Carbon Storage in Tagus Salt Marsh Sediments

Caçador, Isabel; Costa, Ana; Vale, Carlos

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-0952-2_48

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The model results followed the same pattern as the observed values (Fig. 2), with plant aboveground biomass values usually higher in the warm seasons than in the cold seasons, as also shown by several other studies (Caçador et al, 2004;Couto et al, 2013;Duarte et al 2012;Lillebø et al, 2003). Because the observed values in the spring of 2010 for S. maritimus and Z. noltei were unusually high, they were excluded from the linear regression calculations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

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Modelling the effects of global temperature increase on the growth of salt marsh plants

Couto

Martins²,

Duarte³

et al. 2014

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract.Gradual increases in temperature and atmospheric CO 2 concentrations have resulted from the increased human use of fossil fuels since the beginning of industrial activity. In coastal wetland ecosystems, salt marshes constitute important habitats because they play important ecological roles, acting as carbon sinks by capturing atmospheric CO 2 and storing it in living plant tissue. Ecological models are important tools for understanding the results of anthropogenic impacts on a global scale. Global warming poses threats to salt marshes through different effects, e.g., increases in sea level. The objectives of this study were i) to assess how temperature increases will influence the growth of salt marsh plants, ii) to infer the carbon budget of salt marshes under temperature increase scenarios and iii) to predict how salt marsh plants will keep pace with increases in sea level. These goals were achieved by developing growth models of three different plants (Spartina maritima, Scirpus maritimus and Zostera noltei) found in the Mondego estuary. Models were developed for C 3 and C 4 plant species. The results suggest that a temperature increase enhances the aboveground biomass of salt marsh plants. According to the predictions of the models, the sedimentation rate of S. maritima and Z. noltei can keep pace with increases in sea level, but this is apparently not the case for S. maritimus. If S. maritimus disappears from the Mondego estuary, the carbon sequestration ability of the system should decrease due to the loss of active plant tissue. This conclusion is based on the fact that S. maritimus accumulated more than 80% of the total carbon sequestered in the tissues by the three studied species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…For the aboveground biomass, three replicates (size= 0.3 x 0.3 m squares) of each salt marsh plant species were randomly selected in each area and clipped (Caçador et al, 2004). In the laboratory, all samples were washed with ultrapure water (18.2 MΩ cm).…”

Section: Field Data Sampling and Laboratory Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the effects of global temperature increase on the growth of salt marsh plants

Couto

Martins²,

Duarte³

et al. 2014

Appl Ecol Env Res

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“…The aboveground biomass was assessed for each species by clipping out three 0.3 Â 0.3 m squares. Three additional sediment cores were also taken to sample belowground biomass at each species site using a tubular probe with an 8 cm diameter for sampling the first 30 cm, which contains the majority of belowground components (Caçador et al 2004). The belowground plant material was carefully separated from the sediment under a stream of water, using a sieve with a 212 mm mesh size to remove any adhering particulate matter, and then was washed with Milli-Q water (18.2 WU cm).…”

Section: Sampling and Laboratory Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most salt marsh plants accumulate large amounts of metals in both their aerial and belowground organs (Caçador et al 2000). Salt marsh species greatly influence the inputs and outputs of metals and nutrients in the marsh (Caçador et al 2004;Reboreda and Caçador 2007;Reboreda et al 2008;Sousa et al 2008;Caçador et al 2009) owing to the different uptake rates of these elements. As the highest levels of metal accumulation are found in the root tissues (Caçador et al 2000;Reboreda and Caçador 2007), the decomposition of root litter may also be a source of metals released to the surrounding sediment through leaching (Weis and Weis 2004;Pereira et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Halophytes as sources of metals in estuarine systems with low levels of contamination

Couto

Duarte

Barroso

et al. 2013

Functional Plant Biol.

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Abstract.Heavy metal concentrations present in the above-and beowground tissues of Scirpus maritimus L., Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald and Zostera noltii Hornem were analysed seasonally in the Mondego Estuary, Portugal. The sediments of the estuary were confirmed to contain only low concentrations of heavy metals. The belowground tissues of all three species showed higher heavy metal concentrations than the aboveground tissues. Although the sediments only contained low levels of contamination, because the area occupied by S. maritimus and Z. noltii was large, significant quantities of heavy metals were accumulated and exported to the surrounding water bodies. In contrast with observations of highly contaminated estuaries, it was found that in spite of the low level of contaminants in the sediments of the Mondego Estuary, aquatic vegetation functioned as a source of metals for nearby systems.

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“…However, some mechanisms may counteract the influence of these climatic induced factors, as salt marshes also have the ability to keep their relative elevation above seawater throughout sedimentation (Salgueiro and Caç ador, 2007). Salt marshes act as sinks for contaminants (Caç ador et al, 2000;Duarte et al, 2010), carbon (Caç ador et al, 2004) and nitrogen . The major depositional process for these elements is through sedimentation of particulate matter during tidal flooding (Silva et al, 2009), when the halophytic vegetation acts as a baffle and sediment trap, leading to the settling of fine suspended particles transported on the water column that are deposited on the marsh (Silva et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tagus estuary salt marshes feedback to sea level rise over a 40-year period: Insights from the application of geochemical indices

Duarte

Caçador

Marques

et al. 2013

Ecological Indicators

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a b s t r a c tSea level rise (SLR) has been evaluated using data acquired from two Tagus estuary salt marshes. Sediment accumulation rates over a 40-year study period were determined using 137 Cs along with an evaluation of several geochemical indices and ratios as proxies of the mechisms underlying these SAR variations. Correlating SLR data from 1963 to 2001 with the sediment accretion rates (SARs) an inverse pattern of interaction was observed, with lower SAR associated to periods of higher mean sea level (MSL) heights. This pointed out to an erosion effect of the salt marsh during higher tidal flooding. Although SLR apparently slows down SAR, it still presents a positive balance with SLR, similar to that identified in most mesotidal estuaries. The geochemical analysis of sediments and chemical alteration index (CAI) also suggest that the major processes inherent to the SAR vary inversely, being mostly based by physical disturbances. Geochemical ratio-based indices showed that both salt marshes presented enhanced highenergy transport driven inputs of sediments, although in Pancas salt marsh there is a slight evidence of chemical weathering of the sediments. Anthropogenic contamination of the sediments by heavy metals was identified and has been decreasing from 1963 to 2001, mostly linked to a marked reduction of industrial activities in some areas surrounding the Tagus estuary, rather than the sedimentary history of the estuary.

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Carbon Storage in Tagus Salt Marsh Sediments

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Modelling the effects of global temperature increase on the growth of salt marsh plants

Modelling the effects of global temperature increase on the growth of salt marsh plants

Halophytes as sources of metals in estuarine systems with low levels of contamination

Tagus estuary salt marshes feedback to sea level rise over a 40-year period: Insights from the application of geochemical indices

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