Download or read book The Extent Density and Biomass Carbon of Eelgrass Zostera Marina Meadows in Clayoquot Sound British Columbia written by Aimee McGowan and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seagrass habitats have recently been characterized by their ability to capture and store organic carbon, known as 'blue carbon.' However, the geospatial extent and carbon storage capacity of these habitats are largely unknown on the Pacific Coast of Canada. This research quantified the areal extent of three eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in southern Clayoquot Sound on the Pacific Coast of Canada using remote sensing technologies and assessed the above- and belowground biomass (AGB; BGB) and living carbon content of the intertidal and subtidal zones. AGB estimates ranged from 11 ± 4 to 92 ± 51 g DW m-2, which translated into carbon stocks of 4 ± 1 to 33 ± 18 g C m-2 and are consistent with global estimates for Z. marina. BGB estimates were much lower than values for Z. marina in other regions (45 - 285 g DW m-2), ranging from 5 ± 4 g DW m-2 (2 ± 1 g C m-2) to 26 ± 20 g DW m-2 (9 ± 7 g C m-2). Low BGB in Clayoquot Sound is likely a response to sub-optimal environmental conditions, resulting in the eelgrass' shallow root system. The intertidal zone of two of our meadows, Robert Point (22,414 m2) and Grice Bay (186,468 m2), made up approximately 70% of their total meadow area (31,886 m2 and 261,667 m2, respectively), whereas the subtidal dominated at Kennedy Cove (4,318 m2), making up 80% of the meadow (5,343 m2). Mapping the intertidal and subtidal portions of each meadow allowed for biomass and living carbon estimates to be scaled up to their respective zone. After accounting for the size of each meadow, the more marine-influenced meadows, Robert Point and Kennedy Cove, had significantly higher density, biomass, and living carbon content values. Given the scarcity of data available on the extent of eelgrass meadows in Canada, regionally specific quantification of these habitats' areal extent, biomass, and carbon storage dynamics are required to accurately assess seagrasses climate change mitigation potential.

Download or read book Blue Carbon Storage and Variability in Clayoquot Sound British Columbia written by Victoria Rose Postlethwaite and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seagrass habitats store substantial amounts of organic carbon, known as 'blue carbon', We took sediment cores from the intertidal and subtidal zones of three eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows on the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, to assess carbon storage and accumulation rates. Sediment carbon concentrations did not exceed 1.30 %Corg, and carbon accumulation rates averaged 10.8 ± 5.2 g Corg m-2 yr-1. While sediment carbon stocks were generally higher in the eelgrass meadows relative to non-vegetated reference sites, carbon stocks averaged 1343 ± 482 g Corg m-2, substantially less than global averages. Our carbon estimates are in line with results from other Z. marina meadows; Z. marina's shallow root system may contribute to lower carbon storage. Sandy sediment, nutrient limitation, and low sediment input may also contribute to low carbon values. The larger, more marine influenced meadows with cooler temperatures resulted in larger total carbon stock. By improving the quantification of site-specific carbon dynamics, eelgrass' role in climate change mitigation and conservation can be assessed.

Download or read book A Search for Blue Carbon in Central Salish Sea Eelgrass Meadows written by Mira Diana Lutz and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study quantified eelgrass (Zostera marina) sediment organic carbon and carbon sequestration rates in Skagit County, Wa, in sites likely to support organic content and sediment accretion, the key components for carbon sequestration. These data may inform eelgrass-specific projects aimed at mitigating climate change through the protection and restoration of "blue carbon" ecosystems. Blue carbon is the carbon stored or emitted by coastal wetlands, which have the capacity to sequester more organic carbon (OC) than equivalent areas of mature forest. This study follows recent research from a single site within Padilla Bay, Wa. (Padilla transect), reporting OC stock approximately three times lower and sequestration rates nearly five times lower than reported global seagrass (all species) averages. The Padilla transect study sampled in the intertidal zone of one established transect in northern Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This site has minimal terrestrial sediment input and low or negative sediment accretion rates. These limitations inspired a search for higher OC storage and sequestration values by expanding the study area to include two bays with active river distributaries and selecting sites likely to support organic content and sediment accretion a priori. Site criteria included location within eelgrass meadows having a combination of similar canopy heights and stem densities but lower elevations, and closer proximities to distributary mouths of active river systems than in the Padilla transect. Study objectives were to: a) quantify OC stocks and sequestration rates in the expanded study area in sites expected to support C sequestration b) compare these values to those from the Padilla transect and to those from widespread Zostera marina studies and global seagrass meadow averages, and c) identify site characteristics associated with higher OC where found. We measured stem density, canopy height, depth below mean lower low water (MLLW), and sediment compaction in the field, and analyzed sediment samples for bulk density, carbon concentration by direct C-analysis and loss on ignition (LOI), sediment accretion rate from gamma ray spectroscopy of 210Pb activity levels, and sediment grain size in the lab. Considering site selection in areas expected to support C sequestration, results may be considered within the upper bounds of the ranges found within our study area. The overall mean % OC± SE over 3 bays was 0.43 ± 0.01 %, with a range of 0.17% to 3.66% (n=20). Overall mean OC density ± SE was 0.0058 ± 0.0001 g cm-3 and ranged from 0.0018 to 0.0479 g cm-3 (n=20). Organic C stock to 50cm ± SE was 27.10 ± 1.40 Mg ha-1, with a range of 15.23-49.20 Mg ha-1 and SE=1.96 (n=20). The mean carbon sequestration rate ± SE was 43.88 ± 9.19 g C m-2 yr-1, ranging from 13.90 to 93.04, SE=17.04, (n=7), which should be considered the upper bounds of possible rates in this infauna-rich region. We found higher OC sequestration rates in our study than in the Padilla transect study (F = 8.41, p = 0.01 on 1 and 10 df) however, there were no differences in % OC (F = 0.26, p = 0.62 on 1 and 13 df) nor OC stock (F = 1.86, p = 0.20 on 1 and 13 df) between studies. Like the Padilla transect study, organic C values in our study were also 3-5 times lower than estimated global averages for % OC, OC stock, and OC sequestration rates, but within the range reported by five studies conducted in Zostera marina meadows worldwide. Percent sediment pore space explained most of the variation in OC stock. We conclude that within-meadow eelgrass OC increases with environmental factors contributing to the accretion of fine sediments which increase porosity, that Z. marina meadows in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere exhibit far lower OC values than global averages for all seagrass species, which may be due to key factors preventing it from thriving in areas conducive to high C sequestration. We recommend that region- and site-specific C values be considered when valuing restoration projects to avoid underestimation of eelgrass area required to offset emissions "purchased" through the voluntary or compliance (cap and trade) C markets

Download or read book Under what Conditions Could Eelgrass Measurably Drawdown Carbon written by Tyler T. Tran and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seagrass meadows, common to coastal habitats, have been identified as potential short-term refugia for calcifying organisms from ocean acidification (OA). In nearshore, soft-sediment habitats of the Salish Sea, eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) is the dominant seagrass species, and several studies have found that eelgrass is effective at taking up inorganic carbon and maybe carbon-limited, potentially increasing uptake potential in the future. However, irradiance levels vary throughout a day and can therefore influence rates of carbon uptake and release through the relative rates of photosynthesis and respiration. Eelgrass meadows vary in terms of meadow size, shoot density and morphology, and water residence time which could affect rates of carbon uptake of eelgrass meadows and their influence on localized water chemistry. We conducted a series of mesocosm experiments manipulating pCO2, irradiance, and leaf area index (LAI)to assess how these factors interact and contribute to OA variability in the nearshore environment.

