High carbon accumulation rates in sediment adjacent to constructed oyster reefs, Northeast Florida, USA

Veenstra, Jessica; Southwell, Melissa W.; Dix, Nicole; Marcum, Pamela; Jackson, J.B.C.; Burns, Cody; Herbert, Colin; Kemper, Aubrey

doi:10.1007/s11852-021-00829-0

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Finally, standing stocks were positively influenced by the proximity of oyster reefs, suggesting potential synergies for coordinated management and restoration. This positive association likely relates to the allochthonous carbon subsidies and wave attenuation they produce, which has been found to enhance the rate of carbon storage and burial in nearby sediments (Sharma et al 2016; Fodrie et al 2017; Veenstra et al 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Therefore, rates of local organic carbon production and deposition can vary depending on seagrass community characteristics, such as seagrass canopy cover, species composition, areal extent, and the configuration of seagrass beds (Lavery et al 2013; Samper‐Villarreal et al 2016; Ricart et al 2017). In addition, stocks are likely influenced by environmental conditions controlling the supply and deposition of sediments and organic material from elsewhere, such as the water depth, turbidity, and current dynamics; as well as the seascape configuration in relation to nearby allochthonous carbon sources, such as rivers and oyster reefs (Lavery et al 2013; Ricart et al 2020; Asplund et al 2021; Veenstra et al 2021). All of these factors have the potential to create considerable spatial variation in organic carbon storage by seagrasses, but the resulting patterns and relative importance of different drivers is still unknown (Lavery et al 2013; Oreska et al 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Geographic variation in organic carbon storage by seagrass beds

McHenry

Rassweiler

Hernán

et al. 2023

Limnology & Oceanography

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Since seagrasses are efficient sinks for marine organic carbon, there is growing interest in incorporating seagrass protection and restoration into climate mitigation schemes, that is, offering credit for accumulated carbon to offset carbon dioxide emissions. However, patterns and drivers of organic carbon storage by seagrasses are not well resolved, especially at scales relevant to management decisions. Here, we quantified geographic variation in standing stocks of sedimentary organic carbon (Mg Corg ha−1) associated with seagrasses along the northern Florida Gulf Coast using field surveys and sediment cores. We measured plant biomass, organic carbon, and sediment composition in each core. Using a multivariate modeling approach, we evaluated the relative importance of ecological, physical, oceanographic, and seascape drivers, developing the first spatially explicit predictions of seagrass‐associated carbon stocks for this region. Applying model predictions to confirmed seagrass beds and potential recovery areas, we also estimated the carbon storage value of potential seagrass conservation and restoration as the resulting stock enhancement value per hectare of seagrass (Δ Mg Corg ha−1). We found that organic carbon stored by seagrass sediments varied considerably across this region, with stocks significantly increasing with seagrass cover, proximity to oyster reefs, and distance from river outlets, highlighting potential synergies for coordinated management. We also found that current seagrass beds could offer nearly double the carbon storage value of potential recovery areas, emphasizing the importance of conservation as well as restoration. Our results have important implications for management, restoration, and understanding biogeographic patterns of seagrass ecosystem services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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confidence: 99%

Geographic variation in organic carbon storage by seagrass beds

McHenry

Rassweiler

Hernán

et al. 2023

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Intact ecosystems are more resilient to climate change than anthropogenically weakened ecosystems, and therefore could play a critical role in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change (EU COM, 2022b). The exclusion of bottom trawling will enhance their carbon storage capacity (Duplisea et al, 2001; Luisetti et al, 2019), whereas oyster reefs increase sedimentation rates and organic carbon accumulation through the provision of 3D structure (Fodrie et al, 2017; Lee et al, 2020; Veenstra et al, 2021). Such suitable potential future ‘climate protection areas’ (CPAs) are in some areas likely to overlap with suitable areas for oyster restoration, both identifiable by combined and adapted habitat suitability approaches (Smale et al, 2018; Dunkley & Solandt, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Come, tell me how you live: Habitat suitability analysis for Ostrea edulis restoration

