Abstract:
Mangroves, a prominent feature of many tropical and subtropical estuaries play potentially significant role in the carbon budget of the tropical coastal zone. It is the most productive ecosystem (storage ~15 Pg C as live biomass and in soil) after tropical peatland (storage ~ 88.6 Pg C) having faster carbon sequestration rate (174 g C m-2 yr-1) compared to other coastal habitats. Although via litter fall significant influx of mangrove derived carbon to intertidal mangrove sediment is well documented but its subsequent fate is still a matter of debate. Sediment carbon accumulation rate coupled with mineralization and its subsequent CO2 efflux across sediment-atmosphere interface are not sufficient to balance total mangrove derived carbon influx, confirming researchers about some alternative pathway for carbon sink from the ecosystem. The alternative pathway is carbon export from mangroves to adjoining aquatic system. Although very recently scientists are paying large attention on this topic, but to our knowledge best no reports are available from any Chinese mangrove system and more specifically anthropogenically influenced mangrove system. To accomplish the gap, we have selected Zhangjiang mangrove system, Fujian province, China as our study point. Presence of natural mangroves coupled with anthropogenic inputs through aquaculture and domestic sewage make the ecosystem highly complicated compared to other natural mangrove systems worldwide. Combining published reports by several researchers on the given system, primary signal for carbon export from this anthropogenically influenced mangrove system is also evident based on low sediment carbon concentration and low CO2 emission from sediment-atmosphere interface, despite of having similar carbon content of mangrove leaf compared to other tropical mangroves. Some baseline data from the above mentioned Chinese mangrove system will also be presented in the seminar.
Bio:
18.01.2016: Ph.D. in Marine Science, University of Calcutta, India.
10.09.2009: Masters in Marine Science, University of Calcutta, India.
23.07.2007: Bachelors in Chemistry, University of Calcutta, India.
