Changes in the carbon source and storage in a cultivation area of macro-algae in Southeast China. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Yingying; Yang, Weifeng; Zhao, Xiufeng; Zhang, Qinghua; Chen, Hansen; Fang, Ziming; Zheng, Minfang
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 188(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Mariculture -- Carbon source -- Burial flux -- Sedimentation rate; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114680
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Macro-algae culture has recently attracted attention in China because of its capability to sequester carbon. Here, radionuclides, total organic carbon (TOC), and nitrogen (TN) were examined in a cultivation area of macro-algae in Southeast China. At the reference site, the ratio of TOC to TN (C/N, 8.1 ± 0.2, mean ± SD) did not exhibit discernible variation over the past 70 years. In contrast, in the cultivation area, C/N descended from 9.0 ± 0.2 around 1960 to 8.3 ± 0.2 between 1960 and 1990 and 7.6 ± 0.2 after 1990, coincident with the recorded kelp production in this area, indicating an influence of macro-algae culture-associated activities on carbon origin. Using a model, algal culture-associated activities contributed 23 ± 7 % between 1963 and 1990 and 53 ± 8 % between 1990 and 2022 to TOC. The burial of culture-associated TOC varied from 0.15 to 1.23 mg-C cm −2 yr −1, implying the unneglectable influence on carbon storage. Highlights: Changes in carbon source were observed in a macro-algae culture area in China. Temporal pattern of carbon source matched kelp production in the culture field. Burial flux of algae culture-associated carbon increased with kelp production.