Dec 2009, Volume 4 Issue 4
    

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  • Research articles
    Recent development of chemical components in propolis
    Yuanjun XU, Liping LUO, Bin CHEN, Yuxin FU
    2009, 4(4): 385-391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0053-2
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    Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources. On account of its chemical composition, propolis possesses several biological and pharmacological properties. In recent years, many papers have provided information concerning its composition. This review compiles data from most studies of propolis, focusing on the chemical composition of ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP), water extracts of propolis (WEP), and volatile oils from propolis (VOP). The characteristic compounds of EEP are polyphenols including flavonoids and related phenolic acids, and flavonoids are the most abundant and effective parts. They are considered to contribute more to the antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant effects than the other constituents. The main flavonoids in EEP are pinocembrin, galangin, chrysin, quercetin, kaempferol, and naringenin. The constituents reported to be in WEP include phenolic acids, caffeoylquinic acid, 3-mono-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, flavonoids, etc. The propolis volatile compounds are benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamic alcohol, vanillin, eudensmol, cyclohexyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate, which are responsible for several biological properties. As a natural mixture, propolis is widely used in medicine and cosmetics, as well as being a constituent of health foods. Since propolis has been used extensively, information on its composition is not only of interest to the academic field, but also to propolis users.
  • Research articles
    Iron acquisition by Streptococcus species: An updated review
    Ruiguang GE, Xuesong SUN, Qingyu HE,
    2009, 4(4): 392-401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0035-4
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  • Research articles
    New concept of contaminant removal from swine wastewater by a biological treatment process
    Meixue CHEN, Rong QI, Wei AN, Heqing ZHANG, Yuansong WEI, Yiqi ZHOU,
    2009, 4(4): 402-413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0042-5
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    Pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are the most serious pollution source in China now, and swine wastewater contains high concentrations of nutrients such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand 5 (BOD5), ammonium, and emergent contaminants related to public health. Biological processes are the most popular treatment methods for COD and ammonium removal. Considering the low operation cost, easy maintenance and high removal rate of contaminants in recent years, nitrogen removal via nitrite and real-time control processes using oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and/or pH as parameters to control the aerobic and anaerobic cycles of a system has received much attention for animal wastewater treatment. During the biological treatment process, the emergent contaminants such as estrogen, antibiotics, and disinfection reagents have been the focus of research recently, and degradation bacteria and resistance bacteria have also been extracted from activated sludge. The microbial analysis technique is also advancement in the field of biodegradation bacteria and resistance bacteria. All of these advancements in research serve to improve wastewater treatment and decrease environmental hazards, especially for using manure as a fertilizer source for crop production.
  • Research articles
    Recovering context-specific gene network modules from expression data: A brief review
    Hui YU, Yuan-Yuan LI,
    2009, 4(4): 414-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0036-3
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    With the popularization of microarray experiments in biomedical laboratories, how to make context-specific knowledge discovery from expression data becomes a hot topic. While the static “reference networks” for key model organisms are nearly at hand, the endeavors to recover context-specific network modules are still at the beginning. Currently, this is achieved through filtering existing edges of the ensemble reference network or constructing gene networks ab initio. In this paper, we briefly review recent progress in the field and point out some research directions awaiting improved work, including expression-data-guided revision of reference networks.
  • Research articles
    Alterations in sucrose metabolizing enzyme activities and total phenol content of Curcuma longa L. as affected by different triazole compounds
    C. Abdul JALEEL, Changxing ZHAO, Sedghi MOHAMED, Hameed Jasim AL-JUBURI, Helal Ragab MOUSSA, M. GOMATHINAYAGAM, R. PANNEERSELVAM,
    2009, 4(4): 419-423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0037-2
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    Changes in the sucrose metabolism of Curcuma longa L. plants were studied under treatment with different triazole compounds viz., triadimefon (TDM) and propiconazole (PCZ). Plants were treated with TDM at 15 mg/L and PCZ at 10 mg/L separately by soil drenching on 80, 110, and 140 days after planting (DAP). The plants were harvested randomly on 90, 120, and 150 DAP to determine the effect of both the triazoles on sucrose metabolizing enzymes and phenol content. The sucrose metabolism was studied by analyzing sucrose metabolizing enzymes like sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphate synthase. All the analyses were assayed in leaves and tubers of both control and treated plants. It was found that both of the triazole compounds had profound effects on these parameters.
