The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS 2025)

ID / Created Time

971 / 2024-09-19 22:50:46

Title

Characteristics of Soil Black Carbon and Microbial Necromass Carbon Contents in Saltmarshes

Keywords

Saltmarshes,Organic carbon,Black carbon,Coastal wetlands,Microbial Necromass Carbon Contents

Track/Subject

Session 31 - Blue Carbon: from Science, Restoration and Trading

Status

Abstract Accepted

Author

Jinru Pan / University of Chinese Academy of Sciences；South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences；Xiaoliang Research Station of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, the CAS Engineering Laboratory for Ecological Restoration of Island and Coastal Ecosystems, and Guangdong Provincial

Faming Wang / South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences；Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory；Xiaoliang Research Station of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, the CAS Engineering Laboratory for Ecological Restoration of Island and Coastal Ecosystems, and Guangdong Provincial

Abstract

Saltmarshes are vital coastal ecosystems that store substantial amounts of organic carbon (OC) in sediments. The stability of this OC is crucial for climate mitigation efforts. Black carbon (BC) and microbial necromass carbon (MNC) are key components of OC that significantly contribute to its stability due to their resistance to decomposition. As inert constituents of the soil carbon pool, BC and MNC retard carbon decomposition and release, thereby enhancing the saltmarsh's capacity as a carbon sink. Despite their importance, research on the distribution, interactions, and combined contributions of BC and MNC to the stability of OC in coastal wetland soil profiles remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive assessment in the Yellow River Delta. The study focused on distinct types of coastal ecosystems, including unvegetated tidal flats and three types of salt marshes vegetated by either Spartina alterniflora, Suaeda salsa, or Phragmites australis. We combined field sampling and data analysis to assess the characteristics of BC and MNC in soil profiles across different vegetation types, and explore their contributions to the storage and stability of OC. This research provides insights into the mechanisms by which vegetation types influence the accumulation of inert carbon, thereby enhancing our understanding of OC stability in coastal wetlands.

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