BACK TO GRASS ROOTS: ASSESSING SEAGRASS PRODUCTIVITY AND INDUCED SEAWATER CARBONATE CHEMISTRY CHANGES IN FLORIDA BAY

Global climate change is increasing largely due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Ocean acidification is the reduction in seawater pH due to the uptake of excess atmospheric CO2, negatively impacting calcifying organisms. Harnessing natural changes in seawater chemistry has the potential to mitigate ocean acidification and improve the calcification processes. One approach is natural ecosystem restoration, which can use photosynthesizing flora like seagrass to capture CO2, mitigating the effects of acidification. Florida Bay is an optimal location to investigate these changes as seagrass beds primarily of Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme, make them a strong source of seawater chemistry modification via primary productivity. This work addresses research gaps and updates carbonate parameters of Florida Bay, through the following research question:          To what extent does seagrass alter the carbonate chemistry in the seawater within Florida Bay? The carbonate chemistry of discrete seawater samples collected Jan/July 2024, filtered, and preserved for chemical analysis were analyzed from 40 sites within 3 basins of Florida Bay. Preliminary results indicate significant differences in total alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, pH, and aragonite saturation between ground and surface water in the three basins. Future studies are planned to build on these findings to understand if seagrass coupled with enhanced coastal weathering of alkaline minerals can “supercharge” seagrass production and carbon capture while locally ameliorating ocean acidification. 

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: Carisa MacPherson, Georgia Southern University (cm45101@georgiasouthern.edu)

Authors:

Carisa MacPherson, Georgia Southern University  (cm45101@georgiasouthern.edu)

Tyler Cyronak, Georgia Southern University  (tcyronak@georgiasouthern.edu)

John Carroll, Georgia Southern University  (JCarroll@georgiasouthern.edu)

Jacque Kelly, Georgia Southern University  (jkelly@georgiasouthern.edu)