TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamics and fate of blue carbon in a mangrove–seagrass seascape
T2 - influence of landscape configuration and land-use change
AU - Asplund, Maria E.
AU - Dahl, Martin
AU - Ismail, Rashid O.
AU - Arias-Ortiz, Ariane
AU - Deyanova, Diana
AU - Franco, João N.
AU - Hammar, Linus
AU - Hoamby, Arielle I.
AU - Linderholm, Hans W.
AU - Lyimo, Liberatus D.
AU - Perry, Diana
AU - Rasmusson, Lina M.
AU - Ridgway, Samantha N.
AU - Salgado Gispert, Gloria
AU - D'Agata, Stéphanie
AU - Glass, Leah
AU - Mahafina, Jamal Angelot
AU - Ramahery, Volanirina
AU - Masque, Pere
AU - Björk, Mats
AU - Gullström, Martin
N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2021. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Context Seagrass meadows act as efficient natural carbon sinks by sequestering atmospheric CO2 and through trapping of allochthonous organic material, thereby preserving organic carbon (Corg) in their sediments. Less understood is the influence of landscape configuration and transformation (land-use change) on carbon sequestration dynamics in coastal seascapes across the land–sea interface. Objectives We explored the influence of landscape configuration and degradation of adjacent mangroves on the dynamics and fate of Corg in seagrass habitats. Methods Through predictive modelling, we assessed sedimentary Corg content, stocks and source composition in multiple seascapes (km-wide buffer zones) dominated by different seagrass communities in northwest Madagascar. The study area encompassed seagrass meadows adjacent to intact and deforested mangroves. Results The sedimentary Corg content was influenced by a combination of landscape metrics and inherent habitat plant- and sediment-properties. We found a strong land-to-sea gradient, likely driven by hydrodynamic forces, generating distinct patterns in sedimentary Corg levels in seagrass seascapes. There was higher Corg content and a mangrove signal in seagrass surface sediments closer to the deforested mangrove area, possibly due to an escalated export of Corg from deforested mangrove soils. Seascapes comprising large continuous seagrass meadows had higher sedimentary Corg levels in comparison to more diverse and patchy seascapes. Conclusion Our results emphasize the benefit to consider the influence of seascape configuration and connectivity to accurately assess Corg content in coastal habitats. Understanding spatial patterns of variability and what is driving the observed patterns is useful for identifying carbon sink hotspots and develop management prioritizations.
AB - Context Seagrass meadows act as efficient natural carbon sinks by sequestering atmospheric CO2 and through trapping of allochthonous organic material, thereby preserving organic carbon (Corg) in their sediments. Less understood is the influence of landscape configuration and transformation (land-use change) on carbon sequestration dynamics in coastal seascapes across the land–sea interface. Objectives We explored the influence of landscape configuration and degradation of adjacent mangroves on the dynamics and fate of Corg in seagrass habitats. Methods Through predictive modelling, we assessed sedimentary Corg content, stocks and source composition in multiple seascapes (km-wide buffer zones) dominated by different seagrass communities in northwest Madagascar. The study area encompassed seagrass meadows adjacent to intact and deforested mangroves. Results The sedimentary Corg content was influenced by a combination of landscape metrics and inherent habitat plant- and sediment-properties. We found a strong land-to-sea gradient, likely driven by hydrodynamic forces, generating distinct patterns in sedimentary Corg levels in seagrass seascapes. There was higher Corg content and a mangrove signal in seagrass surface sediments closer to the deforested mangrove area, possibly due to an escalated export of Corg from deforested mangrove soils. Seascapes comprising large continuous seagrass meadows had higher sedimentary Corg levels in comparison to more diverse and patchy seascapes. Conclusion Our results emphasize the benefit to consider the influence of seascape configuration and connectivity to accurately assess Corg content in coastal habitats. Understanding spatial patterns of variability and what is driving the observed patterns is useful for identifying carbon sink hotspots and develop management prioritizations.
KW - Seascape connectivity
KW - Land–sea interface
KW - Mangrove deforestation
KW - Seagrass meadows
KW - Sedimentary carbon storage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101816868&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE170100219
U2 - 10.1007/s10980-021-01216-8
DO - 10.1007/s10980-021-01216-8
M3 - Article
SN - 0921-2973
VL - 36
SP - 1489
EP - 1509
JO - Landscape Ecology
JF - Landscape Ecology
IS - 5
ER -