Blue Carbon

Question 1

Blue Carbon

Answer 1

Carbon stored in the biomass and sediments of blue forests
Blue forests are the coastal and marine ecosystems that sequester C

Question 2

Sequestration

Answer 2

Sequestration is annual uptake of C into plant biomass and soils
10x more than into terrestrial forests

Question 3

Ecosystem Services

Answer 3

Benefits that humans derive from healthy ecosystems or natures contribute to people
When ecosystems are functioning well they provide ecosystem services

Question 4

Blue C Ecosystem Services

Answer 4

Provide food security through proteins from fisheries, recreational opportunities through fishing.
Shoreline protection
Blue C ecosystems provide biodiversity and other services like cultural heritage

Question 5

Coastal habitat destruction

Answer 5

Threatened ecosystems in the world.
Natural and human stressors
Habitat may be able to resist or recover
Can become C sources instead of sinks when destroyed

Question 6

Mangrove Ecosystems

Answer 6

Found in over 100 tropical and subtropical countries
Host high biodiversity of fish, invertebrates, reptiles and mammals
Able to grow in salt or brackish water
Exposed and submerged with the ebb and flow of tide
Threatened

Question 7

Mangrove Ecosystems

Answer 7

35% loss of global mangrove coverage 1980-2000
Leading drivers of deforestation:
- Shrimp culture 38%
- Forest use 26%
- Fish culture 14%
Driven by perception that these industries were more economically productive than the mangrove

Question 8

Consequences Mangrove loss

Answer 8

Mangroves interact with their environment to maintain ecosystem function:
- nursery habitat and refuge for fish and invertebrate species
- Energy dissipation that protects coast
- Nutrient filtration
Many shrimp ponds failed

Question 9

Seagrass importance

Answer 9

Biodiversity
Food
Oxygen
Nutrient cycling
Water quality
Habitat corridors
Carbon storage
Livelihoods
Climate resilience
Shelter

Question 10

Decline in seagrass effects

Answer 10

Physical disturbance
Turbidity
Nutrients/eutrophication
Wasting disease
Sea level rise and erosion
Habitat loss
Global loss of 0.9% per year
Global loss 7% since 1990
Estimated 84-92% loss of seagrass in the UK
Excessive herbivory

Question 11

MPAs

Answer 11

~8% of ocean is protected
Target ~30% by 2030
Protection categories