  • Research articles
    Bacterial viability assessment by flow cytometry analysis in soil
    Ido SHAMIR, Yosef STEINBERGER, Eran ZAHAVY,
    2009, 4(4): 424-435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0050-5
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    Soil microhabitats and their heterogeneity are often considered to be among the most important factors affecting soil biotic communities. The microbial community has become one of the most important links in soil nutrient cycles and trophic components due to its role in biological processes, spatial and temporal dynamics, and physiological adaptation. Sandy-soil desert systems are characterized by fast water infiltration during the rainy season, high salinity, and low moisture availability in the upper soil layers. Plants have developed different ecophysiological adaptations in order to cope with this harsh environment. The Tamarix aphylla is known to be one of the most commonly adapted plants, exhibiting a mechanism for secretion of excess salts as aggregates through its leaves. These leaves aggregate beneath the plant, creating ’islands of salinity’. Soil biotic components are, therefore, exposed to extreme abiotic stress conditions in this niche. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of T. aphylla on the live/dead bacterial population ratio on a spatial and temporal scale. The results emphasize the effect of abiotic factors, which changed on temporal as well as spatial scales, and also on the size of the active soil bacterial community, which fluctuated between 1.44% and 25.4% in summer and winter, respectively. The results of this study elucidate the importance of moisture availability and the ’island-of-salinity’ effect on the active microbial community in a sandy desert system.
  • Research articles
    Identification of superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in tobacco pollen
    Jing WANG, Xuequn LIU, Guanghui YU,
    2009, 4(4): 442-445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0052-3
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    We investigated the possible existence of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) isoenzymes in the pollen of Nicotiana tabacum (Petit Havana SR-1 cultivar). To detect SOD activity, crude extracts from tobacco pollen were subjected to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by staining with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). The presence of six SOD isoenzymes was detected in tobacco pollen. Treatment with SOD inhibitors indicated the presence of one manganese SOD (Mn SOD), five copper-zinc SOD (Cu/Zn SOD) isoenzymes, and the absence of iron SOD (Fe SOD).
  • Research articles
    Effects of low pH and aluminum stresses on common beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) differing in low-phosphorus and photoperiod responses
    Hai NIAN, Cunyi YANG, He HUANG, Hideaki MATSUMOTO,
    2009, 4(4): 446-452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0044-3
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    Using common beans differing greatly in the response to photoperiod and low-phosphorus (P) stress, we investigated their responses to acidity and aluminum (Al) toxicity and the relationship between Al tolerance and organic acid exudation under Al or low P stress. A genotype Ginshi was found to be sensitive to low pH treatment. When exposed to pH 4.5, serious curvature in the root tips of cv. Ginshi was observed; however, it was completely corrected by the application of 5 or 10 μmol/L AlCl3; increasing calcium (Ca) could ameliorate Al toxicity, but it could not correct root curvature at pH 4.5. Common beans showed significant differences in both root growth and Al tolerance, and the varieties from the Andes were more tolerant to Al toxicity than those from the Mesoamerican origin. In the presence of 50 μmol/L AlCl3, all the common bean genotypes exuded citrate, and a significant difference in the amounts of citrate was observed among genotypes. The genotypes originated in the Mesoamerica tended to release more citrate than other origins in the presence of Al. The P-inefficient genotype DOR364 exuded more citrate than the P-efficient genotype G19833 in the presence of 50 μmol/L AlCl3, whereas no organic acids were detected in root exudates under low-P stress. A reduction of citrate exudation in the DOR364, but a slight increase of citrate exudation in the G19833, was observed under Al stress after they were exposed to 6-d P starvation. These results suggest that different low-P or Al tolerance in common beans might not be associated with organic acid exudation.
