Digital Commons Network^™

A 2,000-Year Record Of Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L.) Colonization Shows Substantial Gains In Blue Carbon Storage And Nutrient Retention, Martin Dahl, Martin Gullström, Irene Bernabeu, Oscar Serrano, Carmen Leiva-Dueñas, Hans W. Linderholm, Maria E. Asplund, Mats Björk, Tinghai Ou, J. Robin Svensson, Elinor Andrén, Thomas Andrén, Sanne Bergman, Sara Braun, Anneli Eklöf, Zilvinas Ežerinskis, Andrius Garbaras, Petter Hällberg, Elin Löfgren, Malin E. Kylander, Pere Masqué, Justina Šapolaitė, Rienk Smittenberg, Miguel A. Mateo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Assessing historical environmental conditions linked to habitat colonization is important for understanding long-term resilience and improving conservation and restoration efforts. Such information is lacking for the seagrass Zostera marina, an important foundation species across cold-temperate coastal areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Here, we reconstructed environmental conditions during the last 14,000 years from sediment cores in two eelgrass (Z. marina) meadows along the Swedish west coast, with the main aims to identify the time frame of seagrass colonization and describe subsequent biogeochemical changes following establishment. Based on vegetation proxies (lipid biomarkers), eelgrass colonization occurred about 2,000 years ago after geomorphological changes …

Substantial Blue Carbon Sequestration In The World’S Largest Seagrass Meadow, Chuancheng Fu, Sofia Frappi, Michelle N. Havlik, Wells Howe, S. David Harris, Elisa Laiolo, Austin J. Gallagher, Pere Masqué, Carlos M. Duarte

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrass meadows are important sinks for organic carbon and provide co-benefits. However, data on the organic carbon stock in seagrass sediments are scarce for many regions, particularly The Bahamas, which accounts for up to 40.7% of the documented global seagrass area, limiting formulation of blue carbon strategies. Here, we sampled 10 seagrass meadows across an extensive island chain in The Bahamas. We estimate that Bahamas seagrass meadows store 0.42–0.59 Pg organic carbon in the top-meter sediments with an accumulation rate of 2.1–2.9 Tg annually, representing a substantial global blue carbon hotspot. Autochthonous organic carbon in sediments decreased from ~1980 onwards, …

Blue Carbon Opportunities: Seagrass Carbon Storage And Accumulation Rates At Roxas, Palawan, The Philippines, Paul Lavery, Anna Lafratta, Jessa Marie Caabay, Reynante Ramilo, Helbert G. Garay, Maricar Daquioag, Oscar Serrano, Pere Masque´

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Report prepared as a contribution to the IKI Project “Conservation of biodiversity, seagrass ecosystems and their services – safeguarding food security and resilience in vulnerable coastal communities in a changing climate”

The IKI Project is a partnership between the CMS, Edith Cowan University, Project Seagrass, Seagrass Watch, Murdoch University, MRS, Blue Ventures, SAN, C3, ZSL, MareCet and Yapeka. The collaboration enhances the understanding of seagrass ecosystem services and the capacity to develop and deliver science-based policy solutions in seagrass conservation. It brings together scientists, policy experts, business development experts and conservation NGOs across the globe to provide expert and independent …

Blue Carbon Opportunities: Seagrass Carbon Storage And Accumulation Rates At Trang, Thailand, Paul Lavery, Anna Lafratta, Rujinun Palahan, Maneewan Sanlee, Milica Stankovic, Janmanee Panyawai, Oscar Serrano, Pere Masque´

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Report prepared as a contribution to the IKI Project “Conservation of biodiversity, seagrass ecosystems and their services – safeguarding food security and resilience in vulnerable coastal communities in a changing climate” funded through the International Klimate Initiative (IKI).