Download or read book Eelgrass Zostera Marina Ecosystems in Eastern Canada and Their Importance to Migratory Waterfowl written by Mélanie-Louise Leblanc and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that create some of the most productive coastal habitats globally and play a key role in the functioning of nearshore ecosystems. The most common seagrass genus in Canada is Zostera and the species Zostera marina (eelgrass) is the predominant seagrass in intertidal and subtidal shoreline zones along the Atlantic, Pacific, and eastern James Bay coasts. Eelgrass has specific habitat requirements, with growth and productivity optimized within particular ranges of salinity, temperature, light availability, and nutrient concentrations. Large eelgrass meadows can impact nearshore environments by filtering the water column, stabilizing sediment, buffering shorelines, and providing habitat for various marine and coastal species, including commercially important species like Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and lobster (Homarus americanus). Eelgrass is also a vital food resource for migratory waterfowl, notably Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans), and Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicla hrota). Despite their ecological importance, seagrasses are among the most vulnerable coastal ecosystems on the planet. The global loss of seagrass has been linked to a variety of human activities, including pollution, invasive species, and catchment modifications. There is an urgent need to improve monitoring of seagrass responses to environmental change, better document the importance of seagrass meadows to species reliant on them for food and habitat, and advance effective management and conservation of seagrass ecosystems. In this thesis, I investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of eelgrass meadows in eastern Canada and the importance of eelgrass as a food source for migratory waterfowl, using remote sensing data, long-term monitoring data (biomass, density, and cover), and field observations. In Chapter 3, I used a novel cost-efficient approach for satellite imaging time-series to examine changes in eelgrass distribution and abundance from 1984 to 2017 in a wetland of international importance in northeastern New Brunswick. With minimal ground truth data, the novel time-series approach revealed a slow and steady decline in eelgrass abundance in some areas of the estuary. In contrast, other areas were characterized by highly dynamic shifts in eelgrass cover over time. I demonstrated how time-series analysis can be used to identify potential drivers of seagrass change and the benefits of including time-series analysis in seagrass monitoring programs. In Chapter 4, I contributed to advancing knowledge of migratory waterfowl stopover behaviour by examining the influence of eelgrass and human activities on Canada Geese habitat selection. Combining field observations of Canada Geese and the eelgrass distribution maps produced in Chapter 3, I found that Canada Geese selected areas with high eelgrass availability during periods of low human disturbance, which emphasized the importance of eelgrass as a food source during the fall migration. However, higher levels of human disturbance led to a redistribution of geese away from dense eelgrass meadows. In Chapter 5, I presented new insights into the recent and current state of eelgrass along the eastern coast of James Bay after a drastic and large-scale decline in the late 1990s. By aggregating, synthesizing, and analyzing long-term monitoring data and current surveys, spanning 1982 - 2020, I provided the first quantitative evidence that changes in eelgrass biomass in northeastern James Bay may reflect synergistic impacts of climate change and altered freshwater discharge regimes. Overall, this thesis advances understanding of how temperate and subarctic Zostera marina ecosystems and associated fauna respond to coastal development and climate change"--

Download or read book Biomass Potential of Eelgrass Zostera Marina L written by René P. W. M. Jacobs and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Data Report on the Distribution and Density of Two Eelgrass Species Zostera Marina and Zostera Japonica on Roberts Bank British Columbia written by T. F. Sutherland and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Date Report on the Distribution and Density of Two Eelgrass Species Zostera Marina and Zostera Japonica on Robers Bank British Columbia written by T. F. *Sutherland and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Carbon Sequestration Within Northeastern Pacific Seagrass Meadows written by Brady Charles O'Donnell and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coastal vegetated habitats like mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses are increasingly being recognized as important carbon sinks in an attempt to offset anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Carbon is sequestered in these environments because of high sediment accumulation and decreased remineralization of organic material (often referred to as ‘blue carbon’). Globally, seagrass ecosystems are shown to sequester carbon at high rates and contain large carbon stocks below seagrass canopies; however, little is known about carbon sequestration of Eastern Pacific seagrass beds. Here we investigate the carbon sequestration (by weight percent and elemental mass) and accumulation (g C m−2 yr−1) in four Northern California Zostera marina seagrass beds located in Tomales Bay and Bodega Harbor. A suite of push cores, between 20 and 30cm long, were collected inside sediments vegetated with Z. marina, as well as adjacent unvegetated sediments. Sediment organic carbon content (C[subscript org]) at three of our sites ranged from 0.32% to 0.50%. Short-lived radioisotope age-dating analyses indicate a conservative linear accumulation rate (LAR) of 0.15-0.2 cm yr−1. Applying a minimum LAR of 0.15 cm yr−1 the carbon accumulation of our sites range from 8.04 g C m−2 yr−1 to 12.82 g C m−2 yr−1. Results show that carbon sequestration varied spatially and temporally due to environmental characteristics like grain size and seagrass biomass. Sediment grain size predicts sediment organic carbon, while seagrass total biomass positively influences the carbon sequestration in seagrass beds. Given that carbon sequestration within Z. marina meadows varies at different spatial and temporal scales, local and regional data are necessary to understand the global importance of seagrasses in carbon sequestration.

