Ecosystem carbon losses following a climate-induced mangrove mortality in Brazil

Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira Gomes; Christian J Sanders; Gabriel N Nobrega; Lucas C Vescovi; Hermano M Queiroz; J Boone Kauffman; Tiago O Ferreira; Angelo F Bernardino

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113381

Ecosystem carbon losses following a climate-induced mangrove mortality in Brazil

J Environ Manage. 2021 Nov 1:297:113381. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113381. Epub 2021 Jul 26.

Authors

Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira Gomes¹, Christian J Sanders², Gabriel N Nobrega³, Lucas C Vescovi⁴, Hermano M Queiroz⁵, J Boone Kauffman⁶, Tiago O Ferreira⁵, Angelo F Bernardino⁷

Affiliations

¹ Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil. Electronic address: luiz.e.o.gomes@gmail.com.
² National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, 2450, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Departamento de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
⁴ Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil.
⁵ Soil Science Department, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
⁶ Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
⁷ Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil. Electronic address: angelo.bernardino@ufes.br.

PMID: 34325365
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113381

Abstract

Drought events may induce mangrove mortality and dieback events worldwide as a result of climate extremes. As mangroves sequester large quantities of carbon, quantifying the losses of these stocks following climate disturbances may guide wetland governance strategies globally. In Southeast Brazil, we determined the total ecosystem carbon stocks (TECS) of pristine mangroves that were up to 1851 Mg of carbon per hectare (Mg C ha^-1), which are the highest stocks measured from South American and raising estimates of Brazil's mangrove TECS to 0.52 Pg C. A mangrove mortality event in the same estuary resulted in a 14.6 % decrease in TECS (270.5 Mg C ha^-1) and loss of 20 % of mangrove soil carbon within less than 2-years. Carbon dioxide emissions from this impact were 992.8 Mg CO₂e ha^-1, which are slightly lower than emissions from land use disturbances on mangroves worldwide. Our results suggest that climate effects on mangroves can become significant sources of greenhouse gases globally.

Keywords: Carbon stock; Climate change; Extreme climate events; Mangrove dieback; Soil organic carbon.

MeSH terms

Brazil
Carbon Sequestration
Climate Change
Ecosystem*
Soil
Wetlands*

Substances

Soil