Journal article
Large CO2 release and tidal flushing in salt marsh crab burrows reduce the potential for blue carbon sequestration
Limnology and Oceanography, Vol.66(1), pp.14-29
18/01/2021
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Abundant crab burrows in carbon-rich, muddy salt marsh soils act as preferential water flow conduits, potentially enhancing carbon transport across the soil–water interface. With increasing recognition of blue carbon systems (salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass) as hotspots of soil carbon sequestration, it is important to understand drivers of soil carbon cycling and fluxes. We conducted field observations and flow modeling to assess how crab burrows drive carbon exchange over time scales of minutes to weeks in an intertidal marsh in South Carolina. Results showed that continuous advective porewater exchange between the crab burrows and the surrounding soil matrix occurs because of tidally driven hydraulic gradients. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic (DIC) and organic (DOC) carbon in crab burrow porewater differ with that in the surrounding soil matrix, implying a diffusive C flux in the low-permeability marsh soil. Gas-phase concentrations of CO2 in ∼ 300 crab burrows were approximately six times greater than ambient air. The estimated total C export rate via porewater exchange (1.0 ± 0.7 g C m−2 d−1) was much greater than via passive diffusion transport (6.7 ± 2 mg C m−2 d−1) and gas-phase CO2 release (0.93 mg C m−2 d−1). The burrow-related carbon export was comparable to the regional salt marsh DIC export, groundwater-derived DIC export, and the net primary production previously estimated using ecosystem-scale approaches. These insights reveal how crab burrows modify blue carbon sequestration in salt marshes and contribute to coastal carbon budgets.
Details
- Title
- Large CO2 release and tidal flushing in salt marsh crab burrows reduce the potential for blue carbon sequestration
- Creators
- Kai Xiao - South University of Science and Technology of ChinaAlicia M Wilson - University of South CarolinaHailong Li - South University of Science and Technology of ChinaIsaac R Santos - University of South CarolinaJoseph Tamborski - Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionErik Smith - University of South CarolinaSusan Q Lang - University of South CarolinaChunmiao Zheng - South University of Science and Technology of ChinaXin Luo - University of Hong KongMeiqing Lu - University of Hong KongRogger E Correa - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Limnology and Oceanography, Vol.66(1), pp.14-29
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Grant note
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. Grant Number: 2018M640730 National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 41907162, 41972260 SUSTC Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Bell W. Baruch Marine Research Institute Visiting Scientist Award Canada First Research Excellence Fund Swedish Research Foundation
- Identifiers
- 991012926991502368
- Copyright
- © 2020 Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article