title: The effect of ocean acidification on carbon storage and sequestration in seagrass beds; a global and UK context.
abstract: Ocean acidification will have many negative consequences for marine organisms and ecosystems, leading to a decline in many ecosystem services provided by the marine environment. This study reviews the effect of ocean acidification (OA) on seagrasses, assessing how this may affect their capacity to sequester carbon in the future and providing an economic valuation of these changes. If ocean acidification leads to a significant increase in above- and below-ground biomass, the capacity of seagrass to sequester carbon will be significantly increased. The associated value of this increase in sequestration capacity is approximately £500 and 600 billion globally between 2010 and 2100. A proportionally similar increase in carbon sequestration value was found for the UK. This study highlights one of the few positive stories for ocean acidification and underlines that sustainable management of seagrasses is critical to avoid their continued degradation and loss of carbon sequestration capacity.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK; Marine and Fisheries Unit, Ascension Island Government Conservation Department, Georgetown, Ascension Island, South Atlantic ASCN 1ZZ, UK. Electronic address: Samantha.Garrard@ascension.gov.ac.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Garrard
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Beaumont
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000378:metabolism*; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D057965:Carbon Sequestration; D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Carbon sequestration; Ecosystem services; Ocean acidification; Seagrass; Valuation