Mangroves as a major source of soil carbon storage in adjacent seagrass meadows

• DOI: 10.1038/srep42406
• Publication Date: 2017-02-10T10:15:34Z
• Authors: Guangcheng Chen; Muhammad Husni Azkab; Gail L. Chmura; Shunyang Chen; Pramudji Sastrosu...; Zhiyuan Ma; I. Wayan Eka Dhar...; Xijie Yin; Bin Chen
• Keywords: Blue carbon; Soil carbon

Abstract Mangrove forests have the potential to export carbon adjacent ecosystems but whether mangrove-derived organic (OC) would enhance soil OC storage in seagrass meadows mangroves is unclear. In this study we examine for contribution of mangrove soils on coast North Sulawesi, Indonesia. We found that had significantly higher concentrations, with lower δ 13 C, and bulk density than those at non-mangrove meadows. Soil 30 cm depth ranged from 3.21 6.82 kg C m −2 , was also non-adjacent analyses revealed contributed 34 83% The value plants different between seagrasses which were not, values measured mangroves. Moreover, significant spatial variation both concentration storage, decreasing toward sea, reduced distance forest.