The IKI Project is a partnership between the CMS, Edith Cowan University, Project Seagrass, Seagrass Watch, Murdoch University, MRS, Blue Ventures, SAN, C3, ZSL, MareCet and Yapeka. The collaboration enhances the understanding of seagrass ecosystem services and the capacity to develop and deliver science-based policy solutions in seagrass conservation. It brings together scientists, policy experts, business development experts and conservation NGOs across …

Blue Carbon Opportunities: Seagrass Carbon Storage And Accumulation Rates At North Minahasa And Sangihe Island, Indonesia, Paul Lavery, Anna Lafratta, Akbar Ario Digdo, Abie Ariyo Dandoro, Citra Septiani, Topan Cahyono, Oscar Serrano, Pere Masque´

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Report prepared as a contribution to the Seagrass Ecosystem Services Project “Conservation of biodiversity, seagrass ecosystems and their services – safeguarding food security and resilience in vulnerable coastal communities in a changing climate” funded through the International Klimate Initiative (IKI).

The SES Project is a partnership between the CMS, Edith Cowan University, Yapeka, Project Seagrass, Seagrass Watch, Murdoch University, MRS, Blue Ventures, SAN, C3, ZSL, and MareCet. The collaboration enhances the understanding of seagrass ecosystem services and the capacity to develop and deliver science-based policy solutions in seagrass conservation. It brings together scientists, policy experts, business development experts and conservation …

Flaws In The Methodologies For Organic Carbon Analysis In Seagrass Blue Carbon Soils, Oscar Serrano, Ines Mazarrasa, James W. Fourqurean, Eduard Serrano, Jeffrey Baldock, Jonathan Sanderman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The ability to accurately measure organic carbon (OC) in marine sediments or soils is overall taken for granted in scientific communities, yet this seemingly mundane task remains a methodological challenge when the soil matrix contains calcium carbonate (CaCO3), creating inaccuracies in Blue Carbon estimates. Here, we compared five common methods combining acidification, combustion, and wet oxidation pre-treatments for determination of OC in sediments and soils containing CaCO3 based on the analyses of artificial soil mixtures made of different OC and CaCO3 contents, and multiple soils from Australian seagrass cores. The results obtained showed that methods involving acidification pre-treatment entailed −17 …

The Risk Of Multiple Anthropogenic And Climate Change Threats Must Be Considered For Continental Scale Conservation And Management Of Seagrass Habitat, Kathryn Mcmahon, Kieryn Kilminster, Robert Canto, Chris Roelfsema, Mitchell Lyons, Gary A. Kendrick, Michelle Waycott, James Udy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Globally marine-terrestrial interfaces are highly impacted due to a range of human pressures. Seagrass habitats exist in the shallow marine waters of this interface, have significant values and are impacted by a range of pressures. Cumulative risk analysis is widely used to identify risk from multiple threats and assist in prioritizing management actions. This study conducted a cumulative risk analysis of seagrass habitat associated with the Australian continent to support management actions. We developed a spatially explicit risk model based on a database of threats to coastal aquatic habitat in Australia, spanning 35,000 km of coastline. Risk hotspots were identified …

Recovery Time, Biomass Characteristics And Recovery Mechanisms Of Seagrass Following Simulated Grazing, Caitlyn O'Dea, Paul Lavery, Chanelle Webster, Kathryn Mcmahon

Research Datasets

The database compiles data published on seagrass recovery time, biomass characteristics, and recovery mechanisms following simulated grazing disturbance experiment in the Swan Canning Estuary, Western Australia. Observations of swans in the vicinity is also included.

Seagrass Species Data Occurrence Recorded In Indonesia's Water, Susi Rahmawati, Udhi Hernawan, Kathryn M. Mcmahon

Research Datasets

This is the dataset of seagrass species occurrence compiled for the research project, titled “Prioritizing areas in Indonesia to conserve and enhance seagrass ecosystem functions under a changing climate”, funded by the 2021/2022 ANU Indonesia Project Research Grants.

