Large-scale predictions of salt-marsh carbon stock based on simple observations of plant community and soil type

Ford, H., Garbutt, A., Duggan-Edwards, M., Pagès, J. F., Harvey, R., Ladd, C. and Skov, M. W. (2019) Large-scale predictions of salt-marsh carbon stock based on simple observations of plant community and soil type. Biogeosciences, 16(2), pp. 425-436. (doi: 10.5194/bg-16-425-2019)

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Abstract

Carbon stored in coastal wetland ecosystems is of global relevance to climate regulation. Broadscale inventories of this “blue” carbon store are currently lacking and labour intensive. Sampling 23 salt marshes in the United Kingdom, we developed a Saltmarsh Carbon Stock Predictor (SCSP) with the capacity to predict up to 44 % of spatial variation in surface soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (0–10 cm) from simple observations of plant community and soil type. Classification of soils into two types (sandy or not-sandy) explained 32 % of variation in SOC stock. Plant community type (five vegetation classes) explained 37 % of variation. Combined information on soil and plant community types explained 44 % of variation in SOC stock. GIS maps of surface SOC stock were produced for all salt marshes in Wales (∼4000 ha), using existing soil maps and governmental vegetation data and demonstrating the application of the SCSP for large-scale predictions of blue carbon stores and the use of plant community traits for predicting ecosystem services.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study presents data collected as part of the Coastal Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Sustainability project (CBESS: NE/J015644/1), part of the BESS programme, a 6-year programme (2011–2017) funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (Bangor University grant reference: NE/J015350/1) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) as part of the UK’s Living with Environmental Change (LWEC) programme.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ladd, Dr Cai
Authors: Ford, H., Garbutt, A., Duggan-Edwards, M., Pagès, J. F., Harvey, R., Ladd, C., and Skov, M. W.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Biogeosciences
Publisher:Copernicus Publications
ISSN:1726-4170
ISSN (Online):1726-4189
Published Online:25 January 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:First published in Biogeosciences 16(2): 425-436
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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