Environmental determinants of mangrove vegetation structure as revealed by regression analysis

The aim of the study was to analyze the mangrove vegetation in relation to environmental factors with a view to offering explanations for variations in the structural characteristics of the mangroves. Multiple regression analysis was used as the analytical tool to predict vegetation response to the environment. Salinity, soil magnesium and bulk density were the most important determinants of overstorey mangrove structure while tidal flood, exchangeable cations and topography were important in the understorey. The groundlayer stratum was determined by substrate texture, tidal flood and topography.