Global Patterns In Seagrass Herbivory: Why, Despite Existing Evidence, There Are Solid Arguments In Favor Of Latitudinal Gradients In Seagrass Herbivory, K. L. Heck Jr, M. Samsonova, A. G. B. Poore, Glenn A. Hyndes

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation. The ecological paradigm that biological interactions are more intense in the tropics than in temperate or polar regions has existed since the mid-twentieth century, but several recent meta-analyses have provided scant evidence for latitudinal gradients in the intensity of herbivory. This contradictory evidence led us to carefully review the data and results of several of those papers that failed to find latitudinal gradients in rates of seagrass herbivory. To re-evaluate the arguments around the presence or absence of latitudinal gradients in herbivory in seagrass, we began by expanding the selection criteria to include …

Factors Influencing Carbon Stocks And Accumulation Rates In Eelgrass Meadows Across New England, Usa, A. B. Novak, M. C. Pelletier, P. Colarusso, J. Simpson, M. N. Gutierrez, A. Arias-Ortiz, M. Charpentier, Pere Masque, P. Vella

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Increasing the protection of coastal vegetated ecosystems has been suggested as one strategy to compensate for increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere as the capacity of these habitats to sequester and store carbon exceeds that of terrestrial habitats. Seagrasses are a group of foundation species that grow in shallow coastal and estuarine systems and have an exceptional ability to sequester and store large quantities of carbon in biomass and, particularly, in sediments. However, carbon stocks (Corg stocks) and carbon accumulation rates (Corg accumulation) in seagrass meadows are highly variable both spatially and temporally, making it difficult to extrapolate this …

Role Of Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems As Nitrogen And Phosphorous Filters And Sinks In The Coasts Of Saudi Arabia, V. Saderne, M. Cusack, Oscar Serrano, H. Almahasheer, P. K. Krishnakumar, L. Rabaoui, M. A. Qurban, C. M. Duarte

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vegetated coastal ecosystems along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts of Saudi Arabia thrive in an extremely arid and oligotrophic environment, with high seawater temperatures and salinity. Mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems have been shown to act as efficient sinks of sediment organic carbon, earning these vegetated ecosystems the moniker 'blue carbon' ecosystems. However, their role as nitrogen and phosphorus (N and P) sinks remains poorly understood. In this study, we examine the capacity of blue carbon ecosystems to trap and store nitrogen and phosphorous in their sediments in the central Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. We estimated the …

Pedogenic Processes In A Posidonia Oceanica Mat, Nerea Pineiro-Juncal, Carmen Leiva-Duenas, Oscar Serrano, Miguel Angel Mateo, Antonio Martinez-Cortizas

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Scientists studying seagrasses typically refer to their substratum as sediment, but recently researchers have begun to refer to it as a soil. However, the logistics of sampling underwater substrata and the fragility of these ecosystems challenge their study using pedological methods. Previous studies have reported geochemical processes within the rhizosphere that are compatible with pedogenesis. Seagrass substratum accumulated over the Recent Holocene and can reach several meters in thickness, but studies about deeper layers are scarce. This study is a first attempt to find sound evidence of vertical structuring in Posidonia oceanica deposits to serve as a basis for more …

Top 30 Cm Soil C Org Stocks, Isotopic C Org Signature (13dc) And Fine Sediment Content (Silt And Clay %) Estimated In Soil Cores Sampled In Seagrass Meadows Around Australia [Dataset], Ines Mazarrasa, Paul Lavery, Carlos M. Duarte, Anna Lafratta, Catherine E. Lovelock, Peter I. Macreadie, Jimena Samper-Villarreal, Cristian Salinas, Christian Sanders, Stacey Trevathan-Tackett, Mary Young, Andy Steven, Oscar Serrano

Research Datasets

This database contains data on top 30 cm soil biogeochemical properties from soil cores (minimum length of 30 cm) sampled in seagrass (n=201 cores) and adjacent unvegetated patches (n=39) around Australia.

Average biogeochemical properties per core along with information about type of environment, biotic characteristics and environmental conditions.

In particular, the variables included in sheet 1 are:

- Core ID (column A): core code

- Location (column B): name of the region of the sampling site.

