Comparing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions of Restored and Natural Mangrove Forests in Indonesia using Palynology and plant DNA metabarcoding

Objectives:
1. Measure spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity in restored and pristine mangroves, using a combination of palynology, sediment DNA (sedDNA) and botany techniques. a. Detect changes in species composition over the past 5000 years using five-meter sediment cores at multiple mangrove sites. b. Compare biodiversity between pristine, present-day restored and pre-human impact mangrove forests. 2. Create ecological network models for each mangrove type, to determine important species and positive or negative species interactions, for ecosystem resilience and functional diversity, to improve restoration success.
Hypothesis
Biodiversity and ecosystem function will be lower in restored mangroves than pristine mangrove forests and will have reduced over time since pre-human impact timepoints.
Methodology and Programme of Research
The work will be split into four main sections: 1) sample collection in North Sulawesi, Indonesia; 2) palynology techniques, supervised by Prof. Ulrich Salzmann, Northumbria University; 3) DNA metabarcoding, carried out in the Northumbria NU-OMICS lab; and 4) ecological network analysis, supervised by Dr Darren Evans, Newcastle University.
Research Applications
Reconstructing ecological networks over the past 5000 years by applying a combination of traditional palynology and molecular ecology techniques, will enable us to determine a baseline of pre-human impact biodiversity composition and ecosystem function, in pristine and restored mangrove forests in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
It is hoped the results of the research will help to improve mangrove restoration efforts in Indonesia, by gaining new knowledge of important species and species interactions, informing decisions of species reintroductions and invasive species removal, and ultimately optimising ecosystem resilience and functional diversity.