Pogoda

Hausen

Rothe

et al. 2023

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Against the background of the UN decade on ecosystem restoration and the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and in the context of marine spatial planning and complex maritime user conflicts, reliable information on habitat suitability for large-scale restoration is an important prerequisite for implementing conservation management and for supporting successful, sustainable, and ecologically efficient restoration measures.2. In this study, habitat suitability was assessed using multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) for the restoration of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis, in marine protected areas (MPAs) of the German Bight in the North Sea: Borkum Reef Ground (Borkum Riffgrund, BRG) and Sylt Outer Reef -Eastern German Bight (Sylter Außenriff, SAR).3. Based on site selection criteria, exclusion and suitability factors for the MCDA were defined. Results were integrated with the available geodata to produce habitat suitability maps for oyster restoration in the area of interest.4. Suitable as well as unsuitable habitats have been successfully identified for both MPAs: several hundred square kilometres (≥97.2% of BRG) or several thousand square kilometres (≥74.5% of SAR) were classified as ecologically and logistically suitable for oyster restoration measures in the respective MPAs. As oyster restoration is significantly limited by human activities (e.g. bottom trawl fisheries), the management of fisheries is an important prerequisite for successful oyster restoration in both MPAs. Results show that designated fishery management measures will increase the possibilities for oyster restoration.5. In BRG, our results correspond to the known historical distribution. In SAR, our results significantly exceed the historically known distribution. The habitat suitability analysis will facilitate decision-making regarding ocean use, and will

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“…Regarding coastal protection, oyster reefs are known to (a) attenuate wave energy (Manis et al., 2015; Morris et al., 2021; Wiberg et al., 2019), (b) reduce estuarine currents (Kitsikoudis et al., 2020; Styles, 2015; Whitman & Reidenbach, 2012), and (c) stabilize seabed sediments and shorelines (Chowdhury et al., 2019; Salvador de Paiva et al., 2018; Scyphers et al., 2011). Concurrently, oyster reefs provide further ecosystem services as they, for example, (a) create habitats for various species, including resident invertebrates, mobile crustaceans, and bottom‐feeding fish (Grabowski et al., 2012), (b) enhance water quality through filter‐feeding of suspended particles (Nelson et al., 2004; Newell, 1988) and (c) sequester carbon (Fodrie et al., 2017; Veenstra et al., 2021). However, compared to other marine ecosystems, like coral reefs, salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and mangroves, whose wave attenuating effects have been extensively studied, investigations quantifying wave attenuation and influencing hydro‐ and morphodynamic processes of oyster reefs remain sparse (Morris et al., 2018; Morris et al., 2021; Narayan et al., 2016; Walles, Mann, et al., 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Role of Sharp Edges in the Propagation of Surface Gravity Waves

Hitzegrad,

Köster,

Windt

et al. 2024

JGR Oceans

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Ultra‐rough oceanic surfaces, such as oyster reefs, are characterized by densely‐packed, sharp‐edged roughness elements that induce high frictional resistance on the ambient flows. To effectively employ, for example, oyster reefs as a nature‐based solution in coastal protection, a detailed understanding of the frictional wave energy dissipation processes is necessary. This work reports on an experimental study in which six surrogates of very to ultra‐rough oceanic bed surfaces were subjected to regular waves. The influences of different sharpness' of roughness elements (bluntly‐shaped, sharp‐edged, and a combination thereof) and relative spacing between elements compared to the near‐bed horizontal excursion amplitude, λ/ab, on the wave attenuation have been investigated. Turbulence is 2–27 times larger for sharp‐edged surfaces and 1 to 18 times larger for mix surfaces than those of bluntly‐shaped surfaces. Maximum bed shear stresses, hydraulic roughness lengths, and wave friction factors are likewise significantly larger for sharp‐edged compared to bluntly‐shaped surfaces. These observations indicate that the sharp edges are crucial for frictional energy dissipation. Comparing the maximum bed shear stresses determined from wave height reductions to those determined from velocity measurements indicates that in addition to turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), periodic form‐induced stresses significantly contribute to the overall bed shear stresses. This study provides new insight into the frictional dissipation processes of oscillating flows encountering ultra‐rough surfaces.

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High carbon accumulation rates in sediment adjacent to constructed oyster reefs, Northeast Florida, USA

Cited by 6 publications

References 39 publications

Geographic variation in organic carbon storage by seagrass beds

Geographic variation in organic carbon storage by seagrass beds

Come, tell me how you live: Habitat suitability analysis for Ostrea edulis restoration

Understanding the Role of Sharp Edges in the Propagation of Surface Gravity Waves

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