Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Biomass and carbon stocks in two mangrove patches of Chettuva Estuary, south-west coast of India

Volume 63 Issue 1

Molly Varghese, K. Vinod, K. R. Aju, K. M. Sreekumar, P. A. Thobias, C. P. Ansar, Gokul Vijayan, M. K. Nikhiljith and K. K. Joshi

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2021.63.1.2270-18

Abstract

Mangroves support numerous ecosystem services, including fisheries production and nutrient cycling. The role of mangroves in mitigating climate change is also well known. In the present study, the biomass and carbon sequestration potential of two dense mangrove patches located in the Chettuva estuary, south-west coast of India were assessed. The carbon stocks of above-ground biomass, root biomass and that of sediment were estimated as 325.36±54.33 t C ha-1, 158.33±25.41 t C ha-1 and 85.6±9.15 t C ha-1 respectively. The overall mean of C-stock in two mangrove patches in the Chettuva estuary was evaluated as 569.3 t C ha-1 which is equivalent to 2,089.33 t CO₂ ha-1 and the carbon sequestration potential of the study area is estimated as 1,119.68 t C which is equivalent to 4,109.24 t CO₂ . The present results suggest that the mangrove patches in Chettuva estuary have a potential to sequester and store substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon and hence it is necessary to protect this mangrove ecosystem for climate change mitigation and sustainable management.

Keywords

Biomass, carbon stocks, carbon sequestration, mangroves, Chettuva

Date : 15-06-2021