149
118.3 g C m
−2
year
−1
for phytoplankton, which were similar to previously reported
values (Table 5.1). This carbon flow was smaller than that of seagrass meadows,
which is 344 g C m
−2
year
−1
(see Table 4.1 in Chap. 4).
On the other hand, the carbon stock was 0.95 t C ha
−1
for bivalves and 0.0017 t
C ha
−1
for phytoplankton. Residual organic carbon was 45.9–77.0% in the intertidal
sediment and 92.5–98.3% in the subtidal sediment for the top 5 cm. The sedimentary carbon stock to 1 m depth was 5.13 t C ha
−1
in the subtidal area and 0.49 t C
ha
−1
in the intertidal area. This carbon stock is less than that reported for seagrass
meadows (47.7–48.5 t C ha
−1
; Kokubu et al. 2017) and mangrove forest (170.1–
336.1 t C ha
−1
; Rahman et al. 2015).
Generally, tidal flats have been recognized as carbon sources due to their decomposing organic matter and respiration. Therefore, mangroves, seagrass meadows,
and wetlands are regarded as blue carbon resources of coastal ecosystems according
to the United Nations Environment Programme (Nellemann et al. 2009). However,
this study revealed both carbon stocks and flows for a bivalve, phytoplankton, and
sediment in the tidal flats. Although tidal flat ecosystems are composed of relatively
short-lived species, the existence of these components over several generations is
important for carbon storage. Our analyses suggest that tidal flat ecosystems also
can be expected to serve a carbon storage function as repositories of blue carbon.
References
Arriola JM, Cable JE (2017) Variations in carbon burial and sediment accretion along a tidal creek
in a Florida salt marsh. Limnol Oceanogr 62:S15–S28
Atwood TB, Connolly RM, Ritchie EG, Lovelock CE, Heithaus MR, Hays GC, Fourqurean JW,
Macreadie PI (2015) Predators help protect carbon stocks in blue carbon ecosystems. Nat Clim
Chang 5:1038–1045
Cahoon LB (1999) The role of benthic microalgae in neritic ecosystems. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu
Rev 37:47–86
Callaway JC, Borgnis EL, Turner RE, Milan CS (2012) Carbon sequestration and sediment accretion in San Francisco Bay tidal wetlands. Estuar Coasts 35:1163–1181
Chauvaud L, Thompson JK, Cloern JE, Thouzeau GL (2003) Clams as CO 2 generators: the
Potamocorbula amurensis example in San Francisco Bay. Limnol Oceanogr 48:2086–2092
Chmura GL, Anisfeld SC, Cahoon DR, Lynch JC (2003) Global carbon sequestration in tidal,
saline wetland soils. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 17:1111
Choi Y, Wang Y (2004) Dynamics of carbon sequestration in a coastal wetland using radiocarbon
measurements. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 18:GB4016
Colijn F, de Jonge V (1984) Primary production of microphytobenthos in the Ems-Dollard estuary.
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 14:185–196
Donato DC, Kauffman JB, Mackenzie RA, Ainsworth A, Pfleeger AZ (2012) Whole-island carbon
stocks in the tropical Pacific: implications for mangrove conservation and upland restoration.
J Environ Manag 97:89–96
Duarte CM, Middelburg JJ, Caraco N (2005) Major role of marine vegetation on the oceanic carbon cycle. Biogeosciences 2:1–8
5 Carbon Storage in Tidal Flats
118.3 g C m
−2
year
−1
for phytoplankton, which were similar to previously reported
values (Table 5.1). This carbon flow was smaller than that of seagrass meadows,
which is 344 g C m
−2
year
−1
(see Table 4.1 in Chap. 4).
On the other hand, the carbon stock was 0.95 t C ha
−1
for bivalves and 0.0017 t
C ha
−1
for phytoplankton. Residual organic carbon was 45.9–77.0% in the intertidal
sediment and 92.5–98.3% in the subtidal sediment for the top 5 cm. The sedimentary carbon stock to 1 m depth was 5.13 t C ha
−1
in the subtidal area and 0.49 t C
ha
−1
in the intertidal area. This carbon stock is less than that reported for seagrass
meadows (47.7–48.5 t C ha
−1
; Kokubu et al. 2017) and mangrove forest (170.1–
336.1 t C ha
−1
; Rahman et al. 2015).
Generally, tidal flats have been recognized as carbon sources due to their decomposing organic matter and respiration. Therefore, mangroves, seagrass meadows,
and wetlands are regarded as blue carbon resources of coastal ecosystems according
to the United Nations Environment Programme (Nellemann et al. 2009). However,
this study revealed both carbon stocks and flows for a bivalve, phytoplankton, and
sediment in the tidal flats. Although tidal flat ecosystems are composed of relatively
short-lived species, the existence of these components over several generations is
important for carbon storage. Our analyses suggest that tidal flat ecosystems also
can be expected to serve a carbon storage function as repositories of blue carbon.
References
Arriola JM, Cable JE (2017) Variations in carbon burial and sediment accretion along a tidal creek
in a Florida salt marsh. Limnol Oceanogr 62:S15–S28
Atwood TB, Connolly RM, Ritchie EG, Lovelock CE, Heithaus MR, Hays GC, Fourqurean JW,
Macreadie PI (2015) Predators help protect carbon stocks in blue carbon ecosystems. Nat Clim
Chang 5:1038–1045
Cahoon LB (1999) The role of benthic microalgae in neritic ecosystems. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu
Rev 37:47–86
Callaway JC, Borgnis EL, Turner RE, Milan CS (2012) Carbon sequestration and sediment accretion in San Francisco Bay tidal wetlands. Estuar Coasts 35:1163–1181
Chauvaud L, Thompson JK, Cloern JE, Thouzeau GL (2003) Clams as CO 2 generators: the
Potamocorbula amurensis example in San Francisco Bay. Limnol Oceanogr 48:2086–2092
Chmura GL, Anisfeld SC, Cahoon DR, Lynch JC (2003) Global carbon sequestration in tidal,
saline wetland soils. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 17:1111
Choi Y, Wang Y (2004) Dynamics of carbon sequestration in a coastal wetland using radiocarbon
measurements. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 18:GB4016
Colijn F, de Jonge V (1984) Primary production of microphytobenthos in the Ems-Dollard estuary.
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 14:185–196
Donato DC, Kauffman JB, Mackenzie RA, Ainsworth A, Pfleeger AZ (2012) Whole-island carbon
stocks in the tropical Pacific: implications for mangrove conservation and upland restoration.
J Environ Manag 97:89–96
Duarte CM, Middelburg JJ, Caraco N (2005) Major role of marine vegetation on the oceanic carbon cycle. Biogeosciences 2:1–8
5 Carbon Storage in Tidal Flats