The seagrass carbon content of 0.336 of dry weight can be applied in Indonesian seagrasses

Abstract

The organic carbon content (OCC) of seagrass was commonly determined by using a global conversion factor of OCC to dry weight (OCC∼0.336 of DW). Despite its practicality and global acceptance, this method is rarely used in Indonesia. Instead chemical laboratory analysis is employed. This study is aimed to assess whether the conversion factor is reliable to apply to studies on Indonesian seagrasses. A total of 157 samples of dry weight and OCC from eight seagrass species was collected from 17 sites throughout Indonesia. The species were Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Halodule uninervis, Halodule pinifolia, Halophila ovalis, Syringodium isoetifolium. Dry weight and OCC data in different seagrass parts was analysed using simple t-test, gls (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test. The organic carbon content of Indonesian seagrasses was varied by species, H. pinifolia contained the highest organic carbon (0.40±0.02 of DW), while H. ovalis was the least (0.27±0.02 of DW). The mean OCC of Indonesian seagrasses was 0.333±0.005 of DW and this was not significantly different with the global conversion factor 0.336 (p>0.05). Thus, we suggest that 0.336 can be applied to determine organic carbon content in seagrass standing stock in Indonesia.