- Latitude / Longitude (columns C, D): latitude and longitude

- Bioregion (column E): classified the sampling sites according to …

Modeling Organic Carbon Accumulation Rates And Residence Times In Coastal Vegetated Ecosystems, E. Fay Belshe, Jose Sanjuan, Carmen Leiva-Dueñas, Nerea Piñeiro-Juncal, Oscar Serrano, Paul Lavery, Miguel Angel Mateo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Coastal vegetated “blue carbon” ecosystems can store large quantities of organic carbon (OC) within their soils; however, the importance of these sinks for climate change mitigation depends on the OC accumulation rate (CAR) and residence time. Here we evaluate how two modeling approaches, a Bayesian age-depth model alone or in combination with a two-pool OC model, aid in our understanding of the time lines of OC within seagrass soils. Fitting these models to data from Posidonia oceanica soil cores, we show that age-depth models provided reasonable CAR estimates but resulted in a 22% higher estimation of OC burial rates when …

Synthesis Report: Defining Thresholds And Indicators Of Primary Producer Response To Dredging-Related Pressures: Report Of Theme 5 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, Paul Lavery, Kathryn Mcmahon, John Statton, Mat Vanderklift, Simone Strydom, Gary Kendrick

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Seagrasses form a small component of a diverse group of organisms termed ‘benthic primary producers’. Benthic primary producers are organisms that grow on the sea-bed that obtain some or all of their energy needs from photosynthesis. This includes animals such as scleractinian corals and some sponges that host microscopic intercellular algae, coralline and turf algae, and the larger seaweeds such as the kelps and sargassum. Seagrasses are marine flowering plants, more closely related to land plants than seaweeds and algae. Seagrasses live mostly in soft sediments, and can be found from the shallow intertidal zone through to a depth of …

Sediment Burial Stress Response, Bio-Indicators And Thresholds For A Tropical Multi-Species Seagrass Assemblage: Report Of Theme 5 - Project 5.5.2 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, John Statton, Kathryn Mcmahon, Roisin Mccallum, Gary Kendrick, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Deterioration in water clarity by resuspension of dredged sediments is presumed to be a major mechanism by which dredging can impact seagrasses. This report presents findings from a controlled light experiment that aimed to determine the effects of low light stress on the growth of three seagrass species found in the northwest of Western Australia.

Aims

• To determine the effects of sediment burial stress under dredge-simulated conditions on the growth and health of three seagrass species found in the northwest of Western Australia.
• Provide guidance and protocols for the application of the research outputs (e.g. seagrass burial stress:response relationships, sub-lethal …

Response And Recovery Of A Mixed Tropical Seagrass Assemblage To Variation In The Frequency And Magnitude Of Light Deprivation. Report Of Theme 5 - Project 5.5.3 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, John Statton, Kathryn Mcmahon, Rosin Mccallum, Gary Kendrick, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The capacity of seagrasses to cope with episodes of light deprivation from overlying turbid waters may not only depend on the absolute quantity of light they receive during that episode, but also on how the light deprivation varies through time. For example, turbidity and therefore light reduction may be relatively constant over the episode or it may fluctuate depending on the frequency of pulsed turbidity events.

This report presents findings from a controlled mesocosm experiment that aimed to determine the responses of seagrasses to, and recovery from, differences in the pattern of the delivery of light. The study focussed on …

Muddy Waters: Unintentional Consequences Of Blue Carbon Research Obscure Our Understanding Of Organic Carbon Dynamics In Seagrass Ecosystems, E. Fay Belshe, Miguel-Angel Mateo, Lucy Gillis, Martin Zimmer, Mirta Teichberg

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The recent surge in research on organic carbon sequestration by seagrass ecosystems has begun to reveal the complexity of the carbon cycle within these ecosystems. In this prospective we discuss two areas of investigation that require further scrutiny: (1) why organic carbon is stabilized in seagrass sediments, and (2) how long organic carbon resides within these sediments. By delving into these topics, pointing out current pitfalls, and highlighting methodological advances, our motive is to focus future efforts and provide a frame work to manage the complexity found within the diverse seagrass bioregions. The high rate of seagrass degradation and loss, …

Seagrass Halophila Ovalis Is Affected By Light Quality Across Different Life History Stages, Simone Strydom, Kathryn Mcmahon, Gary A. Kendrick, John Stratton, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Seagrass meadows provide crucial ecosystem services to the coastal zone but are threatened globally. Seagrass loss to date has mainly been attributed to anthropogenic activities that reduce light quantity (amount of photosynthetic photon flux density), such as dredging, flooding and eutrophication. However, light quality (wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum) is also altered by these anthropogenic stressors. This study addressed the effect of light quality changes on seagrasses. Aquarium-based experiments were conducted to determine whether the seagrass Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook f. responds to different light quality treatments. Separate experiments were performed in which adults, seeds or seedlings were …

Seagrasses Of The North West Of Western Australia: Biogeography And Considerations For Dredging-Related Research: Report Of Theme 5 - Project 5.1.2 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, Kathryn Mcmahon, John Statton, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This review was undertaken to identify which seagrass primary producers (species or different functional groups) that collectively cover the bio-geographic range of key primary producers in the northwest of Western Australia are most appropriate for the focus of subsequent research into thresholds and indicators of response to dredging-related pressures (i.e. Theme 5). An assessment framework was developed based on six criteria: biogeographic range; ecological relevance (life-history strategy, habitats, natural dynamics and ecological services); current knowledge on thresholds and bioindicators; likelihood that species are sensitive and resilient to dredging related stressors; extent of improvement in applied knowledge; and likelihood of being …

Genetic Variability Within Seagrass Of The North West Of Western Australia: Report Of Theme 5 - Project 5.2 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, Kathryn Mcmahon, Udhi Hernawan, Kor-Jent Van Dijk, Michelle Waycott, Ed Biffin, Richard Evans, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study was the first of its kind to examine the patterns of genetic diversity in seagrasses in the Pilbara region of WA. Three species were assessed: Halophila ovalis (6 populations), Halodule uninervis (8 populations) andThalassia hemprichii (3 populations) at a range of spatial scales, within a meadow (centimetres−metres), among meadows at a local scale (2−60 km) and among meadows at a regional scale (up to 500 km). Due to the varied distribution of species all species across the same spatial scale and range of environments could not be sampled, so a nested approach was designed, with sites …

Natural Dynamics: Understanding Natural Dynamics Of Seagrasses Of The North West Of Western Australia. Report Of Theme 5 - Project 5.3 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, Mat Vanderklift, Douglas Bearham, Mick Haywood, Hector Lozano-Montes, Roisin Mccallum, James Mclaughlin, Kathryn Mcmahon, Nick Mortimer, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Relatively little is known of the spatial and temporal dynamics of seagrass meadows in the northwest of Western Australia, but such knowledge is needed when designing and evaluating studies that aim to detect potential dredging-related impacts on seagrass, and when making predictions about the likelihood of, and speed of recovery from such impacts. This study was undertaken to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass composition, abundance and reproductive phenology in the Pilbara. We also characterised key environmental parameters, especially light, that influence seagrass survival and can be altered by dredging.

Aims

To improve our understanding …

Effects Of Dredging-Related Pressures On Critical Ecological Processes For Organisms Other Than Fish Or Coral. Report Of Theme 9 - Project 9.1 Prepared For The Dredging Science Node, Jessie Short, Matthew Fraser, Dianne Mclean, Gary Kendrick, Maria Byrne, Julian Caley, Doug Clarke, Andy Davis, Paul Ertemeijer, Stuart Field, Sam Gustin-Craig, John Huisman, John Keesing, Mick Keough, Paul Lavery, Ray Mansini, Kathryn Mcmahon, Kerrie Mergersen, Michael Rasheed, John Statton, Jim Stoddart, Paul Wu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study reviewed environmental windows for organisms other than corals and fish such as sessile invertebrates, macroalgae and seagrasses. Environmental windows are periods of critical importance to the life history of a marine species, like reproduction and recruitment.

Aims

• To review the scientific literature on the timing and spatial extent of critical ecological processes relevant to tropical WA for marine primary producers and invertebrates (i.e. organisms other than coral and finfish) and the state of knowledge regarding potential effects of dredging on these key ecological processes. The review also had a particular focus on ecological processes in marine primary producers …

A Marine Heat Wave Drives Massive Losses From The World’S Largest Seagrass Carbon Stocks [Dataset], Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Oscar Serrano, Pere Masqué, Paul Lavery, Ute A. Mueller, Gary A, Kendrick, Mohammad Rozaimi, Alba Esteban, James W, Fourqurean, Núrià N. Marbà, Miquel-Angel Mateo, Kathy Murray, Michael Rule, Carlos M. Duarte

Research Datasets

The database compiles published data (in Arias-Ortiz et al., 2018) on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and sediment grain size) of soils underneath seagrass meadows in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Pb-210 concentrations of the first 20 cm are included along with C-14 raw ages. The dataset compiles data for a total of 49 cores, 25 - 300 cm-long (11 cores with Pb-210 and C-14 data). Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Ariane Arias-Ortiz: ariane.arias@uab.cat

Variability In The Carbon Storage Of Seagrass Habitats And Its Implications For Global Estimates Of Blue Carbon Ecosystem Service [Dataset], Paul Lavery, Miguel-Angel Mateo, Oscar Serrano, Mohammad Rozaimi

Research Datasets

The dataset compiles published data (in Lavery et al. 2013, PLoS ONE 8(9): e73748. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073748) on biogeochemical variables (organic matter, organic carbon and CO3 contents, and stable carbon isotope signatures of the organic carbon) in sediment core from seagrass meadows in Australia. The cores studied were up to 29 cm long, and ecompass tropical, subtropical and temperate seagrass meadows in intertidal and subtidal habitats. Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Paul Lavery p.lavery@ecu.edu.au.

Historical Processes And Contemporary Ocean Currents Drive Genetic Structure In The Seagrass Thalassia Hemprichii In The Indo-Australian Archipelago [Dataset], Udhi E. Hernawan, Kor-Jent Van Dijk, Gary A. Kendrick, Ming Feng, Edward Biffin, Paul Lavery, Kathryn Mcmahon

Research Datasets

Understanding spatial patterns of gene flow and genetic structure is essential for the conservation of marine ecosystems. Contemporary ocean currents and historical isolation due to Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations have been predicted to influence the genetic structure in marine populations. In the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA), the world's hotspot of marine biodiversity, seagrasses are a vital component but population genetic information is very limited. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeography of the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the IAA based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and then characterised the genetic structure based on a panel of 16 microsatellite markers. We further examined the relative …

Seagrass Sediments Reveal The Long-Term Deterioration Of An Estuarine Ecosystem [Dataset], Oscar Serrano, Paul S. Lavery, Pere Masque, Karina Inostroza, James Bongiovanni, Carlos Duarte

Research Datasets

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2016, Global Change Biology, doi:10.1111/gcb.13195) on temporal trends in biogeochemical variables in the Posidonia australis sediment core from Oyster Harbour, Western Australia. The core studied encompasses the last 500 years of history. Data on dry bulk density, carbonate content, sedimentso.serranogras@ecu.edu.au.

Key Biogeochemical Factors Affecting Soil Carbon Storage In Posidonia Meadows [Dataset], Oscar Serrano, Aurora M. Ricart, Paul S. Lavery, Miguel-Angel Mateo, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Pere Masque, Andy Steven, Carlos M. Duarte

Research Datasets

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2015, Biogeosciences, doi:10.5194/bgd-12-18913-2015) on biogeochemical characteristics (age, density, organic carbon, inorganic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and sediment grain size) of sediments underneath seagrass meadows (Posidonia sinuosa) along a bathymetric gradient (from 2 to 8 m) and adjacent un-vegetated patches in Garden Island (Perth, Western Australia). The dataset compiles data on biogeochemical sediment characteristics (including organic and inorganic carbon stocks and burial rates) for a total of 5 cores (4 cores from seagrass meadows and 1 core from adjacent un-vegetated sediments). Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar …

Can Mud (Silt And Clay) Concentration Be Used To Predict Soil Organic Carbon Content Within Seagrass Ecosystems? [Dataset], Oscar Serrano, Paul Lavery, Carlos M. Duarte, Gary A. Kendrick, Antoni Calafat, Paul York, Andy Steven, Peter Macreadie

Research Datasets

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2016, Biogeosciences, doi:10.5194/bg-2015-598) on biogeochemical characteristics (%organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and mud content) of sediments underneath seagrass meadows and bare sediments in Australia and Spain. Details on habitat characteristics (latitude/longitude, water depth, seagrass species and geomorphology) and sediment depth are also provided for each location studied. The data set includes 1345 data entries from 100 sediment cores, encompassing 10 seagrass species in estuarine and coastal habitats. Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar Serrano o.serranogras@ecu.edu.au.