Effects of oyster aquaculture on carbon capture and removal in a tropical mangrove lagoon in southwestern Taiwan

Abstract

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) are a promising resource for the mitigation of global warming; however, climate spectrums and anthropogenic activities could influence the fragile balance of BCEs as carbon sinks or sources. We assess how oyster farming affects dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) on CO2 fluxes in a mangrove-dominated lagoon. Water physical, chemical and biological parameters were recorded by in-situ buoys within the lagoon and at its inflow. Structural equation modeling was adopted to clarify the factors/processes controlling the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2). A three-dimensional environmental model followed by a conceptual DIC model was used to quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of capture and release of DIC and TA by oyster production. The results showed that 49% of TA and DIC released from mangroves was depleted by oyster shell formation. DIC was reduced by algal photosynthesis and algal was served as a food source supporting oyster production. Annual oyster production through phytoplankton photosynthesis accounted for 11% of the atmosphere carbon inflows, suggesting that oyster production served as a significant atmospheric/terrestrial carbon sink in the lagoon. The results indicate that mangroves benefit local oyster production by acting as an important source of DIC and TA, and that the oyster aquaculture contributed to carbon capture in a mangrove-dominated lagoon ecosystem.