Abstract: The distribution, enrichment and migration characteristics of heavy metals in the mangroves of Aegiceras corniculatum and Kandelia candel collected from the mangrove wetland in Quanzhou Bay estuary were studied by means of determining the contents of acid extractable heavy metals in rhizosphere sediments and different parts of mangrove. The acid extractable contents of heavy metals in the rhizosphere sediments of both mangrove plants showed a sequence of Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni. In K. candel rhizosphere sediments, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cr presented positive correlation to each other. In A. corniculatum sediments, Cu and Zn showed a positive correlation, while Pb had no significant correlation to other metals. Most heavy metals in the roots of both mangrove plants showed positive correlations to their acid extractable contents in the rhizosphere sediments, while the heavy metals in the branches had no significant correlations to their acid extractable contents in the sediments. The enrichment capabilities of the two mangrove plants showed the same trend that Mn was the highest, followed by Cu and Zn. For both plants, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cr were mainly concentrated in leaves, while Pb, Fe and Ni mainly concentrated in roots. Mn showed the highest transfer ability from root to leaf in both plants.

Key words: seed dispersal quantity, natural disturbance, human disturbance, seed dispersal distance, seedling regeneration