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Deforested Mangroves Affect the Potential for Carbon Linkages between Connected Ecosystems

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Abstract

Mangrove forests are important sinks and sources of carbon especially for connections to coral reefs and seagrass beds. However, they are increasing under threat from anthropogenic influences. We investigated correlations between carbon fluxes from the sediment and water column in deforested and intact mangroves. Our findings show that deforestation has a negative effect on sediment organic carbon storage and CO2 fluxes. However, species richness and density showed a positive correlation with sediment organic carbon storage and CO2 fluxes. An increased density of saplings showed a positive relationship with dissolved inorganic and organic carbon draining the mangrove forest at high tide. This research offers insights into the importance of the key forest characteristics influencing the storage and fluxes of carbon. Alterations in mangrove carbon stocks and retention may affect connected ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology chemical laboratory for assistance and the Institute or Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam and Dr. Narriman S. Jiddawi for scientific and logistical support in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The authors would also like to thank Professor Martin Zimmer for his support and help with final edits of the ms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    L. G. Gillis, E. F. Belshe & G. R. Narayan

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  1. L. G. Gillis
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  2. E. F. Belshe
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  3. G. R. Narayan
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Correspondence to L. G. Gillis.

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Communicated by Alberto Vieira Borges

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Gillis, L.G., Belshe, E.F. & Narayan, G.R. Deforested Mangroves Affect the Potential for Carbon Linkages between Connected Ecosystems. Estuaries and Coasts 40, 1207–1213 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0210-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0210-9

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