Table 2 Consequences of past (a) and future (b) losses of kelp forests in Australia on carbon standing stock and sequestration rates.
From: Substantial blue carbon in overlooked Australian kelp forests
Region | Period | Driver | Coastline (km) | Cover loss (%) | Area loss (ha) | Carbon stock loss (Mg C) | Sequestration rate loss (Mg C year−1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(a) | |||||||
Western Australia1 | 2005–2015 | Marine heatwave | 800 | 43.0 | 97,438 | 310,949 | 38,242 |
South Australia2 | 1968–2007 | Coastal pollution | 20 | 60 | 6,179 | 19,720 | 2,425 |
Victoria3 | 1958–2014 | Warming and drought | 40 | 85.8 | 17,665 | 56,375 | 6,933 |
Tasmania4 | 2001–2017 | Sea urchin grazing | 80 | 11.8 | 4,861 | 15,513 | 1,908 |
New South Wales5 | 2002–2010 | Tropical fish grazing | 25 | 88.7 | 11,414 | 36,425 | 4,480 |
Australia (total) | 965 | 140,187 | 447,371 | 55,020 | |||
Region | Projections | Driver | Coast-line (km) | Cover loss (%) | Area loss (ha) | Carbon stock loss (Tg C) | Sequestration rate loss (Tg C year−1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(b) | |||||||
Australia6 | 2100 | Warming (RCP2.6) | 8,000 | 49 | 34,981 | 8.1 | 1.0 |
Australia6 | 2100 | Warming (RCP6.0) | 8,000 | 71 | 50,686 | 11.8 | 1.4 |
