Conference presentation
Carbon losses from a catastrophic mangrove dieback event in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network (Hobart, Australia, 21/03/2017 - 24/03/2017)
22/03/2017
Metrics
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Abstract
A large-scale mangrove dieback occurred in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Australia throughout the second half of 2015. Understanding the fate of mangrove carbon in response to this event is of great importance as the causes may be linked to climatic trends. We undertook field-based measurements of CO2 and CH4 fluxes from soils in dead mangrove areas, and nearby apparently unaffected areas near Karumba, Queensland in August/September 2016. In addition, offshore exports of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and alkalinity (TAlk) were calculated from the same coastlines using radium isotopes to estimate offshore mixing rates. Fluxes of CO2 from soils ranged from 9 mmol/m2/d to 1732 mmol/m2/d with the highest fluxes observed in areas with stressed mangroves (defoliated but not dead). Methane fluxes from soils were generally low, ranging from below-detection to 2 mmol m-2 d-1. Offshore exports from the coastline with dead mangroves of DIC (75.8 mmol/m2/d) and TAlk (84.4 mmol/m2/d) were ~ 5 and 7% lower than from the coastline with living mangroves (79.5 mmol/m2/d DIC and 90.2 mmol/m2/d TAlk). These results suggest that the event has had an impact upon the coastal carbon cycle, but follow-up studies are required to assess the long term effects.
Details
- Title
- Carbon losses from a catastrophic mangrove dieback event in the Gulf of Carpentaria
- Creators
- James Sippo - Southern Cross UniversityIsaac R Santos - Southern Cross UniversityMitchell Call - Southern Cross UniversityAshly McMahonDamien T Maher - Southern Cross University
- Conference
- Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network (Hobart, Australia, 21/03/2017 - 24/03/2017)
- Identifiers
- 991012845997902368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Science
- Resource Type
- Conference presentation