Data from: The ecology of marginality—linking the informal settlement of mangrove forests and the rise of ecological novelty

The human habitation of mangrove forests in coastal cities of Latin
America has historically been seen as a signature of the marginalization
of low-income ethnic minorities, but the ecological consequences of these
dwelling practices are far from being understood. This study examines the
impact of chronic stress from expanding low-income urban settlements on
plant and intertidal macrofaunal communities in Colombian Caribbean
mangroves commonly dominated by Rhizophora mangle, comparing urban, rural,
and wild mangrove stands. In urbanized mangrove forests, R. mangle was
replaced by Laguncularia racemosa, a hallmark of urbanization in Caribbean
mangroves. Intriguingly, urban forests experienced a significant increase
in species richness compared to wild counterparts. This suggests
reconsidering this variable as an indicator of ecosystem degradation.
Urbanized mangroves host novel assemblages of mangrove species, alien
species, utilized plants, generalist weeds or pests, and freshwater
species. These assemblages reflect typical urbanization processes in
low-income coastal areas from the Global South, with wastewater runoff
shaping biotic structure and providing food subsidies for opportunistic
species. The use of rubble and timber for landfilling in urban mangroves
alters tidal regimes and flood patterns, adding stress to remaining forest
patches and promoting the proliferation of utilized plants and alien
freshwater species, representing a threat to human health. This study
highlights the complex interplay between ecological and social processes
in creating ecological novelty.