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Carbon Storage in Tidal Flats

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Abstract

Tidal flat ecosystems are important habitats in shallow coastal waters. In this chapter, carbon storage in a bivalve (Corbicula japonica), phytoplankton, and sediment is estimated at two tidal flats in a eutrophic coastal area of Osaka Bay in Japan. First, we estimate the carbon storage of the bivalve from the rate of organic carbon production and shell production measured by monthly field investigations. We then estimate the carbon storage of phytoplankton based on phytoplankton biomass measurements and a model of gross primary production and respiration based on incubation experiments. To assess carbon storage in sediment, biodegradation tests of sedimentary organic carbon taken from the intertidal zone and the subtidal zone were carried out for 100 days; the residual sedimentary organic carbon is considered to represent long-term storage of carbon in sediment. Finally, the carbon storage functions of bivalves, phytoplankton, and sedimentary organic matter in tidal flat ecosystems are summarized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan

    Toru Endo

  2. Civil Engineering and Environment Course, Department of Technological Systems, Osaka Prefecture University College of Technology, Saiwaicho, Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan

    Sosuke Otani

Authors
  1. Toru Endo
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  2. Sosuke Otani
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Correspondence to Toru Endo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal and Estuarine Environment Research Group, Port and Airport Research Institute, Yokosuka, Japan

    Tomohiro Kuwae

  2. National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan

    Masakazu Hori

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Endo, T., Otani, S. (2019). Carbon Storage in Tidal Flats. In: Kuwae, T., Hori, M. (eds) Blue Carbon in Shallow Coastal Ecosystems. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1295-3_5

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