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Carbon sequestration in wetland soils of the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region

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Abstract

Coastal wetlands play an important but complex role in the global carbon cycle, contributing to the ecosystem service of greenhouse gas regulation through carbon sequestration. Although coastal wetlands occupy a small percent of the total US land area, their potential for carbon storage, especially in soils, often exceeds that of other terrestrial ecosystems. More than half of the coastal wetlands in the US are located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, yet these wetlands continue to be degraded at an alarming rate, resulting in a significant loss of stored carbon and reduction in capacity for carbon sequestration. We provide estimates of surface soil carbon densities for wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region, calculated from field measurements of bulk density and soil carbon content in the upper 10–15 cm of soil. We combined these estimates with soil accretion rates derived from the literature and wetland area estimates to calculate surface soil carbon pools and accumulation rates. Wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region potentially store 34–47 Mg C ha−1 and could potentially accumulate 11,517 Gg C year−1. These estimates provide important information that can be used to incorporate the value of wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region in future wetland management decisions related to global climate change. Estimates of carbon sequestration potential should be considered along with estimates of other ecosystem services provided by wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region to strengthen and enhance the conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of these important natural resources.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Alex Almario (USEPA), Tom Heitmuller (USGS-retired), Darrin Dantin (US EPA), Pat O’Donnell (Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve), and the staff from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Restoration Division, USGS-NWRC Coastal Restoration Field Station (Baton Rouge) for conducting the field work to assess the condition of wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region in 2007 and 2008. Sincere appreciation is also given to Amanda Nahlik, Matthew Harwell, and the anonymous peer reviewers for their insightful comments and recommendations to improve this manuscript. The information in this document has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and approved for publication. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. This is contribution number 1444 from the U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division.

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  1. Gulf Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Dr., Gulf Breeze, FL, 32561, USA

    Virginia D. Hansen & Janet A. Nestlerode

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  1. Virginia D. Hansen
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  2. Janet A. Nestlerode
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Correspondence to Virginia D. Hansen.

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Hansen, V.D., Nestlerode, J.A. Carbon sequestration in wetland soils of the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region. Wetlands Ecol Manage 22, 289–303 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-013-9330-6

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