Seagrass meadows mixed with calcareous algae have higher plant productivity and sedimentary blue carbon storage.

ABSTRACT: Seagrass meadows capture and store large amounts of carbon in the sediment beneath, thereby serving as efficient sinks of atmospheric CO₂. Carbon sequestration levels may however differ greatly among meadows depending on, among other factors, the plant community composition. Tropical seagrass meadows are often intermixed with macroalgae, many of which are calcareous, which may compete with seagrass for nutrients, light, and space. While the photosynthetic CO₂ uptake by both seagrasses and calcareous algae may increase the overall calcification in the system (by increasing the calcium carbonate saturation state, Ω), the calcification process of calcareous algae may lead to a release of CO₂, thereby affecting both productivity and calcification, and eventuall

SUBMITTER: Kalokora OJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8843821 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature