The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Biochar enhances blue carbon stability in seagrass ecosystems
ID:842 Oral Presentation

2027-01-14 16:20 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 36 - Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Techniques

Abstract
Seagrass ecosystems are globally recognized to have significant carbon sequestration functions (‘blue carbon’), with an estimated carbon sequestration rate of 27.4 million tonnes yr-1. Enhancing the stability of carbon storage is an important strategy for increasing carbon sequestration potential, thereby offering a natural solution for climate change mitigation. Biochar is widely used for promoting soil carbon storage stability in terrestrial ecosystems. The potential for similar functions of biochar in seagrass ecosystems is still unexplored. Here, we conducted a six-month field experiment to investigate the effects of biochar addition on tropical seagrass sediment ecology and biogeochemistry. We assessed the chemical (δ13C and sediment organic carbon (SOC) composition) and biological (extracellular enzyme activity and bacterial and fungal community structure and function) responses of biochar addition to seagrass sediment. We found that the biochar addition elevated the abundance of microbial r-strategists (e.g., Magnetospirillum, Azospirillum) and cellulose-decomposing Ruminiclostridium. This corresponded to higher dehydrogenase activity and an 8% reduction in labile sediment organic matter (LSOM). The 21% increase in refractory sediment organic matter (RefSOM) under biochar addition treatment was linked to inhibited lignin peroxidase activity, as well as fungal taxa (unclassified Didymellaceae and Mortierella). Further, the functional annotation analysis indicated that biochar addition promoted chemoheterotrophy and plant saprotrophy, aligning with the decomposition of LSOM and preservation of RefSOM. Our results provide novel evidence that biochar application can alter the sediment ecology in a way that enhances the stability of the seagrass SOC pools through interactions between microbial extracellular enzymes and sediment chemistry. This highlights biochar’s potential to strengthen the ‘blue carbon’ sink capacity in seagrass ecosystems.
 
Speaker
Songlin Liu South China Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Author
Songlin Liu South China Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027