. The carbon burial in vegetated sediments, ignored in past assessments of carbon burial in the ocean, was evaluated using a bottom-up approach derived from upscaling a compilation of published individual estimates of carbon burial in vegetated habitats (seagrass meadows, salt marshes and mangrove forests) to the global level and a top-down approach derived from considerations of global sediment balance and a compilation of the organic carbon content of vegeatated sediments. Up-scaling of individual burial estimates values yielded a total carbon burial in vegetated habitats of 111 Tmol C y-1. The total burial in unvegetated sediments was estimated to be 126 Tg C y-1, resulting in a bottom-up estimate of total burial in the ocean of about 244 Tg C y-1, two-fold higher than estimates of oceanic carbon burial that presently enter global carbon budgets. The organic carbon concentrations in vegetated marine sediments exceeds by 2 to 10-fold those in shelf/deltaic sediments. Top-down recalculation of ocean sediment budgets to account for these, previously neglected, organic-rich sediments, yields a top-down carbon burial estimate of 216 Tg C y-1, with vegetated coastal habitats contributing about 50%. Even though vegetated carbon burial contributes about half of the total carbon burial in the ocean, burial represents a small fraction of the net production of these ecosystems, estimated at about 3388 Tg C y-1, suggesting that bulk of the benthic net ecosystem production must support excess respiration in other compartments, such as unvegetated sediments and the coastal pelagic compartment. The total excess organic carbon available to be exported to the ocean is estimated at between 1126 to 3534 Tg C y-1, the bulk of which must be respired in the open ocean. Widespread loss of vegetated coastal habitats must have reduced carbon burial in the ocean by about 30 Tg C y-1, identifying the destruction of these ecosystems as an important loss of CO2 sink capacity in the biosphere.\n

Global-scale variation in mangrove ecosystem properties has been explained using a conceptual framework linking geomorphological processes to distinct coastal environmental settings (CES) for nearly 50 years. However, these assumptions have not been empirically tested at the global scale. Here, we show that CES account for global variability in mangrove soil C:N:P stoichiometry and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Using this ecogeomorphology framework, we developed a global model that captures variation in mangrove SOC stocks compatible with distinct CES. We show that mangrove SOC stocks have been underestimated by up to 50% (a difference of roughly 200 Mg ha(-1)) in carbonate settings and overestimated by up to 86% (around 400 Mg ha(-1)) in deltaic coastlines. Moreover, we provide information for 57 nations that currently lack SOC data, enabling these and other countries to develop or evaluate their blue carbon inventories.

