high clay %, and high penetrability of soil. The soil moisture content, organic matter content conductivity, salinity, and penetrability are high in the middle Avicennia zone (see also Table 9 for further details).