RT journal article
T1 Long-term sediment organic carbon remineralization in different seagrass and macroalgae habitats: implication for blue carbon storage
A1 Yamuza Magdaleno, Alba
A1 Jiménez Ramos, Rocío
A1 Casal Porras, Isabel
A1 Brun Murillo, Fernando Guillermo
A1 Egea Tinoco, Luis Gonzalo
A2 Biología
K1 sediment organic carbon
K1 dissolved organic carbon
K1 remineralization
K1 recalcitrant DOC
K1 labile DOC
K1 Cymodocea nodosa
K1 Zostera noltei
K1 Caulerpa prolifera
AB Seagrass and macroalgae beds are key blue carbon ecosystems in the ocean. However, coastal development and climate change are sparking a growing concern about the vulnerability of sediment organic carbon (OC) to remineralization after macrophyte perturbation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the potential of long-term remineralization of sediment OC stocks (1 year) in coastal vegetated habitats (i.e., seagrasses Zostera noltei and Cymodocea nodosa, macroalgae Caulerpa prolifera and unvegetated sediment) after complete disturbance of macrophyte meadows under conducive conditions to microorganisms growth (i.e., oxygen saturated, non-nutrient limitation, turbulence and dark). Leached dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from particulate organic carbon (POC) remineralization, carbonate dissolution and photo-reactivity of long-term persistent DOC were also evaluated. Our results evidenced that, sediment OC from Z. noltei and unvegetated habitats were entirely remineralized to CO2. However, sediment OC from C. nodosa and C. prolifera communities exhibited a significant fraction of recalcitrant OC, and therefore, a 42 and 46% of the sediment OC still remained after 1 year of culture, respectively. POC remineralization released relevant amounts of both labile and recalcitrant DOC, which showed low photo-reactivity. Finally, we discuss that the main argument to promote management, monitoring, and restoration programs for macrophytes is usually based on their sediment OC deposit, which favor larger species. The study presented here adds arguments to also include small macrophyte species, since their sediment OC may be highly labile and entirely remineralized to CO2 once these habitats are disturbed.
PB Frontiers Media SA
SN 2296-7745
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/33485
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/33485
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 09-nov-2026