1
|
Novak AB, Pelletier MC, Colarusso P, Simpson J, Gutierrez MN, Arias-Ortiz A, Charpentier M, Masque P, Vella P. Factors Influencing Carbon Stocks and Accumulation Rates in Eelgrass Meadows Across New England, USA. Estuaries Coast 2020; 43:2076-2091. [PMID: 33364916 PMCID: PMC7751660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the protection of coastal vegetated ecosystems has been suggested as one strategy to compensate for increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere as the capacity of these habitats to sequester and store carbon exceeds that of terrestrial habitats. Seagrasses are a group of foundation species that grow in shallow coastal and estuarine systems and have an exceptional ability to sequester and store large quantities of carbon in biomass and, particularly, in sediments. However, carbon stocks (Corg stocks) and carbon accumulation rates (Corg accumulation) in seagrass meadows are highly variable both spatially and temporally, making it difficult to extrapolate this strategy to areas where information is lacking. In this study, Corg stocks and Corg accumulation were determined at 11 eelgrass meadows across New England, representing a range of eutrophication and exposure conditions. In addition, the environmental factors and structural characteristics of meadows related to variation in Corg stocks were identified. The objectives were accomplished by assessing stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N as well as %C and %N in plant tissues and sediments, measuring grain size and 210Pb of sediment cores, and through assessing site exposure. Variability in Corg stocks in seagrass meadows is well predicted using commonly measured environmental variables such as grain size distribution. This study allows incorporation of data and insights for the northwest Atlantic, where few studies on carbon sequestration by seagrasses have been conducted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. B. Novak
- Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M. C. Pelletier
- Atlantic Ecology Division, US EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | | | | | - M. N. Gutierrez
- Atlantic Ecology Division, US EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - A. Arias-Ortiz
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Ecosystem Science Division, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - P. Masque
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia
- Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- International Atomic Energy, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - P. Vella
- Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Salinas C, Duarte CM, Lavery PS, Masque P, Arias‐Ortiz A, Leon JX, Callaghan D, Kendrick GA, Serrano O. Seagrass losses since mid-20th century fuelled CO 2 emissions from soil carbon stocks. Glob Chang Biol 2020; 26:4772-4784. [PMID: 32633058 PMCID: PMC7496379 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows store globally significant organic carbon (Corg ) stocks which, if disturbed, can lead to CO2 emissions, contributing to climate change. Eutrophication and thermal stress continue to be a major cause of seagrass decline worldwide, but the associated CO2 emissions remain poorly understood. This study presents comprehensive estimates of seagrass soil Corg erosion following eutrophication-driven seagrass loss in Cockburn Sound (23 km2 between 1960s and 1990s) and identifies the main drivers. We estimate that shallow seagrass meadows (<5 m depth) had significantly higher Corg stocks in 50 cm thick soils (4.5 ± 0.7 kg Corg /m2 ) than previously vegetated counterparts (0.5 ± 0.1 kg Corg /m2 ). In deeper areas (>5 m), however, soil Corg stocks in seagrass and bare but previously vegetated areas were not significantly different (2.6 ± 0.3 and 3.0 ± 0.6 kg Corg /m2 , respectively). The soil Corg sequestration capacity prevailed in shallow and deep vegetated areas (55 ± 11 and 21 ± 7 g Corg m-2 year-1 , respectively), but was lost in bare areas. We identified that seagrass canopy loss alone does not necessarily drive changes in soil Corg but, when combined with high hydrodynamic energy, significant erosion occurred. Our estimates point at ~0.20 m/s as the critical shear velocity threshold causing soil Corg erosion. We estimate, from field studies and satellite imagery, that soil Corg erosion (within the top 50 cm) following seagrass loss likely resulted in cumulative emissions of 0.06-0.14 Tg CO2-eq over the last 40 years in Cockburn Sound. We estimated that indirect impacts (i.e. eutrophication, thermal stress and light stress) causing the loss of ~161,150 ha of seagrasses in Australia, likely resulted in the release of 11-21 Tg CO2 -eq since the 1950s, increasing cumulative CO2 emissions from land-use change in Australia by 1.1%-2.3% per annum. The patterns described serve as a baseline to estimate potential CO2 emissions following disturbance of seagrass meadows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Salinas
- School of Science & Centre for Marine Ecosystems ResearchEdith Cowan UniversityJoondalupWAAustralia
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational BioScience Research Center (CBRC)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Paul S. Lavery
- School of Science & Centre for Marine Ecosystems ResearchEdith Cowan UniversityJoondalupWAAustralia
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science & Centre for Marine Ecosystems ResearchEdith Cowan UniversityJoondalupWAAustralia
- International Atomic Energy AgencyPrincipality of MonacoMonaco
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals and Departament de FísicaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterraSpain
| | - Ariane Arias‐Ortiz
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals and Departament de FísicaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterraSpain
- Ecosystem Science DivisionDepartment of Environmental Science, Policy and ManagementUniversity of California at BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Javier X. Leon
- Global Change Ecology Research GroupSchool of Science and EngineeringUniversity of the Sunshine CoastSippy DownsQldAustralia
| | - David Callaghan
- School of Civil EngineeringThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQldAustralia
| | - Gary A. Kendrick
- The School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
| | - Oscar Serrano
