<p>Anthropogenic pressures and environmental changes are linked to increasing levels of mangrove desiccation in southern Iran, particularly in the Sirik area of Hormozgan Province. This study investigates how concomitantly changing physiological performance, vegetation structure, soil, heavy metals, and fauna at four levels of desiccation control, low, medium, and high, respond across a total of 40 sampling locations. The results showed a significant decrease in structural properties in response to increased desiccation, where leaf area index (F = 50.95, p &lt; 0.001), crown diameter (F = 36.31, p &lt; 0.001), and prop root development (F = 22.75–616.56; p &lt; 0.001) were significantly reduced; however, tree height did not show any significant differences (p &gt; 0.05). Physiologically, chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll were all significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05), and carotenoid levels were significantly increased under high stress conditions. The soils and waters were also incredibly saline, with an electrical conductivity of 2451.73 µS/cm and substantial variation in soil organic carbon (F = 52.71, p &lt; 0.001). In contrast to the previous measurements increasing levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni) were found to be significantly higher in plant tissue and sediments as desiccation increased (p &lt; 0.001). Crabs were found less frequently, and coastal egrets were observed more frequently along the desiccation gradient. In conclusion, these results demonstrate strong interrelationships among changes to soil chemistry, plant physiology, structural degradation, and fauna shifts, portraying a complex ecological environment in arid coastal systems that are experiencing mangrove desiccation.</p>