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Comparison of three methods for the quantification of sediment organic carbon in salt marshes of the Rubicon Estuary, Tasmania, Australia
Citation
Beasy, KM and Ellison, JC, Comparison of three methods for the quantification of sediment organic carbon in salt marshes of the Rubicon Estuary, Tasmania, Australia, International Journal of Biology, 5, (4) pp. 1-13. ISSN 1916-9671 (2013) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Abstract
With the increasing need to accurately quantify carbon sinks of coastal wetlands, this study compares three
methods in use. Sediment cores (n = 4) were collected from three salt marsh sites of the Rubicon Estuary,
Tasmania Australia and analysed for organic carbon using three methods for measuring soil C concentration. The
first method of elemental analysis quantified carbon using a Thermo Finnigan EA 1112 Series Flash Elemental
Analyser. The second method used the loss on ignition technique at 550°C for 4 hours and applied a standard
carbon conversion. The third method used loss on ignition technique at 450°C for 8 hours and applied a standard
carbon conversion. Results from each method found significantly different quantities of carbon in replicate
samples, however each method differentiated similar carbon trends within datasets. Each methodology
investigated was found to have a useful application in carbon science, including the broad scale use of the standard
carbon conversion and the accuracy of the elemental analysis method. The application of the standard carbon
conversion in this study showed an underestimate of carbon stores in salt marsh sediment. Wetlands are well
known to be among the most carbon rich ecosystems of the world, however this study highlights that in some cases
those carbon stores may have been underestimated, and verification may further increase the value of wetlands as
carbon sinks.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | salt marsh, soil organic carbon, dry combustion, loss on ignition |
| Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
| Research Group: | Environmental management |
| Research Field: | Environmental management not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Other environmental management |
| Objective Field: | Other environmental management not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Beasy, KM (Dr Kim Beasy) |
| UTAS Author: | Ellison, JC (Associate Professor Joanna Ellison) |
| ID Code: | 88467 |
| Year Published: | 2013 |
| Deposited By: | Geography and Environmental Studies |
| Deposited On: | 2014-02-04 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-04-30 |
| Downloads: | 306 View Download Statistics |
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