  • Research articles
    Studies of cocoa tea, a wild tea tree containing theobromine
    Xiaohong SONG, Xianggang SHI, Yunqin LI, Li PENG, Chengren LI, Xiaorong YANG, Chuangxing YE, Jiaxian LI, Yumei HE, Hualin HUANG, Aiqing MIAO, Chaoyi ZHAO, Jiayao WU, Caijin LIN,
    2009, 4(4): 460-468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0038-1
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    Camellia ptilophylla Chang is a wild tea tree containing theobromine and is caffeine-free. Lots of researches have been conducted for its domestication since it was discovered to contain theobromine in its shoots. First, its pharmacological and physiological effects have been studied, demonstrating that it can be used as a new resource of tea as daily and healthy beverage. Cocoa tea differs from traditional tea in that it does not excite the nervous system. Second, various ways of propagation have been investigated, and sexless cutting has been the method adopted currently. Third, through selection and breeding, plantation of cocoa tea can be set up to cultivate new varieties, and cocoa tea of different flavors such as green cocoa tea, oolong cocoa tea, and black cocoa tea can be processed. Thus, cocoa tea will become a choice in the tea market.
  • Research articles
    Leaf traits indicate survival strategies among 42 dominant plant species in a dry, sandy habitat, China
    Jinhuan LIU, Dehui ZENG, Zhiping FAN, David PEPPER, Guangsheng CHEN, Lei ZHONG,
    2009, 4(4): 477-485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0034-5
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    The objective of this paper was to assess the congruency of leaf traits and soil characteristics and to analyze the survival strategies of different plant functional types in response to drought and nutrient-poor environments in the southeastern Ke’erqin Sandy Lands in China. Six leaf traits—leaf thickness (TH), density (DN), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry weight to fresh weight ratio(DW/FW), leaf N concentration (Nmass), and N resorption efficiency (NREmass)—of 42 plant species were investigated at four sites. The correlations between leaf traits and soil characteristics—organic C (OC), total N (TN), total P (TP), and soil moisture (SM)—were examined. We found that the six leaf traits across all the 42 species showed large variations and that DW/FW was negatively correlated with OC, TN, TP, and SM (P < 0.05), while other leaf traits showed no significant correlations with soil characteristics. To find the dissimilarity to accommodate environment, a hierarchical agglomerative clustering analysis was made of all the species. All the species clustered into three groups except the Scutellaria baicalensis. Species of group III might be most tolerant of an arid environment, and species of group II might avoid nutrient stress in the nutrient-poor environment, while group I was somewhat intermediate. Therefore, species from the different groups may be selected for use in vegetation restoration of different sites based on soil moisture and nutrient conditions.
  • Research articles
    Functions of canopy-stored seeds in the dune ecosystem: conclusions from Agriophyllum squarrosum and Artemisia wudanica
    Zhimin LIU, Xiumei WANG,
    2009, 4(4): 486-490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0047-0
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    Delay in seed release is found in the dune ecosystem. However, its functions have been rarely reported. We studied delayed seed release in the Agriophyllum squarrosum (Chenopodiaceae), an annual psammophyte, and the Artemisia wudanica (Asteraceae), a psammophilous subshrub in an active sand dune field in Inner Mongolia, China, to get insights into its functions in dealing with sand movement. We concluded that delay in seed release in the dune ecosystem are as follows: (1) postponing dispersal of a portion of seeds until the end of windy season and the start of growing season; (2) regulating the spatiotemporal pattern of seed bank; (3) helping psammophytes adapt to wind erosion on the active sand dune; and (4) helping psammophytes realize long-distance dispersal.
  • Research articles
    Regeneration pattern analysis of Quercus liaotungensis in a temperate forest using two-dimensional wavelet analysis
    Xiangcheng MI, Jihua HOU,
    2009, 4(4): 491-502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0040-7
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    This paper introduces the two-dimensional (2D) wavelet analysis as a general interrogative technique for the detection of spatial structure in lattice data. The 2D wavelet analysis detects components of hierarchical structure and displays the locational information of the components. Patches and gaps of different spatial scales in graphical presentation of wavelet coefficients can be linked to the local ecological processes that determine patterns at stand or landscape scales. Derived from the 2D wavelet transform function, the calculation of wavelet variance can reduce the four-dimensional data of wavelet coefficients to a two-dimensional wavelet variance function and quantify the contribution of the given scale to the overall pattern. We illustrate the use of the 2D wavelet analysis by analyzing two simulated patterns and identifying the regeneration pattern of the Quercus liaotungensis in a warm temperate forest in north China. Our results indicate that the recruitment of Q. liaotungensis occurs in an overlapping area between the patch of adult and canopy gap at scales of 45 m × 45 m―70 m × 70 m and 20 m × 20 m―30 m × 30 m. The regeneration pattern of Q. liaotungensis can be mainly ascribed to a trade-off between two ecological processes: recruitment around parent trees and the physiological light requirements of seedlings and saplings. Our results provide a general portrayal of the regeneration pattern for the dispersal-limited and shade-intolerant Quercus species. We find that the two-dimensional wavelet analysis efficiently characterizes the scale-specific pattern of Q. liaotungensis at different life-history stages.
  • Research articles
    Structures and topographical pattern of the tree layer of Fagus engleriana-Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon community in Shennongjia area, Hubei Province, China
    Mi ZHANG, Zongqiang XIE, Gaoming XIONG, Dayong FAN,
    2009, 4(4): 503-512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0051-4
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    Shennongjia represents an area of considerable plant biodiversity, not only for China but for the whole world. The numerous species are distributed along an altitude gradient. The genus Fagus, commonly known as Beeches, constitutes one of the dominant woody species of the humid temperate forests in China. This paper deals with the community structure of a mixed, broadleaved deciduous-evergreen beech forest dominated by the Fagus engleriana and Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon, which occurs along an altitude gradient range in this area. The community consists of 46 woody species, belonging to 22 families and 27 genera. The tree layer can be divided into three sub-strata. The upper layer is composed of deciduous trees, 80.7% of which is F. engleriana. The second and third layers are dominated by the evergreen species, such as C. oxyodon and the Rhododendron hypoglaucum. These species increase from 55.9% in the second layer to 80.5% in the third, and regeneration at that rate allows us to assume that the stability of the community may be guaranteed. The micro-site heterogeneity plays an important role in maintaining species diversity in plant communities. In this research, a terrain surface of 0.96 hm2 was simulated using the digital elevation model (DEM) in order to analyze the influence of the topography on plant community structures on a small scale. The slope relief aspect obtained with the DEM showed an accentuated heterogeneity. Semivariance analysis was used to measure the heterogeneity scale. The range and nugget variance of the semivariograms for slope were 285.8 and 280.5, respectively; for aspect, were 21.8 and 498, respectively. The elevated value of the nugget variance suggested that even on a small scale, the topographic variations influenced the species distribution. Twenty-four species were selected to estimate the correlation coefficient between the slope, aspect, and orientation. Then based on the correlation results using the Square Euclidean Distance cluster analysis, the 24 species were divided into four groups.
  • Research articles
    The Janzen-Connell effect on the population dynamics of a Fagus engleriana- Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon community in a subtropical zone of China
    Mi ZHANG, Gaoming XIONG, Zhigang CHEN, Zongqiang XIE,
    2009, 4(4): 513-522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0046-1
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    The Janzen-Connell (J-C) hypothesis provides a mechanism explaining the high species diversity in tropical rainforests. It postulates that predation could cause greater mortality on seeds and seedlings near their parental trees. In this study, we tested the hypothesis in a subtropical zone, a mixed evergreen-deciduous broadleaved forest dominated by the Fagus engleriana and Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon. The study area was in the Shennongjia region, a key area of biodiversity conservation in both China and the world. The recruitment probability index was used to detect the J-C effect on nine species of the community, which were more than 50 individuals. Six large adults of each species were selected, and the numbers of saplings and adults were counted at the distance intervals of 0―5, 5―10, 10―15, 15―20, and 20―25 m from each focal tree. Two species in saplings stage and six in adult stage supported the J-C hypothesis, but their χ2 was not significant. Three species, the F. engleriana, Rhododendron hypoglaucum, and Toona sinensis, showed a strong Hubbell pattern in the adult stage. Because of these results, we reject the J-C hypothesis and conclude that species could recruit near the conspecific trees in subtropical forest. The reasons why the J-C hypothesis fails to explain the species diversity in this community are the shortage of seed-consuming agents of subtropical forest and the influence of microsite topographic variation.
  • Research articles
    Spatial hints of forest ecotone indicating forest succession, a case of larch forests in Baihuashan Reserve, north China
    Hongxiao YANG, Jintun ZHANG, Bin XU,
    2009, 4(4): 523-530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0049-y
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    In cold or alpine areas of northern China, birch forests and larch forests are the two primary forest types. These forests are also characteristic of a south branch of boreal forests in Asia. Some ecologists argue that larch forests can replace birch forests, but this still remains a question due to fragmentary or short observations. The ecotone between a larch forest patch and a birch forest patch is the arena in which the two species interplay and compete with each other, and studies of these areas are meaningful to understanding forest succession. In the alpine area of the Baihuashan Reserve, northern China, we sampled a larch-birch forest ecotone with eight plots in four transects and then analyzed population structures of larches and birches. The results show that the edges of the larch forest patch are composed of many larch saplings or young trees, but the edges of the birch forest patch are mainly composed of old birches. Across the ecotone, the larches, on average, are taller than the birches. These facts suggest that larch saplings can permeate into birch forest patches, probably by seed dispersal, germination, successful competition and growth, but birch saplings cannot permeate into larch forest patches. Therefore, on the ecotone, larch forest patches can steadily expand by unceasing permeation into birch forest patches, whereas birch forest patches progressively recede due to ultimate death of the old and poor recruitment of the young. Larch forest patches replace birch forest patches in a stepwise manner, causing succession from birch forests to larch forests. This study not only confirms that larch forests can naturally replace birch forests, but also introduces a simple and reliable method, employing spatial hints, to study forest succession. Additionally, the findings are of benefit to cultivation or development of larch forests in cold or alpine areas of the North Temperate Zone, which can be a huge carbon sink.
  • Research articles
    Distribution patterns of tree species in an evergreen broadleaved forest in eastern China
    Zhengrong LUO, Bingyang DING, Xiangcheng MI, Jiuhua YU, Yougui WU
    2009, 4(4): 531-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0043-4
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    Ecological assembly rules in evergreen broadleaved forest are far from clear understanding. Spatial dispersion of individuals in a species is central in ecological theory. We analyzed the spatial patterns as well as associations between adult and juvenile of each tree species in a 5-ha subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest plot in eastern China. Out of the 74 species occurring with more than 10 individuals, 88.4% of these species are aggregated. Most of them are aggregated from small to large scales. Spatial distributions of some species correspond with topography. Many bad dispersed species in the Baishanzu exhibit a highly aggregated distribution at small scales. These suggest that environmental heterogeneity and/or dispersal limitation may be the most important mechanisms that control the distribution patterns of these species. Our observations of the aggregations of abundant species basically support the hypothesis that dispersal limitation decreases as the number of reproductive limitation trees increases. The rest species are randomly distributed, with less than 10 individuals. For most common species, spatial aggregation is weaker in larger diameter classes, and the distance between adults is larger than that between juveniles and adults, suggesting that density-dependence works on loosing aggregation and excluding nonspecific juvenile to form adult trees. However, the density-dependent effect is not strong enough to eliminate all seedlings near adult trees and to result in a regular distribution of trees; thus the density dependence is usually masked by the refuge effect.
  • Research articles
    Ethnobotanical studies of plants of Charkotli Hills, Batkhela District, Malakand, Pakistan
    BARKATULLAH, Muhammad IBRAR, Farrukh HUSSAIN,
    2009, 4(4): 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0045-2
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    A survey was conducted with the aim to document the indigenous information of Charkotli Hills, Batkhela District, Malakand, Pakistan. The area has rich vegetation and a high potential for ethnobotanical utilization. Information was collected on various traditional uses of 100 plants distributed over 49 families, of which 43 families were of dicot, 2 of monocot, 2 of pteridophyta, and 1 of gymnosperms. Most plants have more than one local use. Sixty-six plants were found to be medicinal species, 21 fruit and edible seed species, 11 furniture species, 18 fodder or forage species, 12 vegetable species, 12 fuel species, 11 thatching and building species, 5 hedge or fencing species, 5 timber wood species, 5 poisonous plants, 3 species used in ketchup, 2 fixed oil yielding species, 2 miswak species, 2 species for making sticks for cattle and defense purposes, 2 species cultivated for ornamental purposes, 2 species used as mehindi by girls, 1 irritant species, 1 species for the making of Salai (a little stick for applying ‘surma’ to the eyes), 1 species for tanning, 1 species used as refresher in milk pots, 1 species giving gum used as chewing gum, and 1 species used as insect repellent. The area is under heavy pressure of deforestation and overgrazing, which have reduced the regeneration of woody plants. Proper ecological management is required to protect the wildlife and ethnobotanical resources for the coming generations.
