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Accelerated Sea‐Level Rise Limits Vegetation Capacity to Sequester Soil Carbon in Coastal Wetlands: A Study Case in Southeastern Australia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-03-31, 00:15 authored by SG Sandi Rojas, JF Rodriguez, PM Saco, N Saintilan, G RiccardiEstimates of global carbon stocks in coastal wetlands reveal that these are some of the most efficient carbon-sequestering environments in the world, which has prompted a renewed interest in conservation and restoration programs as an opportunity for greenhouse gas abatement. Accumulation of carbon in coastal wetlands is linked to diverse factors such as the type of vegetation, geomorphic setting, and sediment supply. Feedbacks between these factors and the tidal flow conditions drive the dynamics of carbon accumulation rates. Climate change-induced sea-level rise has been shown to increase the vulnerability to submergence of saltmarsh and mangroves in coastal wetlands, even if accommodation and landward colonization are possible. These potential losses of wetland vegetation combined with the reduced productivity of newly colonized areas will directly affect the capacity of the wetlands to sequester carbon from sediments and root growth. Here, we implement an eco-geomorphic model to simulate vegetation dynamics, soil carbon accumulation, and changes in soil carbon stock for a restored mangrove-saltmarsh wetland experiencing accelerated sea-level rise. We evaluate model outcomes for existing conditions and two different management scenarios aimed at mitigating sea-level rise effects and conserve wetland vegetation. Even though some management measures can result in partial conservation of wetland vegetation, they do not necessarily result in the best option for soil carbon capture. Our results suggest that accelerated sea-level can trigger accelerated wetland colonization resulting in wetland areas with limited opportunities for soil carbon capture from sediment and root mineralization, an issue that has not been considered in previous studies.
History
Journal
Earth's FutureVolume
9Article number
ARTN e2020EF001901Pagination
1-24Location
Hoboken, NJPublisher DOI
ISSN
2328-4277eISSN
2328-4277Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalIssue
9Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Usage metrics
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Keywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePhysical SciencesEnvironmental SciencesGeosciences, MultidisciplinaryMeteorology & Atmospheric SciencesEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyGeologyblue carbonmangrovewetland modelingsea-level risesaltmarshMANGROVE SEEDLINGSACCUMULATION RATESELEVATED CO2TEMPERATEFORESTSSTORAGEGROWTHMODELTRANSGRESSIONESTABLISHMENT13 Climate ActionEnvironmental Science and Management not elsewhere classifiedPhysical Geography and Environmental Geoscience not elsewhere classifiedAtmospheric Sciences
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