Do marine rooted plants grow in sediment or soil? A critical appraisal on definitions, methodology and communication

Kristensen, Erik; Rabenhorst, Martin C.

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2015.02.005

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Unlike terrestrial ecosystems, which store organic carbon (C org ) mainly in the living biomass, C org stocks in seagrass meadows are mainly found in their soils, where it can accumulate over millennia . The substrates where seagrasses grow meet the requirements for sediment to be considered a soil , despite marine ecologists broadly referring to seagrass substrates as sediments (Kristensen and Rabenhorst, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in <i>Posidonia</i> meadows

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Biotic and abiotic factors influence the accumulation of organic carbon (C org ) in seagrass ecosystems. We surveyed Posidonia sinuosa meadows growing in different water depths to assess the variability in the sources, stocks and accumulation rates of C org . We show that over the last 500 years, P. sinuosa meadows closer to the upper limit of distribution (at 2-4 m depth) accumulated 3-to 4-fold higher C org stocks (averaging 6.3 kg C org m −2 ) at 3-to 4-fold higher rates (12.8 g C org m −2 yr −1 ) compared to meadows closer to the deep limits of distribution (at 6-8 m depth; 1.8 kg C org m −2 and 3.6 g C org m −2 yr −1 ). In shallower meadows, C org stocks were mostly derived from seagrass detritus (88 % in average) compared to meadows closer to the deep limit of distribution (45 % on average). In addition, soil accumulation rates and fine-grained sediment content (< 0.125 mm) in shallower meadows (2.0 mm yr −1 and 9 %, respectively) were approximately 2-fold higher than in deeper meadows (1.2 mm yr −1 and 5 %, respectively). The C org stocks and accumulation rates accumulated over the last 500 years in bare sediments (0.6 kg C org m −2 and 1.2 g C org m −2 yr −1 ) were 3-to 11-fold lower than in P. sinuosa meadows, while fine-grained sediment content (1 %) and seagrass detritus contribution to the C org pool (20 %) were 8-and 3-fold lower than in Posidonia meadows, respectively. The patterns found support the hypothesis that C org storage in seagrass soils is influenced by interactions of biological (e.g., meadow productivity, cover and density), chemical (e.g., recalcitrance of C org stocks) and physical (e.g., hydrodynamic energy and soil accumulation rates) factors within the meadow. We conclude that there is a need to improve global estimates of seagrass carbon storage accounting for biogeochemical factors driving variability within habitats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in <i>Posidonia</i> meadows

et al. 2016

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“…Schematic representation of the marine nearshore system with the definition of tidal areas. Source: Kristensen and Rabenhorst (2015). …”

Section: Figure Captionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concept of subaqueous soils is relatively new in soil science, and it has soon triggered a strong debate between sediment and soil scientists (Kristensen and Rabenhorst, 2015). Traditionally, in fact, subaqueous substrates have always been "simply" considered as deposits of either allochthonous (terrigenous) and autochthonous (often biological) material (Burdige, 2006), that accumulate over time through particle sedimentation from the overlying water column.…”

Section: What Are Tidal and Subaqueous Soils?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Humusica 2, article 12: Aqueous humipedons – Tidal and subtidal humus systems and forms

Zanella

Ferronato

Nobili

et al. 2018

Applied Soil Ecology

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Soils formed in tidal and subtidal environments often do not show sufficient accumulation of undecomposed plant tissues to be classified as Histosols. In this article we present a first attempt of morpho-functional classification of aquatic humus, a revision of the terminology and of the diagnostic features employed by pedologists in the description of aqueous and submerged soils, and we finally suggest some criteria to be used during field investigations. According to the proposed criteria, Redoxi, Reductitidal, and Subtidal humus forms can be distinguished in aquatic systems, avoiding any possible confusion with Histic, Epihisto, Hydro and Para Anaero/Archaeo or Crusto humus forms. The article concludes with some examples of classification, including prefixes for detailing particular intergrades with the other groups of humipedons and with the discussion of the contribution of algae and seagrasses to the formation of Crusto forms.

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“…Until recently, the substrate below marine phanerogams has been studied as sediment by marine biologists and chemists. The recent interest from a soil science perspective has resulted in a few publications in which seagrass substrates are envisioned as soils [3][4][5][6], triggering discussion about their classification as sediment or soil [7]. Regardless of the terminology used, the plant/substrate interactions lead to physico-chemical changes that dramatically modify the texture [8,9] and composition [10][11][12][13], increase organic matter content (OM) [14], microbial populations and diversity [15][16][17][18], while changing redox potential [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pedogenic Processes in a Posidonia oceanica Mat

et al. 2020

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Scientists studying seagrasses typically refer to their substratum as sediment, but recently researchers have begun to refer to it as a soil. However, the logistics of sampling underwater substrata and the fragility of these ecosystems challenge their study using pedological methods. Previous studies have reported geochemical processes within the rhizosphere that are compatible with pedogenesis. Seagrass substratum accumulated over the Recent Holocene and can reach several meters in thickness, but studies about deeper layers are scarce. This study is a first attempt to find sound evidence of vertical structuring in Posidonia oceanica deposits to serve as a basis for more detailed pedological studies. A principal component analysis on X-Ray Fluorescence-elemental composition, carbonate content and organic matter content data along a 475 cm core was able to identify four main physico-chemical signals: humification, accumulation of carbonates, texture and organic matter depletion. The results revealed a highly structured deposit undergoing pedogenetical processes characteristic of soils rather than a mere accumulation of sediments. Further research is required to properly describe the substratum underneath seagrass meadows, decide between the sediment or soil nature for seagrass substrata, and for the eventual inclusion of seagrass substrata in soil classifications and the mapping of seagrass soil resources.

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Do marine rooted plants grow in sediment or soil? A critical appraisal on definitions, methodology and communication

Cited by 17 publications

References 56 publications

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in <i>Posidonia</i> meadows

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in <i>Posidonia</i> meadows

Humusica 2, article 12: Aqueous humipedons – Tidal and subtidal humus systems and forms

Pedogenic Processes in a Posidonia oceanica Mat

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Do marine rooted plants grow in sediment or soil? A critical appraisal on definitions, methodology and communication

Cited by 17 publications

References 56 publications

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in &lt;i&gt;Posidonia&lt;/i&gt; meadows

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in &lt;i&gt;Posidonia&lt;/i&gt; meadows

Humusica 2, article 12: Aqueous humipedons – Tidal and subtidal humus systems and forms

Pedogenic Processes in a Posidonia oceanica Mat

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Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in <i>Posidonia</i> meadows

Key biogeochemical factors affecting soil carbon storage in <i>Posidonia</i> meadows