- School of Science & Centre for Marine Ecosystems ResearchEdith Cowan UniversityJoondalupWAAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Serrano O, Lovelock CE, B Atwood T, Macreadie PI, Canto R, Phinn S, Arias-Ortiz A, Bai L, Baldock J, Bedulli C, Carnell P, Connolly RM, Donaldson P, Esteban A, Ewers Lewis CJ, Eyre BD, Hayes MA, Horwitz P, Hutley LB, Kavazos CRJ, Kelleway JJ, Kendrick GA, Kilminster K, Lafratta A, Lee S, Lavery PS, Maher DT, Marbà N, Masque P, Mateo MA, Mount R, Ralph PJ, Roelfsema C, Rozaimi M, Ruhon R, Salinas C, Samper-Villarreal J, Sanderman J, J Sanders C, Santos I, Sharples C, Steven ADL, Cannard T, Trevathan-Tackett SM, Duarte CM. Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4313. [PMID: 31575872 PMCID: PMC6773740 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5–11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70–185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055–1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1–3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12–21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here the authors assessed organic carbon storage in VCE across Australian and the potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and find that Australia contributes substantially the carbon stored in VCE globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Serrano
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Trisha B Atwood
- The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Burwood Campus, Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Robert Canto
- The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Remote Sensing Research Centre/Joint Remote Sensing Research Program, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Stuart Phinn
- The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Remote Sensing Research Centre/Joint Remote Sensing Research Program, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ariane Arias-Ortiz
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals and Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Le Bai
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, 0810, Australia
| | - Jeff Baldock
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
| | - Camila Bedulli
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Paul Carnell
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Burwood Campus, Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute-Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment andScience, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | | | - Alba Esteban
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Ewers Lewis
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Burwood Campus, Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Bradley D Eyre
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Matthew A Hayes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Australian Rivers Institute-Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment andScience, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Pierre Horwitz
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Lindsay B Hutley
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, 0810, Australia
| | - Christopher R J Kavazos
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jeffrey J Kelleway
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Kieryn Kilminster
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Locked Bag 10, Joondalup DC, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Anna Lafratta
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Shing Lee
- Australian Rivers Institute-Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment andScience, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Simon FS Li Marine Science Laboratory, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Paul S Lavery
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Damien T Maher
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Núria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Spain
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals and Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.,UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,School of Physics, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Miguel A Mateo
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Richard Mount
- Discipline of Geography and Spatial Sciences, School of Technology, Environments and Design, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Peter J Ralph
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Chris Roelfsema
- Remote Sensing Research Centre/Joint Remote Sensing Research Program, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mohammad Rozaimi
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,Centre for Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Radhiyah Ruhon
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10, Tamalanrea, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Cristian Salinas
- School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,Marine and Coastal Research Institute "José Benito Vives De Andréis" INVEMAR, Calle 25 No. 2-55, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Jimena Samper-Villarreal
- The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Ciudad de la Investigación, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica.,Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jonathan Sanderman
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia.,Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, MA, 02540, USA
| | - Christian J Sanders
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Isaac Santos
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Chris Sharples
- Discipline of Geography and Spatial Sciences, School of Technology, Environments and Design, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew D L Steven
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Toni Cannard
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Stacey M Trevathan-Tackett
