Blue Carbon Seascapes (BCS) - Soil Carbon Profiling project 1.1

Blue Carbon Seascapes (BCS) - Soil Carbon Profiling project will acquire carbon sequestration data across a broad spectrum of seascape conditions to deliver a soil carbon profiling dataset. Carbon sequestration will be quantified in a multi-scale pattern of high preservation sediment cores covering three broad transects – Southern Ningaloo, Exmouth Gulf and Port Hedland. Cores will be collected across coastal intertidal (mangroves, tidal marsh), subtidal (seagrass beds) carbon sinks, and deep-water sediment deposition areas (E.G., inter-reef sediment valleys and banks) out to 500m deep. Carbon accumulation rates will be measured using paired radiometric dating techniques (210Pb and 14C) spanning recent decades back to several millennia. A portfolio of biomarkers (stable isotopes and eDNA) will help trace the source of the stored “soil” carbon to the various marine primary producers. The rate of seaweed carbon sequestration into sediment sinks will underpin development of a network model.