Seagrass sediment organic carbon burial rates are globally significant
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Crucial for coastal carbon sequestration, global seagrass organic carbon (OC) burial rates remain uncertain as early estimates were derived from mixed methodologies across geographically and taxonomically biased datasets. Here, we present a data-driven reassessment from a synthesis of 332 sediment cores spanning the last century. Results show that seagrasses bury OC at 25 ± 3 g OC m −2 yr −1 (geometric mean), with an area-weighted global average of 33 ± 9 g OC m −2 yr −1 . Rates reflect a balance between sediment OC content and sediment accumulation, which share a negative exponential relationship driven by mineral dilution. Based on a revised mapped seagrass extent (247,700–366,400 km 2 ), global burial scales to 6–15 Tg C yr −1 . Although one-fourth of earlier benchmarks, seagrasses account for 3–4% to 3–6% of total oceanic OC burial despite covering <0.1% of the seafloor. Combined with mangroves and tidal marshes, vegetated coastal ecosystems contribute 8–13% of oceanic OC burial.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Anna Lafratta, Phil Colarusso, James W. Fourqurean, Chuancheng Fu, Hilary Kennedy, Johannes R. Krause, Paul S. Lavery, Carmen Leiva-Dueñas, Nuria Marbà, Miguel A. Mateo, Inés Mazarrasa, Dimitris Poursanidis, Cristian Salinas, Oscar Serrano, Milica Stankovic, Nerea Piñeiro-Juncal, Axel Werner, Marlene Wesselmann, Carlos M. Duarte, Jordi Garcia-Orellana, Pere Masqué
Institutions: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edith Cowan University, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, Florida International University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Bangor University, Aarhus University, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Universidad de Cantabria, IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Prince of Songkla University, Universidade de Vigo
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W7118663983