Blue Carbon
Blue carbon, the carbon produced by coastal ecosystems, is a large and poorly understood component of the global carbon cycle. We are investigating the role of seagrass distribution dynamics in blue carbon storage and cycling in collaboration with coastal ecologists and remote sensing specialists Elizabeth Watson (Drexel University), Alejandro Hinojosa and Elena Solana-Arellano (CICESE). Our study will be the first to investigate the dynamics of blue carbon in the sediment of seagrass dominated lagoons in Baja Mexico. Field investigations include are conducted with a combination of UAV (drone) based remote sensing, plant and sediment sampling for physical and chemical analyses including O,C,N stable isotopes, and fallout and cosmogenic radionuclides. The results of this work will be used to determine the provenance of the organic matter in lagoon sediments, and how their deposition and availability changes over time in relation to seagrass spatial distribution and density.
Students: Johannes Krause (Drexel), Julianna McDonnel (UCR)
Funding: UC MEXUS-Conacyt, USDA Hatch Program
Partners: Beth Watson, Drexel University; Alejandro Hinojosa and Elena Solana-Arellano, CICESE
Students: Johannes Krause (Drexel), Julianna McDonnel (UCR)
Funding: UC MEXUS-Conacyt, USDA Hatch Program
Partners: Beth Watson, Drexel University; Alejandro Hinojosa and Elena Solana-Arellano, CICESE