  • Research articles
    Analysis of the diet of the tadpole shrimp, Triops sinensis , in paddy fields of Shouchang River watershed
    Huixian WU, Junzeng XUE,
    2009, 4(4): 569-573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0028-3
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    The tadpole shrimp, Triops sinensis, was discovered in the paddy fields of the Shouchang River watershed. The gut contents of the shrimp from these field populations were analyzed in order to quantify their dietary patterns. Some species of tadpole shrimps were found to prey on mosquito larvae as well as uproot weeds. Mosquito larvae and weeds were seldom found in the paddy fields which the tadpole shrimp inhabited in the Shouchang River watershed. The results further showed that the larvae of these tadpole shrimp mainly feed on algae and rice lamina. The tadpole shrimp could feed on animal food including protozoa, nematodes, rotifers, crustaceans, and aquatic insect larvae, though the animal food was subsidiary.
  • Research articles
    Quartered neighbor method: A new distance method for density estimation
    Xunzhi ZHU, Jintun ZHANG,
    2009, 4(4): 574-578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0039-0
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    Quantitative data are essential to an appropriate characterization of vegetation. In the past few years, considerable attention has been paid to vegetation sampling techniques. A number of methods have been developed for plant density estimations that utilize spacing distances instead of fixed-area quadrats. In this paper, we review the main distance methods for estimating density and propose a new distance method denominated the quartered neighbor method. In this method, the sampling point is considered the center, and the area around it is divided into four quadrants. The distance from the closest individual in each quadrant to its closest neighbor in the same quadrant is measured, and the average of them is the distance we need. It is actually an integration of two old distance methods, the nearest neighbor method, and the point-centered quarter method. With our new method and an old distance method (the point-centered quarter method), we calculated the average spacing distances of the Larix principis-rupprechtii population in the larch forests of the Donglingshan Mountain. Comparing the two methods with the quadrat method, we found they were almost the same in accuracy, but the precision of the new one was better. Meanwhile, it is adequate in sampling intensity and adaptable for general use in rapid ecological survey work.
  • Research articles
    Effect of an integrated mangrove-aquaculture system on aquacultural health
    Yisheng PENG, Xulin LI, Kalan WU, Guizhu CHEN, Yougui PENG,
    2009, 4(4): 579-584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-009-0056-z
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    Mangroves are unique intertidal halophyte formations growing in sheltered tropical and subtropical coastal areas. Due to the increasing population and economic development, mangroves have faced degradation and loss, which has been mainly caused by land conversion into aquaculture ponds in Asia. In the past several decades, the rapid growth of aquaculture has induced water pollution. Using mangroves for effluent treatment from coastal aquaculture ponds could be a suitable approach for wastewater treatment and healthy aquaculture development. An Integrated Mangrove-Aquaculture System (IMAS) was established to test whether the idea of a mangrove in situ treatment for aquaculture wastewater is feasible. The monocultures of three mangroves, Sonneratia caseolaris, Kandelia obovata, and Aegiceras corniculatum were established with area proportions of 45%, 30%, or 15%, respectively. One control pond without mangroves was also set up. The results indicated that the mangroves had different tolerabilities to long-term inundation. The aquaculture ponds had different fishery yields, considering the mangrove species and area proportions. The water quality of most of the experimental ponds was better than the control pond, except for the planted Sonneratia. It is concluded that mangroves can reduce the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate, buffer the pH value and increase the concertration of dissolved oxygen in aquaculture water bodies effectively. It is suggested to use 15% of the Aegiceras corniculatum area to conduct in situ purification of aquaculture wastewater and to enhance aquaculture production.