Litterfall Production and Decomposition in Tropical and Subtropical Mangroves: Research Trends and Interacting Effects of Biophysical, Chemical, and Anthropogenic Factors

The present systematic literature review (SLR) synthesized the literature on mangrove litterfall production and decomposition from studies published between 1985 and 2023 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Key questions about biophysical, chemical, and anthropogenic/societal factors influencing nutrient cycling via litterfall production and decomposition in mangrove forests were addressed. The SLR included 332 peer-reviewed original and review articles from the ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The United States of America had the highest relative count (RC, 31.32%), followed by Japan (8.79%) and Indonesia (8.24%), and the lowest RCs were found in Bangladesh, Kenya, Philippines, and Thailand. We showed the increasing trend on these topics and discussed the milestones to enhance our understanding of litterfall production and decomposition processes and inform future research endeavors in the context of climate change. A positive trajectory for understanding litterfall production and decomposition for effective decision-making and management strategies towards mangrove conservation and sustainable use is also discussed. Ten-year research prospects were also identified, including studies on impacts of pollution, habitat degradation, climate change, and other destructive human activities. The trend in studies about mangrove litterfall production and decomposition suggests the growing recognition of mangroves’ ecological and societal importance. Future advancements can be made to better understand the biophysical, chemical, and anthropogenic factors influencing litterfall production and decomposition through the identified future research directions. Finally, the findings of the present review are relevant to supporting effective conservation and management strategies for mangroves in a changing climate.