Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation
Abstract Global models predict that Antarctica has little suitable habitat for macroalgae and that Antarctic macroalgae therefore make a negligible contribution to global carbon fixation. However, coastal surveys are rare at southern polar latitudes (beyond 71° S), and here we report diverse and abu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01362-2 |
| _version_ | 1827276920842092544 |
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| author | Leigh W. Tait Caroline Chin Wendy Nelson Steve George Peter Marriott Richard L. O’Driscoll Miles Lamare Victoria S. Mills Vonda J. Cummings |
| author_facet | Leigh W. Tait Caroline Chin Wendy Nelson Steve George Peter Marriott Richard L. O’Driscoll Miles Lamare Victoria S. Mills Vonda J. Cummings |
| author_sort | Leigh W. Tait |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Global models predict that Antarctica has little suitable habitat for macroalgae and that Antarctic macroalgae therefore make a negligible contribution to global carbon fixation. However, coastal surveys are rare at southern polar latitudes (beyond 71° S), and here we report diverse and abundant macroalgal assemblages in un-navigated coastal habitats of the Ross Sea from 71.5°–74.5° S. We found extensive macroalgal assemblages living at depths >70 m and specimens of crustose coralline algae as deep as 125 m. Using global light modelling and published photosynthetic rates we estimate that Antarctic macroalgae may contribute between 0.9–2.8 % of global macroalgal carbon fixation. Combined, this suggests that Antarctic macroalgae may be a greater contributor to global carbon fixation and possibly sequestration than previously thought. The vulnerability of these coastal environments to climate change, especially shifting sea ice extent and persistence, could influence Southern Ocean carbon fixation and rates of long-term sequestration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:12:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac2aaa4571c9433883f57da5c22c4907 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:12:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac2aaa4571c9433883f57da5c22c49072024-04-21T11:31:18ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-04-01511910.1038/s43247-024-01362-2Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixationLeigh W. Tait0Caroline Chin1Wendy Nelson2Steve George3Peter Marriott4Richard L. O’Driscoll5Miles Lamare6Victoria S. Mills7Vonda J. Cummings8National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchUniversity of AucklandNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchDepartment of Marine Science, University of OtagoNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchAbstract Global models predict that Antarctica has little suitable habitat for macroalgae and that Antarctic macroalgae therefore make a negligible contribution to global carbon fixation. However, coastal surveys are rare at southern polar latitudes (beyond 71° S), and here we report diverse and abundant macroalgal assemblages in un-navigated coastal habitats of the Ross Sea from 71.5°–74.5° S. We found extensive macroalgal assemblages living at depths >70 m and specimens of crustose coralline algae as deep as 125 m. Using global light modelling and published photosynthetic rates we estimate that Antarctic macroalgae may contribute between 0.9–2.8 % of global macroalgal carbon fixation. Combined, this suggests that Antarctic macroalgae may be a greater contributor to global carbon fixation and possibly sequestration than previously thought. The vulnerability of these coastal environments to climate change, especially shifting sea ice extent and persistence, could influence Southern Ocean carbon fixation and rates of long-term sequestration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01362-2 |
| spellingShingle | Leigh W. Tait Caroline Chin Wendy Nelson Steve George Peter Marriott Richard L. O’Driscoll Miles Lamare Victoria S. Mills Vonda J. Cummings Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation |
| title_full | Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation |
| title_fullStr | Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation |
| title_short | Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation |
| title_sort | deep living and diverse antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01362-2 |
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