Download or read book Carbon Draw down Potential by the Native Eelgrass Zostera Marina in Puget Sound and Implications for Ocean Acidification Management written by Caitlin Mariko Shishido and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2012, the Washington State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification recommended actions to address local impacts of ocean acidification. At least two of these actions included a focus on seagrasses. Recognizing the ability of the native seagrasses Z. marina to remove carbon from seawater, the panel identified the need to "preserve Washington's existing native seagrass and kelp populations and, where possible, restore these populations" and to "develop vegetation-based systems of remediation for use in upland habitats and in shellfish areas". In this research I take the first steps to evaluate the potential utility of the native eelgrass Z. marina as a tool for mitigation of ocean acidification in Puget Sound. Using estimates of eelgrass abundance and distribution and regional estimates of net primary productivity, I estimated at relatively coarse scales the annual amount of carbon that could be removed from seawater by eelgrass via photosynthetic assimilation of carbon. I did not estimate long-term sequestration or burial. I applied a simple model to estimate the potential for carbon removal from seawater at several locations where eelgrass is present. At the basin level, rates of carbon removal by Z. marina are on the order of 1010gC y[superscript-1] for the Puget Sound Basin, and range from 108 to 1010 gC y[superscript-1] for individual sub-basins. Initial estimates suggest that at most of the selected sites, the change in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) resulting from seagrass carbon assimilation may not be sufficient to cause a pronounced shift in carbonate chemistry. This first estimate of carbon draw-down potential suggests that Z. marina has limited ability to serve as a tool to ameliorate effects of ocean acidification in Puget Sound.

Download or read book Environmental and Physiological Influences on Productivity and Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Eelgrass Zostera Marina L written by Meredith Leigh McPherson and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Biomass density Patterns in the Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marina written by Birgit Olesen and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 9 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Variability in Biomass and Primary Productivity in an Eelgrass Zostera Marina L Community written by Phillip Alan Sykes and published by . This book was released on 1983 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Oxygen Metabolism in Restored Eelgrass Zostera Marina L Meadows Measured by Eddy Correlation written by Jennie Elizabeth Rheuban and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Nitrogen Resource Analysis and Modelling of an Eelgrass Zostera Marina L Meadow in Izembek Lagoon Alaska written by Frederick Tilton Short and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nitrogen limitation in beds of eelgrass, Zostera marina L., was examined by correlating plant standing stock and sediment nitrogen supplies, by measurement of nitrogen uptake in eelgrass roots and leaves, and by experimental manipulation of plant-nitrogen interaction. Eelgrass standing stock and sediment nitrogen across an eelgrass meadow were analyzed. Correlation was found between the integrated interstitial ammonium pool and shoot density and other morphological characteristics. A model of eelgrass growth predicted the effect of nitrogen utilization on biomass production and growth rates; nitrogen limitation controlled growth throughout the summer in ammonium-poor eelgrass beds but only at the peak growth periods in ammonium-rich areas. Prediction of nitrogen enrichment effects similar to literature findings confirmed the impact of nitrogen limitation. Simulation of the spatial and seasonal influences of nitrogen and light as controls on eelgrass growth demonstrated the recurrent effects of dominant environmental limitations within an eelgrass meadow.

Download or read book Interactions and Dynamics of Eelgrass Zostera Marina L Epiphytes and Grazers in Subtidal Meadows of Puget Sound written by Timothy Alan Nelson and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Eelgrass Zostera Marina Structural Complexity written by Lindsay M. Sirota and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: