Carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation using macroalgae: a state of knowledge review

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(6), P. 1945 - 1971

Published: July 12, 2023

The conservation, restoration, and improved management of terrestrial forests significantly contributes to mitigate climate change its impacts, as well providing numerous co-benefits. pressing need reduce emissions increase carbon removal from the atmosphere is now also leading development natural solutions in ocean. Interest sequestration potential underwater macroalgal growing rapidly among policy, corporate sectors. Yet, our understanding whether can lead tangible mitigation remains severely limited, hampering their inclusion international policy or finance frameworks. Here, we examine results over 180 publications synthesise evidence regarding forest potential. We show that research efforts on macroalgae are heavily skewed towards particulate organic (POC) pathways (77% data publications), fixation most studied flux (55%). Fluxes directly (e.g. export burial marine sediments) remain poorly resolved, likely hindering regional country-level assessments potential, which only available 17 150 countries where occur. To solve this issue, present a framework categorize coastlines according Finally, review multiple avenues through translate into capacity, largely depends interventions above baseline avoid further emissions. find restoration afforestation potentially order 10's Tg C globally. Although lower than current estimates value all habitats (61-268 year-1 ), it suggests could add total coastal blue ecosystems, offer valuable opportunities polar temperate areas currently low. Operationalizing will necessitate models reliably estimate proportion production sequestered, improvements fingerprinting techniques, rethinking accounting methodologies. ocean provides major adapt change, largest vegetated habitat Earth should not be ignored simply because does fit existing

Language: Английский

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It's time to broaden what we consider a ‘blue carbon ecosystem’

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(5)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract Photoautotrophic marine ecosystems can lock up organic carbon in their biomass and the associated sediments they trap over millennia are thus regarded as blue ecosystems. Because of ability to for millennia, is receiving much attention within United Nations' 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development a nature‐based solution (NBS) climate change, but classically still focuses on seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, tidal marshes. However, other coastal could also be important storage, remain largely neglected both cycling budgets NBS strategic planning. Using meta‐analysis 253 research publications, we identify ecosystems—including mud flats, fjords, coralline algal (rhodolith) beds, some components or coral reef systems—with strong capacity act sinks certain situations. Features that promote burial these ‘non‐classical’ included: (1) balancing release by calcification via uptake at individual ecosystem levels; (2) high rates allochthonous supply because particle trapping capacity; (3) preservation low remineralization rates; (4) location depositional environments. Some features context‐dependent, meaning were locations, not others. Therefore, provide universal framework evaluate likelihood given behave sink context. Overall, this paper seeks encourage consideration non‐classical strategies, allowing more complete accounting.

Language: Английский

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Substantial kelp detritus exported beyond the continental shelf by dense shelf water transport

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Jan. 8, 2024

Kelp forests may contribute substantially to ocean carbon sequestration, mainly through transporting kelp away from the coast and into deep sea. However, it is not clear if how detritus transported across continental shelf. Dense shelf water transport (DSWT) associated with offshore flows along seabed provides an effective mechanism for cross-shelf transport. In this study, we determine DSWT in exporting beyond edge, by considering of simulated sinking a region Australia's Great Southern Reef. We show that main transports past export negligible when does occur. find 51% per year or 17-29% accounting decomposition while transit This more than initial global estimates. Because occurs many mid-latitude locations around world, where are also most productive, could be considerably larger initially expected.

Language: Английский

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Seafloor primary production in a changing Arctic Ocean

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(11)

Published: March 4, 2024

Phytoplankton and sea ice algae are traditionally considered to be the main primary producers in Arctic Ocean. In this Perspective, we explore importance of benthic (BPPs) encompassing microalgae, macroalgae, seagrasses, which represent a poorly quantified source marine production. Despite scarce observations, models predict that BPPs widespread, colonizing ~3 million km 2 extensive coastal shelf seas. Using synthesis published data novel model, estimate currently contribute ~77 Tg C y −1 production Arctic, equivalent ~20 35% annual phytoplankton Macroalgae ~43 , seagrasses ~23 microalgae-dominated habitats ~11 16 . Since 2003, seafloor area exposed sunlight has increased by ~47,000 expanding realm warming Arctic. Increased macrophyte abundance productivity is expected along coastlines with continued ocean loss. However, microalgal only few regions despite substantial loss over past 20 y, as higher solar irradiance ice-free counterbalanced reduced water transparency. This suggests complex impacts climate change on light availability significant knowledge gaps BPPs, their widespread presence obvious contribution ecosystem call for further investigation inclusion carbon budgets.

Language: Английский

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The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima II: Recent advances in farming and applications

Journal of Applied Phycology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(4), P. 1953 - 1985

Published: March 20, 2024

Abstract The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima has received intense scientific attention over the last decades. In recent years, interest in cultivation of species strongly increased North Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean, driven by great potential S. to be utilised for various industrial applications, including food, feed, biomaterials. Accordingly, current research focused on improving farming methods technology, environmental impacts, site selection. addition, many studies have investigated varying chemical composition , extraction commercially interesting components, use biomass its derived components applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview applications from 15 years. Additional insights other topics, such as ecology, physiology, biochemical molecular biology are given first review, “The I: advances changing climate” (Diehl et al. 2023).

Language: Английский

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Role of macroalgal forests within Mediterranean shallow bays in blue carbon storage

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 934, P. 173219 - 173219

Published: May 14, 2024

Although seaweeds rank among the most productive vegetated habitats globally, their inclusion within Blue Carbon frameworks is at its onset, partially because they usually grow in rocky substrates and organic carbon (C

Language: Английский

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Tracing Macroalgal‐Induced Changes in Carbon Dynamics of High‐Arctic Fjords Using Biomarker Fingerprinting

Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 130(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Due to rising seawater temperatures and reduced sea ice extent, the coastal Arctic region is witnessing an expansion of macroalgal forests. However, changes in carbon dynamics resulting from such extensive growth are still unknown high‐Arctic fjords. To trace signatures fjords, bulk C‐isotopic compound‐specific n ‐alkane distributions were studied dominant macroalgae (brown, red, green) ( = 20) also surface sediments 13) inner outer regions Kongsfjorden (Svalbard). The species shows variable signature (−17.0‰ −28.9‰) but similar distribution long‐chain ‐alkanes (> ‐C 23 ) with no predominance homologs, supporting environmental induced ‐alkyl lipid production compared biomass. Despite grain size mineral composition fjord sediments, differences indicate contribution organic matter different sources. In middle region, (−23.3 ± 1.1‰ −23.4 1.3‰) short‐to highlight possible mixing phytoplankton, macroalgal‐debris, terrestrial While, fjord, significantly lower δ 13 C values (−25.6 0.9‰) communities suggest accumulation possibly sourced reworking macroalgal‐debris. High sedimentation microbial breakdown debris create a low‐oxygen environment, as evidenced by higher cyclic octasulphur compounds region. Under future warming conditions, oxygen‐starved fjords may become more common forests expand sediment influx increases.

Language: Английский

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A systematic review of marine macroalgal degradation: Toward a better understanding of macroalgal carbon sequestration potential

Journal of Phycology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 27, 2025

Abstract Although macroalgae are gaining recognition for their potential role in marine carbon sequestration, critical knowledge gaps related to the fate of macroalgal limit our capacity quantify rates sequestration. Understanding degradation dynamics macroalgal‐derived biomaterials—including tissue/wrack, particulate organic matter/carbon (POM/POC), and dissolved (DOC)—as well as environmental drivers decomposition assessing longevity storage macroalgae. Thus, a systematic literature review studies was conducted compile data, estimate relative recalcitrance (i.e., stability) biomaterials, elucidate key dynamics. We found that decay trajectories highly variable not always best described by often‐cited exponential models. Our analysis demonstrated temperature notable driver decomposition, with higher temperatures eliciting faster decomposition. Furthermore, we brown algae had significantly proportions recalcitrant biomaterials when compared red algae. The impact other factors, including biomaterial type, environment, tissue nitrogen content on degradation, is across contexts, warranting further study. These results help provide foundation from which plan assess future will improve understanding how contribute cycles, trophic subsidies, and, potentially,

Language: Английский

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Red Seaweed Gracilaria Tenuistipitata Drives Doc Recycling and Microbial Community Function in Brackish Aquaculture

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Prevalent fingerprint of marine macroalgae in arctic surface sediments

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 898, P. 165507 - 165507

Published: July 12, 2023

Macroalgal forests export much of their production, partly supporting food webs and carbon stocks beyond habitat, but evidence contribution in sediment is poor. We test the hypothesis that macroalgae contribute to arctic marine sediments. used environmental DNA (eDNA) fingerprinting on a large-scale set surface samples from Greenland Svalbard. evaluated eDNA results by comparing with traditional survey tracer methods. The eDNA-based identified 94 % covering shallow nearshore areas 1460 m depth 350 km offshore, highest sequence abundance dominance brown macroalgae. Overall, reflected potential source communities eelgrass assessed surveys, most abundant orders being common among different A stable isotope analysis showed considerable sediments although high uncertainty, highlighting as great improvement supplement for documenting contributor stocks. Conclusively, we provide prevalent macroalgal sediments, well identifying algae main contributors.

Language: Английский

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