The loss of seagrass areas reduces CO2 capture and … – EntornoInteligente

The Information .com / An international team involving the CSIC shows that replanting meadows prevents these important deposits of organic carbon

PALMA DE MALLORCA eroded, September (IRIN) –

The loss of seagrass Posidonia is a double problem: these areas fail to capture atmospheric CO2, and they can become sources of this gas when erode and release carbon Prairie had accumulated over decades or centuries.

This is one of the main findings of an international study by the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Oceans Institute of University of Western Australia, which has assessed whether the replanting of seagrass is effective to recover their capacity as carbon sinks in a relevant time to run (decades).

The study is published in the Journal of Ecology, CSIC as reported in a press release.

“The replanting of grassland prevents these deposits of organic carbon accumulated over centuries in grasslands that have disappeared from eroding,” said researcher CSIC study co-author Nuria Marbà, the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies.

“Our results indicate that the loss of this ecosystem should be also represented a significant loss in the ability of carbon sequestration and storage of sediments seagrass, “he added.

Meanwhile, researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and study co-Pere Masque, stated that” potential available area to carry out projects replanting marine angiosperms is enormous, “adding that” they can help rebuild carbon sinks and to preserve the ancient deposits. “

Seagrass meadows are sinks relevant Global Carbon by This conservation and restoration can help mitigate anthropogenic emissions, researchers say.

In addition, the results of this study help to dispel doubts that limit the development of strategies blue carbon in seagrasses. Blue carbon is the carbon sequestered in marine and coastal ecosystems, and stored as biomass and sediment.

The study was conducted in the coastal lagoon of Oyster Harbour, south of Western Australia, as explained the researcher.

“This environment is home to an underwater prairie of Posidonia australis suffered a significant reduction in the 60s and late 80s Since 1994, the prairie rose, partly thanks to a replanting series made until 2006 by one of the study authors, Geoff Bastyan “.

To conduct the study were used sediment dating techniques that have allowed quantifying carbon accumulation in areas repopulated, and the erosion of historical carbon in areas without recolonize. This is the project to replant prairies whose evolution has been followed for longer worldwide, concluded Marbà.

(EuropaPress)

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