Stable carbon isotope evidence for two sources of organic matter in coastal sediments: seagrasses and plankton

Fry, Brian; Scalan, R.S.; Parker, Patrick L.

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(77)90218-6

Cited by 124 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The δ 13 C signatures of mangrove sediment TOC did not vary much over the different sites sampled, typically ranging between −26.5 and −24.3 ‰, except in the seaward Sonneratia 2000), Dauby (1989), Dauby et al (1998), Fry (1984), Fry et al (1977Fry et al ( , 1982Fry et al ( , 1983 Vizzini et al (2002), and Vizzini and Mazzola (2004). Note: (i) the data presented in Harrigan et al (1989) and Kieckbusch et al (2004), an average δ 13 C was taken for three co-occurring seagrass species; (ii) in the Kharlamenko et al (2001) dataset, seagrass δ 13 C values for green, brown and dead leaves were averaged; (iii) sediment δ 13 C values for Dauby et al (1998) refer to the "aerobic zone" data only, and (iv) data from Vizzini and Mazzola (2004) represent an average value for data from four different seasons.…”

Section: Composition Of Mangrove and Seagrass Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

2004

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Abstract. The origin of carbon substrates used by in situ sedimentary bacterial communities was investigated in an intertidal mangrove ecosystem and in adjacent seagrass beds in Gazi bay (Kenya) by δ 13 C analysis of bacteria-specific PLFA (phospholipid fatty acids) and bulk organic carbon. Export of mangrove-derived organic matter to the adjacent seagrasscovered bay was evident from sedimentary total organic carbon (TOC) and δ 13 C TOC data. PLFA δ 13 C data indicate that the substrate used by bacterial communities varied strongly and that exported mangrove carbon was a significant source for bacteria in the adjacent seagrass beds. Within the intertidal mangrove forest, bacterial PLFA at the surface layer (0-1 cm) typically showed more enriched δ 13 C values than deeper (up to 10 cm) sediment layers, suggesting a contribution from microphytobenthos and/or inwelled seagrass material.Under the simplifying assumption that seagrasses and mangroves are the dominant potential end-members, the estimated contribution of mangrove-derived carbon to benthic mineralization in the seagrass beds (16-74%) corresponds fairly well to the estimated contribution of mangrove C to the sedimentary organic matter pool (21-71%) across different seagrass sites. Based on the results of this study and a compilation of literature data, we suggest that trapping of allochtonous C is a common feature in seagrass beds and often represents a significant source of C for sediment bacteria -both in cases where seagrass C dominates the sediment TOC pool and in cases where external inputs are significant. Hence, it is likely that data on community respiration rates systematically overestimate the role of in situ mineralization as a fate of seagrass production.

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Section: Composition Of Mangrove and Seagrass Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

2004

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“…The different C org sources vary in their turnover compared to seagrasses (sources other than seagrasses being typically faster) and volumes of standing stock (typically less) and thus affect the dynamics of the C org stocks and accumulation (Fry et al, 1977;Holmer et al, 2004;Kennedy et al, 2004Kennedy et al, , 2010. Seagrasses are known to be enriched in δ 13 C compared to other potentially sources of C org in the seagrass sediments, such as plankton, macroalgae, allochthonous carbon material, seagrass epiphytes, and benthic microalgae (Kennedy et al, 2004(Kennedy et al, , 2010Fry and Sherr, 1984;Moncreiff and Sullivan, 2001;Bouillon et al, 2003;Bouillon and Boschker, 2006;Macreadie et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blue carbon stocks in Baltic Sea eelgrass (<i>Zostera marina</i>) meadows

