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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Carbon accumulation within anthropogenically impacted Peruvian Coastal saltmarshes
Anthropocene Coasts, Vol.8(1), pp.1-11
29/12/2025
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Abstract
Coastal wetlands are critical ecosystems due to the wide range of ecosystem services they provide. This study investigates the accumulation of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in sediment cores from anthropogenically impacted saltmarsh wetlands of Puerto Viejo (PV) and Ventanilla ( () from Peru. Sediment cores, each 30 cm
in length, were collected by duplicate from both sites and analyzed for TOC, TN, and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N). Sediment accumulation rates (SAR) were determined using the Constant Flux Constant Supply (CFCS) model, and carbon and nitrogen accumulation rates were subsequently calculated based on SAR and elemental concentrations. The SAR were~3.4 mm yr ⁻1 in PV and~3.3 mm yr ⁻1 in VEN, values lower than the global average for coastal marshes (6.0 mm yr ⁻1), yet closer to those reported for non-impacted systems (4.0 mm yr ⁻1). Beginning in the early1990´s, anthropogenic impacts such as urban expansion and increased sewage discharge coincided with elevated TOC and TN accumulation rates within both study areas. Maximum accumulation rates for TOC and TN in PV reached 235±49 g m ⁻2 yr ⁻1 and 28±3 g m ⁻2 yr ⁻1, while in VEN reached 459±99 g m ⁻2 yr ⁻1 and 23±9 g m ⁻2 yr ⁻1 , respectively.
Post-1990´s, markedly lighter δ13C values in PV and VEN ranged in−25.2±1.6 ‰ and−19.3±3.5 ‰, respectively, indicating increased inputs of non-terrestrial material in sediments. Concurrently, elevated δ15N values in PV and VEN ranged+11.4±0.65‰ and+7.37±8.16‰, respectively, suggesting that the carbon sources were derived from a mixture of terrestrial vegetation and algae, stimulated by nutrient enrichment linked to anthropogenic activity. These findings highlight the pivotal role of coastal wetlands in accumulating carbon from both natural and anthropogenic sources, reinforcing the imperative for their conservation amid escalating global human-induced pressures.
Details
- Title
- Carbon accumulation within anthropogenically impacted Peruvian Coastal saltmarshes
- Creators
- Héctor Aponte - Universidad Científica del SurRodrigo Castro - Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaRenzo Gonzales - Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaJorge Cardich - Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaWilson Machado - Universidade Federal FluminenseChristian J. Sanders - Southern Cross UniversityMatthieu Carre - IPSL-LOCEAN Laboratory, Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ Paris 06)-CNRS-IRD-MNHNAlexander Pérez - Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
- Publication Details
- Anthropocene Coasts, Vol.8(1), pp.1-11
- Publisher
- Springer Nature Singapore; LONDON
- Grant note
- This study was supported by the Programa Nacional de Investigación Científica y Estudios Avanzados (PROCIENCIA – PERU) through the project “ Humedales Altoandinos: Evaluación del cambio climático y capacidad de mitigación ” (Grant No. PE501078570-2022-PROCIENCIA). The sampling campaigns and sample analysis of this study were funded by the project “ Valorización de los Humedales Peruanos dentro del mercado de Créditos de Carbono ” (Grant No 87–2018-FONDECYT-BM-IADT-AV). WM is supported by CNPq (grant no. 312849/2019–2) and CAPES (finance code 001).
- Identifiers
- 991013338690702368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article