Carbon Storage on Different Species of Seagrass on Tourist Destination Areas: A Measure of Disturbed and Undisturbed Environments

Abstract

Carbon absorption and storage, known as carbon sequestration, have reduced global warming through photosynthesis. Seagrass beds in coastal ecosystems have high plant productivity and are found to have the ability to reduce the effect of global warming due to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Due to the anthropogenic effect, decreasing environmental quality, such as tourism, may affect seagrass diversity and growth, therefore its carbon contents. This study investigates the ability of seagrass species as carbon storage and their diversity in a common tourist destination area referred to as disturbed habitat, located at Sanur and an area that is less disturbed, referred to as undisturbed habitat. Samples were collected from 3 transects 50m in length that were placed on each site. Three plots, each measuring 0.5 x 0.5 m, were employed on each transect. The number of individuals of each species and the percent plant coverage were measured on each plot. Plant biomass and carbon content were extracted in the Lab and divided into below- and above-ground. The result shows that eight species were found at Sanur and only four from Samuh sites. On average, the percentage of plant coverage was higher at the Samuh site. Samuh site. The plant biomass and carbon storage were lower at Samuh than at the Sanur site. Species differences from each site affect the plant biomass, so the carbon content. Anthropogenic activities are not the only ones to determine the carbon storage of seagrass, but rather the species morphology.