Low Light Availability Reduces the Subsurface Sediment Carbon Content in Halophila beccarii From the South China Sea.

ABSTRACT: Eutrophication, dredging, agricultural and urban runoffs, and epiphyte overgrowth could reduce light availability for seagrass. This may affect "blue carbon" stocks in seagrass beds. However, little research is available on the effect of light intensities on carbon sequestration capacity in seagrass beds, especially small-bodied seagrasses. The dominant seagrass Halophila beccarii, a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, was cultured in different light intensities to examine the response of vegetation and sediment carbon in seagrass beds. The results showed that low light significantly reduced leaf length and above-ground biomass, while carbon content in both above-ground and below-ground tissues were not affected. Low light reduced both the above-ground biomass carbon and the to

SUBMITTER: Premarathne C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8215720 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature