The effect of ocean acidification on carbon storage and sequestration in seagrass beds; a global and UK context

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 86; no. 1-2; pp. 138 - 146
• Main Authors: Garrard, Samantha L., Beaumont, Nicola J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.09.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acidification; Alismatales - metabolism; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Aquatic Organisms - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon; Carbon - metabolism; Carbon capture and storage; Carbon Dioxide - analysis; Carbon Sequestration; Climate Change; Conservation of Natural Resources; Economics; Ecosystem; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Marine environments; Ocean acidification; Oceans; Sea water ecosystems; Seagrass; Synecology; United Kingdom; Valuation; United Kingdom; Europe; Western Europe; Seagrass; Ecosystem services; Ocean acidification; Valuation; Carbon sequestration; Marine environment; Storage; Acidification; Ocean; Seagrass bed; Sea grass
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.032

•Ocean acidification is likely to increase the carbon storage and sequestration potential of seagrass beds.•The NPV of global carbon sequestration by seagrasses may increase substantially in response to OA.•This increase in value strengthens the argument to maintain seagrass habitats. Ocean acidification will have many negative consequences for marine organisms and ecosystems, leading to a decline in many ecosystem services provided by the marine environment. This study reviews the effect of ocean acidification (OA) on seagrasses, assessing how this may affect their capacity to sequester carbon in the future and providing an economic valuation of these changes. If ocean acidification leads to a significant increase in above- and below-ground biomass, the capacity of seagrass to sequester carbon will be significantly increased. The associated value of this increase in sequestration capacity is approximately £500 and 600 billion globally between 2010 and 2100. A proportionally similar increase in carbon sequestration value was found for the UK. This study highlights one of the few positive stories for ocean acidification and underlines that sustainable management of seagrasses is critical to avoid their continued degradation and loss of carbon sequestration capacity.