Inorganic and organic carbon biogeochemistry in the Gautami Godavari estuary (Andhra Pradesh, India) during pre-monsoon : the local impact of extensive mangrove forests
[en] [1] The distribution and sources of organic and inorganic carbon were studied in the
Gautami Godavari estuary (Andhra Pradesh, India) and in a mangrove ecosystem in its
delta during pre-monsoon. In the oligohaline and mesohaline section (salinity 0–15) of
the estuary, internal production of total alkalinity (TAlk) and dissolved inorganic carbon
(DIC) was recorded, and the d13CDIC profile suggests that carbonate dissolution may
be an important process determining the DIC dynamics in this section of the Godavari.
The partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) was fairly low along the entire salinity gradient,
(293–500 ppm), but much higher and more variable (1375–6437 ppm) in the network of
tidal mangrove creeks in the delta. Here, variations in the concentration and d13C of the
DIC pool were shown to result largely from the mineralization of organic matter. The
present study clearly identifies the mangrove creeks as an active site of mineralization and
CO2 efflux to the atmosphere, but shows that these changes in the aquatic
biogeochemistry are a localized feature, rapidly fading in the adjacent Kakinada Bay. Our
data indicate that mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of mangrove origin,
and its subsequent efflux as CO2 to the atmosphere may represent an important fate
for mangrove carbon. Although further quantification of this process in a variety of
systems is required, we suggest that some of the current ideas on the role of mangroves in
the carbon budget of the coastal zone may need to be reconsidered.
Research Center/Unit :
FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège
Disciplines :
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Bouillon, Steven; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Océanographie chimique
Inorganic and organic carbon biogeochemistry in the Gautami Godavari estuary (Andhra Pradesh, India) during pre-monsoon : the local impact of extensive mangrove forests
Publication date :
2003
Journal title :
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
ISSN :
0886-6236
eISSN :
1944-9224
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union, Washington, United States - District of Columbia
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