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Native plant restoration combats environmental change: development of carbon and nitrogen sequestration capacity using small cordgrass in European salt marshes

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Abstract

Restoration of salt marshes is critical in the context of climate change and eutrophication of coastal waters because their vegetation and sediments may act as carbon and nitrogen sinks. Our primary objectives were to quantify carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks and sequestration rates in restored marshes dominated by Spartina maritima to provide support for restoration and management strategies that may offset negative aspects of eutrophication and climate change in estuarine ecosystems. Sediment C content was between ca. 13 mg C g−1and sediment N content was ca. 1.8 mg N g−1. The highest C content for S. maritima was recorded in leaves and stems (ca. 420 mg C g−1) and the lowest in roots (361 ± 4 mg C g−1). S. maritima also concentrated more N in its leaves (31 ± 1 mg N g−1) than in other organs. C stock in the restored marshes was 29.6 t C ha−1; ca. 16 % was stored in S. maritima tissues. N stock was 3.6 t N ha−1, with 8.3 % stored in S. maritima. Our results showed that the S. maritima restored marshes, 2.5 years after planting, were sequestering atmospheric C and, therefore, provide some mitigation for global warming. Stands are also capturing nitrogen and reducing eutrophication. The concentrations of C and N contents in sediments, and cordgrass relative cover of 62 %, and low below-ground biomass (BGB) suggest restored marshes can sequester more C and N. S. maritima plantations in low marshes replace bare sediments and invasive populations of exotic Spartina densiflora and increase the C and N sequestration capacity of the marsh by increasing biomass production and accumulation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Port Authority of Huelva for its support, and the Seville University Greenhouse Service and microanalysis service of CITIUS for collaboration. We also thank Ahmed M. Abbass and Jorge Carrión-Tacuri for invaluable research assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Ap. 1095, 41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Guillermo Curado, Alfredo E. Rubio-Casal, Enrique Figueroa & Jesús M. Castillo

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, USDA-ARS Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit University of California, Davis, MS-4 One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Brenda J. Grewell

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  1. Guillermo Curado
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  2. Alfredo E. Rubio-Casal
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  3. Enrique Figueroa
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  4. Brenda J. Grewell
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  5. Jesús M. Castillo
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Correspondence to Jesús M. Castillo.

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Curado, G., Rubio-Casal, A.E., Figueroa, E. et al. Native plant restoration combats environmental change: development of carbon and nitrogen sequestration capacity using small cordgrass in European salt marshes. Environ Monit Assess 185, 8439–8449 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3185-4

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