MEPS 698:29-39 (2022) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14153
Pneumatophores and crab burrows increase CO2 and CH4 emission from sediments in two Brazilian fringe mangrove forests
Erik Kristensen1,*, Thomas Valdemarsen1, Paula C. de Moraes2, Arthur Z. Güth2, Paulo Y. G. Sumida2, Cintia O. Quintana1
ABSTRACT: We assessed the release of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) from air-exposed sediments and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from inundated sediments in 2 Brazilian mangrove forests. Our focus was on the impact of biogenic structures, i.e. pneumatophores and crab burrows, on greenhouse gas emissions. Emission of CO2 from air-exposed bare sediment (111-156 and 57-148 mmol m-2 d-1 in darkness and in light, respectively) was comparable to DIC release from inundated sediment (122-158 and 52-62 mmol m-2 d-1, respectively). Pneumatophores and crab burrows increased dark CO2 emission during air exposure by 113-123 and 49-91%, respectively. CH4 emission from air-exposed bare sediment (0.22-0.25 mmol m-2 d-1) was increased 92-137 and 288-607%, respectively, by pneumatophores and burrows. Carbon loss in the form of CO2 and DIC from sediments with biogenic structures can at the two study locations be extrapolated to 64.1 and 71.0 mol C m-2 yr-1. These values fit well with literature values of litterfall in the studied area, providing carbon accretion of 28.5 and 21.6 mol C m-2 yr-1. However, the budget will be unbalanced if the role of biogenic structures is not considered. In the presence of biogenic structures, CH4 emissions of 2.8 and 3.3 mol C m-2 yr-1 (when converted to CO2 units) will partly (10-15%) counteract the climate mitigation effect of the accumulated carbon. Carbon budgets in mangrove sediments may therefore be flawed if the contribution of biogenic structures to greenhouse gas emissions is ignored.
KEY WORDS: Greenhouse gas emission · Biogenic structures · Climate mitigation · Blue carbon
Full text in pdf format  | Cite this article as: Kristensen E, Valdemarsen T, Moraes PC, Güth AZ, Sumida PYG, Quintana CO
(2022) Pneumatophores and crab burrows increase CO2 and CH4 emission from sediments in two Brazilian fringe mangrove forests. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 698:29-39. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14153
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