Does Mangrove Encroachment on Oyster Reefs in the Indian River Lagoon Enhance Blue Carbon Storage?

Author

Nicole Boisson, University of Central FloridaFollow

Keywords

Indian River Lagoon; Oyster reefs; Mangrove encroachment; Total carbon pools; Mineral Associated Organic Matter; Florida

Abstract

Mangrove stands and oyster reefs are two common coastal habitats in the Indian River Lagoon. Each habitat provides diverse ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and carbon storage. A decrease in freeze events and an increase in sea levels are leading to mangrove habitat expansion, including encroachment onto live oyster reefs in the IRL’s northernmost portion, Mosquito Lagoon. This study investigates how the encroachment of black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) and red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) on eastern oyster reefs (Crassostrea virginica) impacts the abundance and stability of soil carbon relative to each habitat alone. Soil and sediment samples (0-10cm) were collected from three locations in Mosquito Lagoon, each containing a mangrove-only, oyster-only, and mangrove-encroached oyster reef habitat. Total and active carbon were quantified, and stable carbon was determined through physical and density fractionation that isolates persistent mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). Results showed total, active, and MAOM-carbon averaged 2-3 times greater in mangroves than oyster reefs, while mangrove-encroached oyster reefs were intermediate in concentration. However, mangrove-oyster soils have the highest proportion of the total carbon pool protected as MAOM (54.9%), compared to each habitat alone (mangrove-only, 35.3%, oyster-only, 30.3%). This research is the first to provide data on blue carbon storage in areas where mangroves encroach on oyster reefs, including differentiating total carbon based on its stability in the soil.

Thesis Completion Year

2024

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Chambers, Lisa

College

College of Sciences

Department

Department of Biology

Thesis Discipline

Biogeochemistry

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

5 years

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

STARS Citation

Boisson, Nicole, "Does Mangrove Encroachment on Oyster Reefs in the Indian River Lagoon Enhance Blue Carbon Storage?" (2024). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 105.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/105