Abstract: Rationale: Studies of wetland eco-hydrology in tropical coastal areas are scarce, and the use of water stable isotopes can be of great help. Key constraints for their analysis are (i) the small difference in delta18O values between seawater and old evaporated freshwater, and (ii) the fact that the presence of old brackish water limits the determination of the water origin and dynamic. Methods: The water from tropical storms displays distinctively depleted heavy stable isotopes, in comparison with usual tropical rainfall without strong convective thunderstorms. During tropical storms, such as Hurricane Rafael in mid-October 2012, the rainfall delta18O signal can be decreased by many units. This effect is called an “isotopic spike”, and it could be used as a temporal marker of the water fluxes. Results: Water samples, with delta18O values as low as −8.9/1000, were collected on the islands of Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin during Hurricane Rafael, whereas the usual range of groundwater or mean rainfall delta18O values is around −2.8 +/- 0.5 /1000, as measured from 2009 to 2012. These water “isotopic spikes” allow us to show a surface freshwater uptake by mangrove trees in Guadeloupe, and in Saint-Martin, to calculate the water renewal of the salt ponds and pools. Conclusions: The “isotopic spikes” generated by tropical storms are generally used to track back past storm events, as recorded in trees and stalagmites. Here, the propagation of isotopic spike is followed to improve the understanding of the freshwater circulation and the water dynamic within coastal ecosystems influenced by seawater.

Abstract: Background: Micro-tidal wetlands are subject to strong seasonal variations of soil salinity that are likely to increase in amplitude according to climate model predictions for the Caribbean. Whereas the effects of constant salinity levels on the physiology of mangrove species have been widely tested, little is known about acclimation to fluctuations in salinity. Aims and methods: The aim of this experiment was to characterize the consequences of the rate of increase in salinity (slow versus fast) and salinity fluctuations over time versus constant salt level. Seedling mortality, growth, and leaf gas exchange of three mangrove species, Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle were investigated in semicontrolled conditions at different salt levels (0, 685, 1025, and 1370 mM NaCl). Results: Slow salinity increase up to 685 mM induced acclimation, improving the salt tolerance of A. germinans and L. racemosa, but had no effect on R. mangle. During fluctuations between 0 and 685 mM, A. germinans and R. mangle were not affected by a salinity drop to zero, whereas L. racemosa took advantage of the brief freshwater episode as shown by the durable improvement of photosynthesis and biomass production. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into physiological resistance and acclimation to salt stress. We show that seasonal variations of salinity may affect mangrove seedlings' morphology and physiology as much as annual mean salinity. Moreover, more severe dry seasons due to climate change may impact tree stature and species composition in mangroves through higher mortality rates and physiological disturbance at the seedling stage. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.