Making surfgrasses great again: net carbon fluxes support their key role as Blue Carbon systems
Jessica Anayansi Garcia Pantoja, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, anayansi.garcia@uabc.edu.mx (Presenter)
Leonardo Ruiz Montoya, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, leonardoruiz83@gmail.com
Jose Miguel Sandoval Gil, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, jmsandoval.gil@gmail.com
Manuel Vivanco Bercovich, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, manuviberco@hotmail.com
Alejandra Ferreira Arrieta, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, alejandra.ferreira@uabc.edu.mx
Jose Manuel Guzmán Calderón, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, jmguzman@uabc.edu.mx
Orión Norzagaray López, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, orion.norzagaray@uabc.edu.mx
Guillermo Samperio Ramos, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, guillermo.samperio@uabc.edu.mx
Gabriela Montaño Moctezuma, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, gmontano@uabc.edu.mx
Martín Hernández Ayón, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, jmartin@uabc.edu.mx
Seagrass meadows are known to play a critical role in capturing CO2 in the coastal areas. Despite this and the widespread abundance of Phyllospadix species along the North Pacific coastline (Phyllospadix torreyi and Phyllospadix scouleri), there are no reports evaluating their potential as Blue Carbon sinks/stocks based on carbon fluxes. This study is the first to explore the net-fixation capacity of dissolved inorganic carbon by a Phyllospadix meadow, and the total Carbon stored in its epigeal and hypogeal biomass. The study took place in two contrasting seasons (winter and summer) in an unaltered meadow located on an island within the Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, i.e., Isla Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico. We mapped the meadow total area and quantified its coverage and corresponding biomass along the entire depth gradient, while monitoring PAR irradiance and temperature in situ. The carbon net-fixation rates at meadow level were quantified according to its vegetative productivity, and the photosynthesis and respiration rates of shoots measured in the laboratory by using respirometers. Photosynthetic and respiration rates were expressed in carbon units by applying photosynthetic and respiration quotients, also quantified for the first time in these species. The average dissolved inorganic carbon fixation was ~279 mmol CO2 m-2 day-1. Foliar biomass between 1600-1750 g FW m-2 represents stored C of ~5.52 Mg C ha-1, which is up to ten times higher than Zostera marina also present in the North-Pacific bioregion. The stability of the vegetative productivity of surfgrass meadows and their high photosynthetic biomass and net fluxes indicate the important role of these seagrass communities as Blue-C systems, which emphasizes the need to protect and restore them.
Poster: Poster_Garcia_Pantoja_0_160_21.pdf
Recording: Video_Poster_Garcia_Pantoja_0_160_21.mp4
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Diagnosis and Attribution of NA Carbon Cycle