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Although seagrasses cover only a minor fraction of the ocean seafloor, their carbon sink capacity accounts for nearly one-fifth of the total oceanic carbon burial and thus play a critical structural and functional role in many coastal ecosystems. We sampled 10 eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in Finland and 10 in Denmark to explore seagrass carbon stocks (C org stock) and carbon accumulation rates (C org accumulation) in the Baltic Sea area. The study sites represent a gradient from sheltered to exposed locations in both regions to reflect expected minimum and maximum stocks and accumulation. The C org stock integrated over the top 25 cm of the sediment averaged 627 g C m −2 in Finland, while in Denmark the average C org stock was over 6 times higher (4324 g C m −2 ). A conservative estimate of the total organic carbon pool in the regions ranged between 6.98 and 44.9 t C ha −1 . Our results suggest that the Finnish eelgrass meadows are minor carbon sinks compared to the Danish meadows, and that majority of the C org produced in the Finnish meadows is exported. Our analysis further showed that > 40 % of the variation in the C org stocks was explained by sediment characteristics, i.e. dry density, porosity and silt content. In addition, our analysis show that the root : shoot ratio of Z. marina explained > 12 % and the contribution of Z. marina detritus to the sediment surface C org pool explained > 10 % of the variation in the C org stocks. The mean monetary value for the present carbon storage and carbon sink capacity of eelgrass meadows in Finland and Denmark, were 281 and 1809 EUR ha −1 , respectively. For a more comprehensive picture of seagrass carbon storage capacity, we conclude that future blue carbon studies should, in a more integrative way, investigate the interactions between sediment biogeochemistry, seascape structure, plant species architecture and the hydrodynamic regime.

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“…In multiple-source mixing models, there must be n different tracers, such as stable isotopes, for n + 1 contributing organic matter (OM) sources (Phillips & Gregg 2003). Sources of OM have unique stable isotope ratios due to variability in fractionation and environmental conditions (Fry 1977, Thayer et al 1978. As plant species can have analogous photosynthetic pathways resulting in similar fractionation patterns and carbon isotope values, using multiple stable isotopes, such as δ A difficulty in using stable isotopes to quantify OM sources in sediments is that the material is subjected to early diagenesis, primarily through microbial decomposition, which can alter stable isotope values (Freudenthal et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of sediment carbon sequestered in restored seagrass meadows

Greiner¹,

Wilkinson

McGlathery³

et al. 2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Seagrass meadows accumulate carbon in sediments as a result of in situ production and sedimentation of particulate organic matter (OM). We quantified the contribution of OM sources to the sediment carbon pool in restored seagrass meadows of different ages (unvegetated and 4 and 10 yr since restoration) in the Virginia coastal bays. Using carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes, we estimated the contribution of seagrass (Zostera marina), benthic diatoms and sestonic particles (BD/S), and macroalgae (MA) to the sediment OM pool influenced by restoration (top 10 cm) with a Bayesian mixing model. Marsh grass was not a likely source based on C:N ratios of the sediment OM. The 4 and 10 yr seagrass meadows had similar OM source contributions to the top 10 cm of sediment, which were distinct from those of unvegetated sites. Seagrass, BD/S, and MA contributed 41, 56, and 3%, respectively, in the 10 yr age treatments and 50, 46, and 4%, respectively, in the 4 yr age treatments. Diagenesis of OM sources had little impact on the source contribution estimates. In combination with carbon accumulation rates at these sites (37 g C m . This study demonstrates how seagrass restoration contributes to the sequestration of 'blue carbon' and quantifies the impact restored seagrass meadow age has on stored sediment carbon.

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Stable carbon isotope evidence for two sources of organic matter in coastal sediments: seagrasses and plankton

Cited by 124 publications

References 12 publications

Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

Blue carbon stocks in Baltic Sea eelgrass (<i>Zostera marina</i>) meadows

Sources of sediment carbon sequestered in restored seagrass meadows

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Stable carbon isotope evidence for two sources of organic matter in coastal sediments: seagrasses and plankton

Cited by 124 publications

References 12 publications

Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

Blue carbon stocks in Baltic Sea eelgrass (&lt;i&gt;Zostera marina&lt;/i&gt;) meadows

Sources of sediment carbon sequestered in restored seagrass meadows

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Product

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Blue carbon stocks in Baltic Sea eelgrass (<i>Zostera marina</i>) meadows