Salt marsh and mangrove have been recognized as being among the most valuable ecosystem types globally in terms of their supply of ecosystem services and support for human livelihoods. These coastal ecosystems are also susceptible to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels, with evidence of global shifts in the distribution of mangroves, including encroachment into salt marshes. The encroachment of woody mangrove shrubs and trees into herbaceous salt marshes may represent a substantial change in ecosystem structure, although resulting impacts on ecosystem functions and service provisions are largely unknown. In this review, we assess changes in ecosystem services associated with mangrove encroachment. While there is quantitative evidence to suggest that mangrove encroachment may enhance carbon storage and the capacity of a wetland to increase surface elevation in response to sea-level rise, for most services there has been no direct assessment of encroachment impact. On the basis of current understanding of ecosystem structure and function, we theorize that mangrove encroachment may increase nutrient storage and improve storm protection, but cause declines in habitat availability for fauna requiring open vegetation structure (such as migratory birds and foraging bats) as well as the recreational and cultural activities associated with this fauna (e.g., birdwatching and/or hunting). Changes to provisional services such as fisheries productivity and cultural services are likely to be site specific and dependent on the species involved. We discuss the need for explicit experimental testing of the effects of encroachment on ecosystem services in order to address key knowledge gaps, and present an overview of the options available to coastal resource managers during a time of environmental change.© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Shifts in ecosystem structure have been observed over recent decades as woody plants encroach upon grasslands and wetlands globally. The migration of mangrove forests into salt marsh ecosystems is one such shift which could have important implications for global 'blue carbon' stocks. To date, attempts to quantify changes in ecosystem function are essentially constrained to climate-mediated pulses (30 years or less) of encroachment occurring at the thermal limits of mangroves. In this study, we track the continuous, lateral encroachment of mangroves into two south-eastern Australian salt marshes over a period of 70 years and quantify corresponding changes in biomass and belowground C stores. Substantial increases in biomass and belowground C stores have resulted as mangroves replaced salt marsh at both marine and estuarine sites. After 30 years, aboveground biomass was significantly higher than salt marsh, with biomass continuing to increase with mangrove age. Biomass increased at the mesohaline river site by 130 ± 18 Mg biomass km(-2)  yr(-1) (mean ± SE), a 2.5 times higher rate than the marine embayment site (52 ± 10 Mg biomass km(-2) yr(-1) ), suggesting local constraints on biomass production. At both sites, and across all vegetation categories, belowground C considerably outweighed aboveground biomass stocks, with belowground C stocks increasing at up to 230 ± 62 Mg C km(-2) yr(-1) (± SE) as mangrove forests developed. Over the past 70 years, we estimate mangrove encroachment may have already enhanced intertidal biomass by up to 283 097 Mg and belowground C stocks by over 500 000 Mg in the state of New South Wales alone. Under changing climatic conditions and rising sea levels, global blue carbon storage may be enhanced as mangrove encroachment becomes more widespread, thereby countering global warming. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Plant invasion imposes significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Thus, monitoring the spatial pattern of invasive plants is vital for effective ecosystem management. Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) has been one of the most prevalent invasive plants along the China coast, and its spread has had severe ecological consequences. Here, we provide new observation from Landsat operational land imager (OLI) images. Specifically, 43 Landsat-8 OLI images from 2014 to 2016, a combination of object-based image analysis (OBIA) and support vector machine (SVM) methods, and field surveys covering the whole coast were used to construct an up-to-date dataset for 2015 and investigate the spatial variability of S. alterniflora in the coastal zone of mainland China. The classification results achieved good estimation, with a kappa coefficient of 0.86 and 96% overall accuracy. Our results revealed that there was approximately 545.80 km2 of S. alterniflora distributed in the coastal zone of mainland China in 2015, from Hebei to Guangxi provinces. Nearly 92% of the total area of S. alterniflora was distributed within four provinces: Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian. Seven national nature reserves invaded by S. alterniflora encompassed approximately one-third (174.35 km2) of the total area of S. alterniflora over mainland China. The Yancheng National Nature Reserve exhibited the largest area of S. alterniflora (115.62 km2) among the reserves. Given the rapid and extensive expansion of S. alterniflora in the 40 years since its introduction and its various ecological effects, geospatially varied responding decisions are needed to promote sustainable coastal ecosystems.

2010—2012年，采用野外采样和实验室测定相结合的方法,研究了长江口九段沙芦苇、互花米草植被带生物量的季节动态和碳储存能力.结果表明： 两种植物生物部分(地上、地下、枯立物生物量之和)的有机碳储量均为秋季最高、春季最低.地上活体互花米草单位面积的平均碳储量(445.81 g·m^-2)高于芦苇(285.52 g·m^-2)，芦苇枯立物的平均碳储量(203.15 g·m^-2)低于互花米草(315.28 g·m^-2)，但芦苇区土壤表层(0～30 cm)有机碳储量(1048.62 g·m^-2)约为互花米草区(583.33 g·m^-2)的2倍.芦苇区的碳储存能力(3212.96 g·m^-2)总体上高于互花米草区(2730.42 g·m^-2).表明保护芦苇群落对于维护盐沼湿地的碳汇功能具有重要意义.

By the methods of field survey and laboratory analysis, an investigation was conducted on the seasonal dynamics of biomass and carbon storage of <em>Phragmites australis</em> and<em> Spartina alterniflora</em> dominated vegetation belts in the Jiuduan Shoal Wetland of Yangtze Estuary, East China in 2010-2012. The organic carbon storage of the biomass (including aboveground part, underground part, and standing litter) of the two plants was the highest in autumn and the lowest in spring. The average carbon storage of the biomass of <em>S. alterniflora</em> per unit area (445.81 g&middot;m^-2) was much higher than that of <em>P. australis</em> (285.52 g&middot;m^-2), and the average carbon storage of the standing litter of<em> S. alterniflora</em> (315.28 g&middot;m^-2) was also higher than that of <em>P. australis</em> (203.15 g&middot;m^-2). However, the organic carbon storage in the surface soil (0-30 cm) under <em>P. australis</em> community (1048.62 g&middot;m^-2) was almost as twice times as that under <em>S. alterniflora</em> community (583.33 g&middot;m^-2). Overall, the carbon accumulation ability of <em>P. australis</em> community (3212.96 g&middot;m^-2) was stronger than that of the <em>S. alterniflora</em> community (2730.42 g&middot;m^-2). Therefore, it is of significance to protect the <em>P. australis</em> community in terms of carbon sequestration at the salt marsh.

\n Carbon fixed by vegetated coastal ecosystems (blue carbon) can mitigate anthropogenic CO\n 2\n emissions, though its effectiveness differs with the spatial scale of interest. A literature review compiling carbon sequestration rates within key ecosystems confirms that blue carbon ecosystems are the most efficient natural carbon sinks at the plot scale, though some overlooked biogeochemical processes may lead to overestimation. Moreover, the limited spatial extent of coastal habitats minimizes their potential at the global scale, only buffering 0.42% of the global fossil fuel carbon emissions in 2014. Still, blue carbon plays a role for countries with moderate fossil fuel emissions and extensive coastlines. In 2014, mangroves mitigated greater than 1% of national fossil fuel emissions for countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia and Nigeria. Considering that the Paris Agreement is based on nationally determined contributions, we propose that mangrove blue carbon may contribute to climate change mitigation at this scale in some instances alongside other blue carbon ecosystems.\n

The retreat of cliffs (lateral expansion) within tidal creeks results in a net loss of saltmarshes, but this retreat process can be retarded by root systems. To understand the interaction between root presence and bank sediment, quantitative measurements of two saltmarsh species root systems (Atriplex portulacoides and Juncus maritima) were carried out in a saltmarsh in Southern England, and their relationships with bank stability were examined. Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning techniques were used to investigate three-dimensional root architecture. The data obtained (e.g., root volume, diameter, and distribution patterns of roots) were examined alongside more traditional root density measurements. The volumetric percentage, ratio between horizontal (lateral) and vertical roots (H/V ratio), and root diameter distribution are discussed in relation to their influence on bank sediment erosion threshold and shear strength. The results suggest that Atriplex portulacoides is more effective than Juncus maritimus in stabilising banks. This is because root systems that provide a high resistance to flow-induced erosion are better than those that provide a high resistance to gravity-induced erosion in stabilising cliff banks. This conclusion is relevant to future saltmarsh protection and re-establishment.

Tidal wetlands are global hotspots of carbon storage but errors exist with current estimates on their carbon density due to the use of factors estimated from other habitats for converting loss-on-ignition (LOI) to organic carbon (OC); and the omission of certain significant carbon pools. Here we show that the widely used conversion factor (LOI/OC = 1.724) is significantly lower than our measurements for saltmarsh sediments (1.92 ± 0.01) and oversimplifies the polynomial relationship between sediment OC and LOI for mangrove forests. Global mangrove OC stock in the top-meter sediment reaches 1.93 Pg when corrected for this bias, and is 20% lower than the previous estimates. Ecosystem carbon stock (living and dead biomass, sediment OC and inorganic carbon) is estimated at 3.7-6.2 Pg. Mangrove deforestation leads to carbon emission rates at 23.5-38.7 Tg yr after 2000. Mangrove sediment OC stock has previously been over-estimated while ecosystem carbon stock underestimated.

滨海盐沼湿地有着较高的碳沉积速率和固碳能力,在缓解全球变暖方面发挥着重要作用,而盐渍土壤是滨海盐沼湿地碳收支研究中最大的有机碳库,研究其碳沉积与埋藏对于理解滨海湿地碳收支有着重要的意义.本文从滨海盐沼湿地土壤有机碳的来源、土壤有机碳库与沉积速率、盐沼湿地有机碳的埋藏机制、全球变化与滨海盐沼湿地碳封存等几方面对滨海盐沼湿地有机碳沉积与埋藏的相关研究进行综述.今后研究应侧重:1)加强对控制滨海盐沼湿地碳储存变异的基本因素的进一步研究；2)对测量滨海盐沼湿地沉积物碳储量和沉积碳埋藏速率的方法进行标准化；3)对潮汐影响下滨海盐沼湿地碳与邻近生态系统之间的横向交换通量进行量化；4)探明全球变暖的影响和生产力的提高是否可以抵消因呼吸增强而造成的有机碳降解速率的升高.确定固碳速率变化驱动因子,理解气候变化和人类活动对碳埋藏的影响机制,有助于提升我国滨海盐沼湿地的固碳能力.

Coastal salt marsh has higher potential of carbon sequestration, playing an important role in mitigating global warming, while coastal saline soil is the largest organic carbon pool in the coastal salt marsh carbon budget. To study the carbon deposition and burial in this soil is of significance for clearly understanding the carbon budget of coastal salt marsh. This paper summarized the research progress on the deposition and burial of organic carbon in coastal salt marsh from the aspects of the sources of coastal salt marsh soil organic carbon, soil organic carbon storage and deposition rate, burial mechanisms of soil organic carbon, and the relationships between the carbon sequestration in coastal salt marsh and the global climate change. Some suggestions for the future related researches were put forward: 1) to further study the underlying factors that control the variability of carbon storage in coastal salt marsh, 2) to standardize the methods for measuring the carbon storage and the deposition and burial rates of organic carbon in coastal salt marsh, 3) to quantify the lateral exchange of carbon flux between coastal salt marsh and adjacent ecosystems under the effects of tide, and 4) to approach whether the effects of global warming and the increased productivity could compensate for the increase of the organic carbon decomposition rate resulted from sediment respiration. To make clear the driving factors determining the variability of carbon sequestration rate and how the organic carbon storage is affected by climate change and anthropogenic activities would be helpful to improve the carbon sequestration capacity of coastal salt marshes in China.

Since coastal wetlands have been severely degraded and polluted by human activities, they have increasingly become a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), so understanding the characteristics of their emissions is critical for devising future climate change mitigation strategies. This study modified a model based on carbon balance to forecast carbon stored and CO2, CH4 emissions in four types of typical tidal flats—Phragmites australis (PA), Spartina alterniflora (SA), Suaeda japonica (SJ), and Bare Tidal Flat (BTF) in Korea’s Ganghwa province from 2017 to 2047. The model was built using biomass data from salt plant species collected in different locations. The results indicate that the total annual simulated flow of CH4 increased over time in all four areas, most notably in SA, while CO2 remained relatively stable. The mean CO2 and CH4 fluxes in the four types of representative tidal flats were in the range of 0.03 to 19.1 mg m−2 d−1 and 0.007 to 5.23 mg m−2 d−1, respectively, across all seasons. Besides, the results indicate that the amount of carbon accumulated in the top soil increases linearly over time in nearly all areas studied, ranging from 0.01 to 0.13 (kgC m−2 yr−1). In general, the study provides a model for Korean tidal flats that incorporates carbon storage and GHG emissions in the intertidal zone in order to develop potential GHG reduction scenarios.

<p>In this article, we mainly focus on the geochemical characteristics of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in order to trace the source and fate of organic matter in the Yangtze estuary and its tidal flat sediments. According to the features of physical geographical environment and the discrepancy in the effects of human activities in the study area, 12 typical sampling stations were selected along the Yangtze estuarine and coastal line. Based on the analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the tidal flat superfacial sediments from the Yangtze estuary, it was found that the ratios of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were respectively -29.80&permil;~-23.7&permil; and 1.0&permil;~5.5&permil; in the flood seasons, while they were -27.3&permil;~-25.6&permil; and 1.6&permil;~7.7&permil; in the dry seasons respectively, indicating that the seasonal distribution of discharges from the Yangtze River has significantly affected the seasonal variation of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in sedimentary organic matter. In general, the distribution of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes revealed the mixing inputs of terrigenous and marine organic matter controlled the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions in sedimentary organic matter. However, a series of physical, chemical and biogeochemical processes occurring in the local environments, to some extent, have the significant influence on the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions in organic matter.</p>

Waves, currents, and related sediment transport are important factors driving the development of saltmarshes. Separating the effects of waves and currents accurately from simple field observations is a technical challenge in shallow water environments with limited inundation such as saltmarshes. In this paper, the estimation method of both wave and current information was studied mainly through the data obtained by a solely used field ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter, Vector). Phase and pressure inversion wave methods were both used to estimate wave parameters, which were then compared to synchronous observation by wave loggers at the front of a saltmarsh. Our results show that ADV is able to achieve simultaneous observations of tidal currents and waves independently. The pressure inversion wave method (r2 ∼ 0.996) is more effective than the phase method (r2 ∼ 0.876) in estimating wave energy when comparing with wave logger results. However, the former is more restricted by submergence depth and duration in field, while the latter provides cut-off frequencies for the pressure inversion wave method. Both methods can be combined to best estimate wave parameters from field ADV data. Further, hydrodynamic observation on a Scirpus mariqueter patch at the front of a saltmarsh was used as an application to indicate the importance of obtaining both wave and current information from field data. The patch was found to mainly reduce the advection of tidal currents, but it slightly increases wave energy. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the different effects of plants on tidal currents and waves simultaneously in field observations. This study confirms that ADV and associated analysis can detect waves and currents at reliable accuracy at the marsh edge, which is vital in assessing the long-term resilience of marshes to sea level rise and increased storm severity.

While studies on vegetated channel flows have been developed in many research centers, studies on jets interacting with vegetation are still rare. This study presents and analyzes turbulent jets issued into an obstructed cross-flow, with emergent vegetation simulated with a regular array of cylinders. The paper presents estimates of the turbulence diffusion coefficients and the main turbulence variables of jets issued into a vegetated channel flow. The experimental results are compared with jets issued into unobstructed cross-flow. In the presence of the cylinder array, the turbulence length-scales in the streamwise and transverse directions were reduced, relative to the unobstructed crossflow. This contributed to a reduction in streamwise turbulent diffusion, relative to the unobstructed conditions. In contrast, the transverse turbulent diffusion was enhanced, despite the reduction in length-scale, due to enhanced turbulent intensity and the transverse deflection of flow around individual cylinders. Importantly, in the obstructed condition, the streamwise and transverse turbulent diffusion coefficients are of the same order of magnitude.

As exposure to coastal hazards increases there is growing interest in nature-based solutions for risk reduction. This study uses high-resolution flood and loss models to quantify the impacts of coastal wetlands in the northeastern USA on (i) regional flood damages by Hurricane Sandy and (ii) local annual flood losses in Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey. Using an extensive database of property exposure, the regional study shows that wetlands avoided $625 Million in direct flood damages during Hurricane Sandy. The local study combines these models with a database of synthetic storms in Ocean County and estimates a 16% average reduction in annual flood losses by salt marshes with higher reductions at lower elevations. Together, the studies quantify the risk reduction ecosystem services of marsh wetlands. Measuring these benefits in collaboration with the risk modelling industry is crucial for assessing risk accurately and, where appropriate, aligning conservation and risk reduction goals.

The total area of coastal wetlands exceeds 5000 km² in Jiangsu Province, China, but it has been decreasing rapidly as a result of intense reclamation activities. Two types of plants, Spartina angelica and Spartina alterniflora, were introduced successively into the Jiangsu coast, in order to protect the coastline from erosion and to increase the accumulation rate. ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs analyses were carried out for sediment samples from the salt marshes of Wangang, to derive the sedimentation rate, on the basis of an evaluation of the background values and factors affecting the enrichment of ²¹⁰Pb. Analysis of a typical sediment column of the tidal flat shows that the absorption of ²¹⁰Pb in the silt-dominated sediment is weak. Influences of storm events, bioturbation, material sources and analytical error also have an effect. As a result, some abnormal data points are present. These data were removed before the calculation of the sedimentation rate. The sedimentation rate was 3.3 cm a^-1 on average. Based upon analysis of the ¹³⁷Cs dating, the rate since 1963 was 3.1 cm a^-1 on average, similar to the data by ²¹⁰Pb dating and from previous studies.

Tidal marshes are vegetated coastal ecosystems that are often considered as hotspots of atmospheric CO sequestration. Although large amounts of organic carbon (OC) are indeed being deposited on tidal marshes, there is no direct link between high OC deposition rates and high OC sequestration rates due to two main reasons. First, the deposited OC may become rapidly decomposed once it is buried and, second, a significant part of preserved OC may be allochthonous OC that has been sequestered elsewhere. In this study we aimed to identify the mechanisms controlling long-term OC sequestration in tidal marsh sediments along an estuarine salinity gradient (Scheldt estuary, Belgium and the Netherlands). Analyses of deposited sediments have shown that OC deposited during tidal inundations is up to millennia old. This allochthonous OC is the main component of OC that is effectively preserved in these sediments, as indicated by the low radiocarbon content of buried OC. Furthermore, OC fractionation showed that autochthonous OC is decomposed on a decadal timescale in saltmarsh sediments, while in freshwater marsh sediments locally produced biomass is more efficiently preserved after burial. Our results show that long-term OC sequestration is decoupled from local biomass production in the studied tidal marsh sediments. This implies that OC sequestration rates are greatly overestimated when they are calculated based on short-term OC deposition rates, which are controlled by labile autochthonous OC inputs. Moreover, as allochthonous OC is not sequestered in-situ, it does not contribute to active atmospheric CO sequestration in these ecosystems. A correct assessment of the contribution of allochthonous OC to the total sedimentary OC stock in tidal marsh sediments as well as a correct understanding of the long-term fate of locally produced OC are both necessary to avoid overestimations of the rate of in-situ atmospheric CO sequestration in tidal marsh sediments.© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

