macreadie-carbon-2017.pdf (647.54 kB)
Carbon sequestration by Australian tidal marshes
journal contribution
posted on 2017-03-10, 00:00 authored by Peter MacreadiePeter Macreadie, Quinn Ollivier, J J Kelleway, O Serrano, Paul CarnellPaul Carnell, Carolyn Jane Ewers Lewis, T B Atwood, J Sanderman, J Baldock, R M Connolly, C M Duarte, P S Lavery, A Steven, C E LovelockAustralia's tidal marshes have suffered significant losses but their recently recognised importance in CO2 sequestration is creating opportunities for their protection and restoration. We compiled all available data on soil organic carbon (OC) storage in Australia's tidal marshes (323 cores). OC stocks in the surface 1 m averaged 165.41 (SE 6.96) Mg OC ha(-1) (range 14-963 Mg OC ha(-1)). The mean OC accumulation rate was 0.55 ± 0.02 Mg OC ha(-1) yr(-1). Geomorphology was the most important predictor of OC stocks, with fluvial sites having twice the stock of OC as seaward sites. Australia's 1.4 million hectares of tidal marshes contain an estimated 212 million tonnes of OC in the surface 1 m, with a potential CO2-equivalent value of $USD7.19 billion. Annual sequestration is 0.75 Tg OC yr(-1), with a CO2-equivalent value of $USD28.02 million per annum. This study provides the most comprehensive estimates of tidal marsh blue carbon in Australia, and illustrates their importance in climate change mitigation and adaptation, acting as CO2 sinks and buffering the impacts of rising sea level. We outline potential further development of carbon offset schemes to restore the sequestration capacity and other ecosystem services provided by Australia tidal marshes.
History
Journal
Scientific reportsVolume
7Article number
44071Pagination
1 - 10Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
2045-2322eISSN
2045-2322Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, The AuthorsUsage metrics
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