Authors
Sara P Cobacho, Luuk H Leemans, Stefan TJ Weideveld, Xitong Fu, Marieke M van Katwijk, Leon PM Lamers, Alfons JP Smolders, Marjolijn JA Christianen
Publication date
2024/5/1
Journal
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
202
Pages
116303
Publisher
Pergamon
Description
Sargassum spp. strandings in the tropical Atlantic harm local ecosystems due to toxic sulfide levels. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to test the efficacy of iron(III) (hydr)oxides in (a) mitigating sulfide toxicity in mangroves resulting from Sargassum and (b) reducing potentially enhanced greenhouse gas emissions. Our results show that iron addition failed to prevent mangrove mortality caused by highly toxic sulfide concentrations, which reached up to 15,000 μmol l−1 in 14 days; timely removal may potentially prevent mangrove death. Sargassum-impacted mesocosms significantly increased methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions, producing approximately 1 g CO2-equivalents m−2 h−1 during daylight hours, thereby shifting mangroves from sinks to sources of greenhouse gasses. However, iron addition decreased methane emissions by 62 % and nitrous oxide emissions by 57 %. This research …