Sediment CO₂ efflux from cleared and intact temperate mangroves and tidal flats

Abstract

Abstract. Temperate mangroves in Southern Australia and New Zealand have been increasing in area over the past 50 years, whereas tropical mangroves have declined by 30–50% over a similar time frame. Tropical mangroves are understood to be an important carbon sink and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions following clearance are estimated to be comparable or greater than CO2 emissions following the clearance of many terrestrial forest systems. Recreational and amenity values or perceived loss of other estuarine habitats due to expanding temperate mangrove forests have resulted in clearing of temperate mangroves. In this study, we investigated the impact of temperate mangrove clearance on CO2 efflux from the sediment to the atmosphere along with a range of other biotic and abiotic factors. Significantly higher CO2 efflux rates were measured in cleared (1.34 ± 0.46 μmol m2 s-1) and intact mangrove sites (2.31 ± 0.72 μmol m2 s-1) than in tidal flats (-0.23 ± 0.27 μmol m2 s-1). Site and sediment characteristics such as sediment carbon and nitrogen concentration, chlorophyll α concentration, grain size, mangrove height, macrofaunal abundance, sediment temperature and moisture were strongly correlated with sediment CO2 efflux. Our results suggest that carbon stored within temperate mangrove sediment is released over a period of years to decades after mangrove clearance. CO2 efflux from intact and cleared temperate mangroves was found to be comparable to rates observed in the tropics. Disturbance of the surface biofilm resulted in elevated CO2 efflux across all habitats, suggesting the important role of surface biofilm communities in mediating CO2 efflux.