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Burwood Campus, Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Macreadie PI, Anton A, Raven JA, Beaumont N, Connolly RM, Friess DA, Kelleway JJ, Kennedy H, Kuwae T, Lavery PS, Lovelock CE, Smale DA, Apostolaki ET, Atwood TB, Baldock J, Bianchi TS, Chmura GL, Eyre BD, Fourqurean JW, Hall-Spencer JM, Huxham M, Hendriks IE, Krause-Jensen D, Laffoley D, Luisetti T, Marbà N, Masque P, McGlathery KJ, Megonigal JP, Murdiyarso D, Russell BD, Santos R, Serrano O, Silliman BR, Watanabe K, Duarte CM. The future of Blue Carbon science. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3998. [PMID: 31488846 PMCID: PMC6728345 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11693-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The term Blue Carbon (BC) was first coined a decade ago to describe the disproportionately large contribution of coastal vegetated ecosystems to global carbon sequestration. The role of BC in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. To help prioritise future research, we assembled leading experts in the field to agree upon the top-ten pending questions in BC science. Understanding how climate change affects carbon accumulation in mature BC ecosystems and during their restoration was a high priority. Controversial questions included the role of carbonate and macroalgae in BC cycling, and the degree to which greenhouse gases are released following disturbance of BC ecosystems. Scientists seek improved precision of the extent of BC ecosystems; techniques to determine BC provenance; understanding of the factors that influence sequestration in BC ecosystems, with the corresponding value of BC; and the management actions that are effective in enhancing this value. Overall this overview provides a comprehensive road map for the coming decades on future research in BC science. The role of Blue Carbon in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. Here the authors identified the top-ten unresolved questions in the field and find that most questions relate to the precise role blue carbon can play in mitigating climate change and the most effective management actions in maximising this.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter I Macreadie
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Center for Integrative Ecology, Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia.
| | - Andrea Anton
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - John A Raven
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DQ, UK.,Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.,School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nicola Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute-Coast & Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Daniel A Friess
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, Singapore, 117570, Singapore
| | - Jeffrey J Kelleway
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Hilary Kennedy
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai bridge, Bangor, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Tomohiro Kuwae
- Coastal and Estuarine Environment Research Group, Port and Airport Research Institute, 3-1-1 Nagase, Yokosuka, 239-0826, Japan
| | - Paul S Lavery
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Eugenia T Apostolaki
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, PO Box 2214, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Trisha B Atwood
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5210, USA
| | - Jeff Baldock
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Mail Bag, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
| | - Thomas S Bianchi
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2120, USA
| | - Gail L Chmura
- Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B9, Canada
| | - Bradley D Eyre
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - James W Fourqurean
- School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Coastal Oceans Research, Florida International University, 11200 SW8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Jason M Hall-Spencer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.,Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Mark Huxham
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Iris E Hendriks
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, Esporles, 07190, Spain
| | - Dorte Krause-Jensen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, Silkeborg, 8600, Denmark.,Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, bldg. 1540, Århus C, 8000, Denmark
| | - Dan Laffoley
- World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Tiziana Luisetti
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Núria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, Esporles, 07190, Spain
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,The Oceans Institute and Department of Physics, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Departament de Física & Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Karen J McGlathery
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlotttesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - J Patrick Megonigal
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Jl. CIFOR, Situgede, Bogor, 16115, Indonesia.,Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, Bogor Agricultural University, Kampus Darmaga, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Bayden D Russell
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rui Santos
- Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Oscar Serrano
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA
| | - Kenta Watanabe
- Coastal and Estuarine Environment Research Group, Port and Airport Research Institute, 3-1-1 Nagase, Yokosuka, 239-0826, Japan
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Krause-Jensen D, Lavery P, Serrano O, Marbà N, Masque P, Duarte CM. Sequestration of macroalgal carbon: the elephant in the Blue Carbon room. Biol Lett 2019; 14:rsbl.2018.0236. [PMID: 29925564 PMCID: PMC6030603 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroalgae form the most extensive and productive benthic marine vegetated habitats globally but their inclusion in Blue Carbon (BC) strategies remains controversial. We review the arguments offered to reject or include macroalgae in the BC framework, and identify the challenges that have precluded macroalgae from being incorporated so far. Evidence that macroalgae support significant carbon burial is compelling. The carbon they supply to sediment stocks in angiosperm BC habitats is already included in current assessments, so that macroalgae are de facto recognized as important donors of BC. The key challenges are (i) documenting macroalgal carbon sequestered beyond BC habitat, (ii) tracing it back to source habitats, and (iii) showing that management actions at the habitat lead to increased sequestration at the sink site. These challenges apply equally to carbon exported from BC coastal habitats. Because of the large carbon sink they support, incorporation of macroalgae into BC accounting and actions is an imperative. This requires a paradigm shift in accounting procedures as well as developing methods to enable the capacity to trace carbon from donor to sink habitats in the ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorte Krause-Jensen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark .,Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark
| | - Paul Lavery
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Oscar Serrano
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Núria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles (Illes Balears), Spain
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.,Departament de Física & Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.,Oceans Institute & School of Physics, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark.,King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Carnell PE, Windecker SM, Brenker M, Baldock J, Masque P, Brunt K, Macreadie PI. Carbon stocks, sequestration, and emissions of wetlands in south eastern Australia. Glob Chang Biol 2018; 24:4173-4184. [PMID: 29938397 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Nontidal wetlands are estimated to contribute significantly to the soil carbon pool across the globe. However, our understanding of the occurrence and variability of carbon storage between wetland types and across regions represents a major impediment to the ability of nations to include wetlands in greenhouse gas inventories and carbon offset initiatives. We performed a large-scale survey of nontidal wetland soil carbon stocks and accretion rates from the state of Victoria in south-eastern Australia-a region spanning 237,000 km2 and containing >35,000 temperate, alpine, and semi-arid wetlands. From an analysis of >1,600 samples across 103 wetlands, we found that alpine wetlands had the highest carbon stocks (290 ± 180 Mg Corg ha-1 ), while permanent open freshwater wetlands and saline wetlands had the lowest carbon stocks (110 ± 120 and 60 ± 50 Mg Corg ha-1 , respectively). Permanent open freshwater sites sequestered on average three times more carbon per year over the last century than shallow freshwater marshes (2.50 ± 0.44 and 0.79 ± 0.45 Mg Corg ha-1 year-1 , respectively). Using this data, we estimate that wetlands in Victoria have a soil carbon stock in the upper 1 m of 68 million tons of Corg , with an annual soil carbon sequestration rate of 3 million tons of CO2 eq. year-1 -equivalent to the annual emissions of about 3% of the state's population. Since European settlement (~1834), drainage and loss of 260,530 ha of wetlands may have released between 20 and 75 million tons CO2 equivalents (based on 27%-90% of soil carbon converted to CO2 ). Overall, we show that despite substantial spatial variability within wetland types, some wetland types differ in their carbon stocks and sequestration rates. The duration of water inundation, plant community composition, and allochthonous carbon inputs likely play an important role in influencing variation in carbon storage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Carnell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology (Burwood Campus), Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Saras M Windecker
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology (Burwood Campus), Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
- School of BioSciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Madeline Brenker
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology (Burwood Campus), Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Jeff Baldock
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Glen Osmond, Australia
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
- Departament de Física & Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Oceans Institute & School of Physics, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Kate Brunt
- Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Benalla, Australia
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology (Burwood Campus), Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Almahasheer H, Serrano O, Duarte CM, Arias-Ortiz A, Masque P, Irigoien X. Low Carbon sink capacity of Red Sea mangroves. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9700. [PMID: 28852185 PMCID: PMC5574891 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10424-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mangroves forests of Avicennia marina occupy about 135 km2 in the Red Sea and represent one of the most important vegetated communities in this otherwise arid and oligotrophic region. We assessed the soil organic carbon (Corg) stocks, soil accretion rates (SAR; mm y−1) and soil Corg sequestration rates (g Corg m−2 yr−1) in 10 mangrove sites within four locations along the Saudi coast of the Central Red Sea. Soil Corg density and stock in Red Sea mangroves were among the lowest reported globally, with an average of 4 ± 0.3 mg Corg cm−3 and 43 ± 5 Mg Corg ha−1 (in 1 m-thick soils), respectively. Sequestration rates of Corg, estimated at 3 ± 1 and 15 ± 1 g Corg m−2 yr−1 for the long (millennia) and short (last century) temporal scales, respectively, were also relatively low compared to mangrove habitats from more humid bioregions. In contrast, the accretion rates of Central Red Sea mangroves soils were within the range reported for global mangrove forests. The relatively low Corg sink capacity of Red Sea mangroves could be due to the extreme environmental conditions such as low rainfall, nutrient limitation and high temperature, reducing the growth rates of the mangroves and increasing soil respiration rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Almahasheer
- Biology Department, University of Dammam (UOD), Dammam, 31441-1982, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Oscar Serrano
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, 6027, Australia
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ariane Arias-Ortiz
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Departament de Física & Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, 6027, Australia.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Departament de Física & Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Barcelona, Spain.,The UWA Oceans Institute & School of Physics, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, Australia
| | - Xabier Irigoien
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,AZTI - Marine Research, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g - 20110 Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Pasaia, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Serrano O, Lavery P, Masque P, Inostroza K, Bongiovanni J, Duarte C. Seagrass sediments reveal the long-term deterioration of an estuarine ecosystem. Glob Chang Biol 2016; 22:1523-1531. [PMID: 26818637 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The study of a Posidonia australis sediment archive has provided a record of ecosystem dynamics and processes over the last 600 years in Oyster Harbour (SW Australia). Ecosystem shifts are a widespread phenomenon in coastal areas, and this study identifies baseline conditions and the time-course of ecological change (cycles, trends, resilience and thresholds of ecosystem change) under environmental stress in seagrass-dominated ecosystem. The shifts in the concentrations of chemical elements, carbonates, sediments <0.125 mm and stable carbon isotope signatures (δ(13) C) of the organic matter were detected between 1850s and 1920s, whereas the shift detected in P concentration occurred several decades later (1960s). The first degradation phase (1850s-1950s) follows the onset of European settlement in Australia and was characterized by a strong increase in sediment accumulation rates and fine-grained particles, driven primarily by enhanced run-off due to land clearance and agriculture in the catchment. About 80% of total seagrass area at Oyster Harbour was lost during the second phase of environmental degradation (1960s until present). The sharp increase in P concentration and the increasing contribution of algae and terrestrial inputs into the sedimentary organic matter pool around 1960s provides compelling evidence of the documented eutrophication of the estuary and the subsequent loss of seagrass meadows. The results presented demonstrate the power of seagrass sedimentary archives to reconstruct the trajectories of anthropogenic pressures on estuarine ecosystem and the associated regime shifts, which can be used to improve the capacity of scientists and environmental managers to understand, predict and better manage ecological change in these ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Serrano
- School of Natural Sciences & Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
- The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Paul Lavery
- School of Natural Sciences & Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Blanes, 17300, Spain
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Natural Sciences & Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
- Oceans Institute & School of Physics, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Departament de Física - Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | | | - James Bongiovanni
- School of Natural Sciences & Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Carlos Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Maderich V, Jung KT, Bezhenar R, de With G, Qiao F, Casacuberta N, Masque P, Kim YH. Dispersion and fate of ⁹⁰Sr in the Northwestern Pacific and adjacent seas: global fallout and the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident. Sci Total Environ 2014; 494-495:261-271. [PMID: 25058893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.06.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 06/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The 3D compartment model POSEIDON-R was applied to the Northwestern Pacific and adjacent seas to simulate the transport and fate of (90)Sr in the period 1945-2010 and to perform a radiological assessment on the releases of (90)Sr due to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident for the period 2011-2040. The contamination due to runoff of (90)Sr from terrestrial surfaces was taken into account using a generic predictive model. A dynamical food-chain model describes the transfer of (90)Sr to phytoplankton, zooplankton, molluscs, crustaceans, piscivorous and non-piscivorous fishes. Results of the simulations were compared with observation data on (90)Sr for the period 1955-2010 and the budget of (90)Sr activity was estimated. It was found that in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea the riverine influx was 1.5% of the ocean influx and it was important only locally. Calculated concentrations of (90)Sr in water, bottom sediment and marine organisms before and after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident are in good agreement with available experimental measurements. The concentration of (90)Sr in seawater would return to the background levels within one year after leakages were stopped. The model predicts that the concentration of (90)Sr in fish after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident shall return to the background concentrations only 2 years later due to the delay of the transfer throughout the food web and specific accumulation of (90)Sr. The contribution of (90)Sr to the maximal dose rate due to the FDNPP accident was three orders of magnitude less than that due to (137)Cs, and thus well below the maximum effective dose limits for the public.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Maderich
- Institute of Mathematical Machine and System Problems, Glushkov av., 42, Kiev 03187, Ukraine.
| | - K T Jung
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 787, Haean-ro, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.
| | - R Bezhenar
- Ukrainian Center of Water and Environmental Projects, Glushkov av., 42, Kiev 03187, Ukraine.
| | - G de With
- NRG, Utrechtseweg 310, 6800 ES Arnhem, The Netherlands.
| | - F Qiao
- First Institute of Oceanography, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao 266061, China.
| | - N Casacuberta
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Schafmattstrasse 20, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - P Masque
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Y H Kim
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 787, Haean-ro, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cámara-Mor P, Masque P, Garcia-Orellana J, Kern S, Cochran JK, Hanfland C. Interception of atmospheric fluxes by Arctic sea ice: Evidence from cosmogenic7Be. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jc006847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|