Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production

Abstract Seagrass meadows are increasingly recognized across the globe as a natural climate solution due to their significant potential in alkalinity‐driven carbon dioxide (CO2) removal, which possibly represents an overlooked component of ocean carbon removal. This study comprehensively investigate...

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Main Authors: Wen‐Chen Chou, Lan‐Feng Fan, Mariche B. Natividad, Jian‐Jhih Chen, Zih‐Wei Tang, Huei‐Fen Chen, Ping‐Chun Chen, En‐Cheng Kong, Yung‐Yen Shih, Wei‐Jen Huang, Chin‐Chang Hung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112373
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author Wen‐Chen Chou
Lan‐Feng Fan
Mariche B. Natividad
Jian‐Jhih Chen
Zih‐Wei Tang
Huei‐Fen Chen
Ping‐Chun Chen
En‐Cheng Kong
Yung‐Yen Shih
Wei‐Jen Huang
Chin‐Chang Hung
author_facet Wen‐Chen Chou
Lan‐Feng Fan
Mariche B. Natividad
Jian‐Jhih Chen
Zih‐Wei Tang
Huei‐Fen Chen
Ping‐Chun Chen
En‐Cheng Kong
Yung‐Yen Shih
Wei‐Jen Huang
Chin‐Chang Hung
author_sort Wen‐Chen Chou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Seagrass meadows are increasingly recognized across the globe as a natural climate solution due to their significant potential in alkalinity‐driven carbon dioxide (CO2) removal, which possibly represents an overlooked component of ocean carbon removal. This study comprehensively investigated the carbonate chemistry, sediment carbon content, mineral composition, and benthic alkalinity fluxes in two distinct sites with tropical seagrass meadows: one situated in organic carbon (OC)‐rich reef sediments and the other in OC‐poor terrestrial sediments. Results showed nearly two orders of magnitude higher benthic alkalinity fluxes in the OC‐rich reefs than in OC‐poor sediments (72.8 ± 64.4 vs. 0.53 ± 0.99 mmol m−2 d−1). This can further substantially increase alkalinity levels and reduce the partial pressure of CO2 in the overlying seawater, thereby enhancing the capacity for CO2 uptake. We propose that seagrass meadows on high‐OC reef sediments, the hotspots for alkalinity generation, could amplify the climate change mitigation potential of seagrass restoration initiatives.
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institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-24b751dc01784c1c88e82bbfd296e07b2025-08-20T02:31:09ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-02-01524n/an/a10.1029/2024GL112373Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity ProductionWen‐Chen Chou0Lan‐Feng Fan1Mariche B. Natividad2Jian‐Jhih Chen3Zih‐Wei Tang4Huei‐Fen Chen5Ping‐Chun Chen6En‐Cheng Kong7Yung‐Yen Shih8Wei‐Jen Huang9Chin‐Chang Hung10Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanInstitute of Marine Environment and Ecology National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanInstitute of Marine Environment and Ecology National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanDepartment of Marine Environmental Engineering National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology Kaohsiung TaiwanInstitute of Earth Sciences National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanInstitute of Earth Sciences National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanInstitute of Marine Environment and Ecology National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanInstitute of Marine Environment and Ecology National Taiwan Ocean University Keelung TaiwanDepartment of Oceanography National Sun Yat‐sen University Kaohsiung TaiwanDepartment of Oceanography National Sun Yat‐sen University Kaohsiung TaiwanDepartment of Oceanography National Sun Yat‐sen University Kaohsiung TaiwanAbstract Seagrass meadows are increasingly recognized across the globe as a natural climate solution due to their significant potential in alkalinity‐driven carbon dioxide (CO2) removal, which possibly represents an overlooked component of ocean carbon removal. This study comprehensively investigated the carbonate chemistry, sediment carbon content, mineral composition, and benthic alkalinity fluxes in two distinct sites with tropical seagrass meadows: one situated in organic carbon (OC)‐rich reef sediments and the other in OC‐poor terrestrial sediments. Results showed nearly two orders of magnitude higher benthic alkalinity fluxes in the OC‐rich reefs than in OC‐poor sediments (72.8 ± 64.4 vs. 0.53 ± 0.99 mmol m−2 d−1). This can further substantially increase alkalinity levels and reduce the partial pressure of CO2 in the overlying seawater, thereby enhancing the capacity for CO2 uptake. We propose that seagrass meadows on high‐OC reef sediments, the hotspots for alkalinity generation, could amplify the climate change mitigation potential of seagrass restoration initiatives.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112373seagrassblue carbon ecosystemalkalinityclimate changecarbon dioxide removal
spellingShingle Wen‐Chen Chou
Lan‐Feng Fan
Mariche B. Natividad
Jian‐Jhih Chen
Zih‐Wei Tang
Huei‐Fen Chen
Ping‐Chun Chen
En‐Cheng Kong
Yung‐Yen Shih
Wei‐Jen Huang
Chin‐Chang Hung
Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production
Geophysical Research Letters
seagrass
blue carbon ecosystem
alkalinity
climate change
carbon dioxide removal
title Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production
title_full Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production
title_fullStr Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production
title_full_unstemmed Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production
title_short Contrasting CO2 Dynamics in Seagrass Meadows Between Organic Carbon (OC)‐Rich Reef and OC‐Poor Terrestrial Sediments: Implications for Enhanced Alkalinity Production
title_sort contrasting co2 dynamics in seagrass meadows between organic carbon oc rich reef and oc poor terrestrial sediments implications for enhanced alkalinity production
topic seagrass
blue carbon ecosystem
alkalinity
climate change
carbon dioxide removal
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112373
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