为了掌握目前红树林生物入侵研究实况, 基于ISI Web of Science数据库和HistCite文献分析软件, 我们进行了全面系统的文献检索与分析。结果显示, 国内外有关红树林生物入侵研究文献绝大部分针对植物入侵, 有关动物与微生物的研究寥寥无几; 研究区域集中于中国华南与东南沿海(尤其是珠江口、雷州半岛西侧)和美国东南海岸及夏威夷群岛。无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)是否构成入侵, 一直备受争议, 有待更长远论证, 但须谨慎引种。互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)与微甘菊(Mikania micrantha)是世界性恶草, 生长迅速, 繁殖力强, 竞争与化感作用明显, 二者已在红树林生态系统中爆发入侵, 显著降低了红树林微生境质量, 并改变了底栖生物群落结构。Rhizophora mangle作为外来红树植物入侵夏威夷群岛, 改善了沉积条件, 丰富了底栖生物群落, 但需从全球尺度考察入侵后果。目前, 红树林生物入侵研究才刚起步, 针对性研究局限于入侵对红树林生态系统结构和功能产生的效应。相关入侵机制缺乏探索, 现有防治方法大多只是借鉴其他被入侵系统的防治方法。今后, 红树林生物入侵研究应持续加深入侵现状和入侵效应的探索与评价, 加快开展入侵机制和防治方法的研究应用, 以及对生态系统服务的影响评价。健全红树林生物入侵管理体系, 将在防治红树林生物入侵实践中发挥主导作用。

To examine our current understanding on biological invasions in mangrove forests, relevant information from literature was reviewed and several key points were summarized based on the database of ISI Web of Science and the information analysis software HistCite. First, most of the studies have focused on the invasion of plant species in mangrove forests, and little attention are paid to other organisms. Secondly, there is an obvious bias on the locations of study sites, with most being situated in the southern and southeastern coasts of China (especially in the Pearl River Estuary and west of the Leizhou Peninsula) and the southeastern coast and Hawaiian Islands of the United States. Thirdly, that whether Sonneratia apetala can result in invasion is still a hot but controversial topic. Introduction of this species should be cautious. Forth, Spartina alterniflora and Mikania micrantha are the most notorious invaders around the world; both possess fast growth rate, high reproductive and competitive capacity, and strong allelopathic effects. They have invaded mangrove forests and caused severe ecological consequences, and apparently deteriorated the microhabitat and changed the benthic organisms’ community. Fifth, Rhizophora mangle has invaded Hawaiian Islands as an exotic mangrove species, modified the sedimentary environment, and enriched the benthic organisms, but the impacts are yet to be considered at the global scale. In general, studies on biological invasions in mangrove forests are still at the infant stage and we know little about the underlying mechanisms of the invasions. Specific strategies are lacking for controlling the invasion. The state of invasion and corresponding impacts should be continually focused in future studies. Exploration of the mechanisms and controlling strategies of invasion in mangroves should be launched as soon as possible. The assessment of the effects of biological invasion on ecological services of mangroves should also be emphasized. Finally, a sound management system for the control of biological invasions in mangrove forests is urgently needed.

Marine macrophyte biomass production, burial, oxidation, calcium carbonate dissolution, and metabolically accelerated diffusion of carbon dioxide across the air-sea interface may combine to sequester at least 10(9) tons of carbon per year in the ocean. This carbon sink may partially account for discrepancies in extant global carbon budgets.

Biogeomorphic wetlands cover 1% of Earth’s surface but store 20% of ecosystem organic carbon. This disproportional share is fueled by high carbon sequestration rates and effective storage in peatlands, mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows, which greatly exceed those of oceanic and forest ecosystems. Here, we review how feedbacks between geomorphology and landscape-building vegetation underlie these qualities and how feedback disruption can switch wetlands from carbon sinks into sources. Currently, human activities are driving rapid declines in the area of major carbon-storing wetlands (1% annually). Our findings highlight the urgency to stop through conservation ongoing losses and to reestablish landscape-forming feedbacks through restoration innovations that recover the role of biogeomorphic wetlands as the world’s biotic carbon hotspots.