Seventy years of continuous encroachment substantially increases ‘blue carbon’ capacity as mangroves replace intertidal salt marshes

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dc.contributor.authorKelleway, JJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSaintilan, Nen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMacreadie, PIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSkilbeck, CGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorZawadzki, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRalph, PJen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-27T04:46:00Zen_AU
dc.date.available2016-06-27T04:46:00Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2016-03-22en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-06-27en_AU
dc.description.abstractShifts in ecosystem structure have been observed over recent decades as woody plants encroach upon grasslands and wetlands globally. The migration of mangrove forests into salt marsh ecosystems is one such shift which could have important implications for global ‘blue carbon’ stocks. To date, attempts to quantify changes in ecosystem function are essentially constrained to climate-mediated pulses (30 years or less) of encroachment occurring at the thermal limits of mangroves. In this study, we track the continuous, lateral encroachment of mangroves into two south-eastern Australian salt marshes over a period of 70 years and quantify corresponding changes in biomass and belowground C stores. Substantial increases in biomass and belowground C stores have resulted as mangroves replaced salt marsh at both marine and estuarine sites. After 30 years, aboveground biomass was significantly higher than salt marsh, with biomass continuing to increase with mangrove age. Biomass increased at the mesohaline river site by 130 ± 18 Mg biomass km−2 yr−1 (mean ± SE), a 2.5 times higher rate than the marine embayment site (52 ± 10 Mg biomass km−2 yr−1), suggesting local constraints on biomass production. At both sites, and across all vegetation categories, belowground C considerably outweighed aboveground biomass stocks, with belowground C stocks increasing at up to 230 ± 62 Mg C km−2 yr−1 (± SE) as mangrove forests developed. Over the past 70 years, we estimate mangrove encroachment may have already enhanced intertidal biomass by up to 283 097 Mg and belowground C stocks by over 500 000 Mg in the state of New South Wales alone. Under changing climatic conditions and rising sea levels, global blue carbon storage may be enhanced as mangrove encroachment becomes more widespread, thereby countering global warming. © 2015, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationKelleway, J. J., Saintilan, N, Macreadie, P. I., Skilbeck, C. G., Zawadzki, A., & Ralph, P. J. (2016). Seventy years of continuous encroachment substantially increases ‘blue carbon’ capacity as mangroves replace intertidal salt marshes. Global Change Biology, 22(3), 1097-1109. doi: 10.1111/gcb.13158en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc6757en_AU
dc.identifier.issn26670941en_AU
dc.identifier.issue3en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleGlobal Change Biologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination1097-1109en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13158en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/7102en_AU
dc.identifier.volume22en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherJohn Wiley & Sonsen_AU
dc.subjectCarbonen_AU
dc.subjectMangrovesen_AU
dc.subjectSaltsen_AU
dc.subjectMarshesen_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectClimatesen_AU
dc.titleSeventy years of continuous encroachment substantially increases ‘blue carbon’ capacity as mangroves replace intertidal salt marshesen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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