A marine heatwave drives massive losses from the world’s largest seagrass carbon stocks

A. Arias-Ortiz (), O. Serrano, P. Masqué, P. S. Lavery, U. Mueller, G. A. Kendrick, M. Rozaimi, A. Esteban, J. W. Fourqurean, N. Marbà, M. A. Mateo, K. Murray, M. J. Rule and C. M. Duarte
Additional contact information
A. Arias-Ortiz: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
O. Serrano: Edith Cowan University
P. Masqué: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
P. S. Lavery: Edith Cowan University
U. Mueller: Edith Cowan University
G. A. Kendrick: The University of Western Australia
M. Rozaimi: Edith Cowan University
A. Esteban: Edith Cowan University
J. W. Fourqurean: The University of Western Australia
N. Marbà: IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats
M. A. Mateo: Edith Cowan University
K. Murray: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
M. J. Rule: The University of Western Australia
C. M. Duarte: IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats

Nature Climate Change, 2018, vol. 8, issue 4, 338-344

Abstract: Abstract Seagrass ecosystems contain globally significant organic carbon (C) stocks. However, climate change and increasing frequency of extreme events threaten their preservation. Shark Bay, Western Australia, has the largest C stock reported for a seagrass ecosystem, containing up to 1.3% of the total C stored within the top metre of seagrass sediments worldwide. On the basis of field studies and satellite imagery, we estimate that 36% of Shark Bay’s seagrass meadows were damaged following a marine heatwave in 2010/2011. Assuming that 10 to 50% of the seagrass sediment C stock was exposed to oxic conditions after disturbance, between 2 and 9 Tg CO2 could have been released to the atmosphere during the following three years, increasing emissions from land-use change in Australia by 4–21% per annum. With heatwaves predicted to increase with further climate warming, conservation of seagrass ecosystems is essential to avoid adverse feedbacks on the climate system.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0096-y

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