Mangrove Ecosystem Carbon Stocks: Insights from Setiu Lagoon, Malaysia
Estuaries and Coasts, vol.49, no.4, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 49 Issue: 4
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1007/s12237-026-01707-4
- Journal Name: Estuaries and Coasts
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Environment Index, Geobase
- Keywords: Blue Carbon Ecosystems, Climate Change Mitigation, Coastal Wetlands, Ecosystem Services, Living Shorelines, Sediment Carbon Stocks
- Ataturk University Affiliated: No
Abstract
Mangroves are coastal vegetated blue carbon ecosystems that efficiently sequester CO2 and store large carbon stocks, yet lagoon-fringing mangrove systems remain less represented in regional inventories despite restricted exchange and long sediment residence times that can enhance soil carbon persistence. We quantified above- and below-ground biomass (AGB, BGB) and 0–50 cm soil organic carbon stocks (SCS) in Rhizophora mucronata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza dominated mangroves fringing Setiu Lagoon, Malaysia, comparing an undisturbed stand with an aquaculture-impacted stand to assess the effects of land-use change. Biomass carbon was estimated from species-specific allometries and measured tissue %C; and SCS was determined by dry combustion after carbonate removal. In these blue carbon ecosystems, soil physicochemical properties, rather than forest structural variables (diameter at breast height- DBH and tree density), explained most variation in SCS, highlighting a lagoon-fringing pattern in which sediment characteristics drive ecosystem carbon storage. Mean biomass carbon was higher at the undisturbed site than at the aquaculture-influenced site (AGB: 39.17 vs. 36.53 Mg C ha− 1; BGB: 21.36 vs. 16.48 Mg C ha− 1). Mean SCS was 163.21 Mg C ha− 1, approximately threefold greater than tree-biomass carbon, indicating that soils are the dominant, longer-lived carbon pool in this lagoon setting. Total ecosystem stocks corresponded to ~ 736–884 Mg CO2e ha− 1. These findings support prioritizing restoration of lagoon-fringing mangroves and routine monitoring of the ecosystem properties (e.g., DBH, density and associated environmental variables), to safeguard carbon benefits.