Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Mangrove forests are highly productive biomes and important for many ecosystem services such as protecting against extreme weather conditions, providing a safe habitat for animals, and sequestering and storing carbon. Understanding carbon sequestration of mangrove systems can aid in understanding their capacity to buffer against climate change. In this study, we investigate the carbon potential of two mangrove palms native to Southeast Asia and Oceania: Nypa fruticans, the Nipa Palm, and Metroxylon sagu, the Sago Palm. In recent years, Nypa palm populations have declined due to their use in thatched roofing. The objective of this project was to investigate the estimated contribution to carbon budgets by these palms as well as educate and inform the public on the importance of these palms. We hypothesize that Nypa fruticans and Metroxylon sagu contribute significantly to the carbon sequestration potential of mangrove ecosystems. We collected fronds and soil samples from two study sites in the Philippines within the Central Visayas region. We measured frond length, weight, and number of fronds per individual, as well as organic matter content. The amount of carbon sequestered by each species was determined from species biomass. Additionally, information on the community structure, topsoil, and carbon content was used to calculate the overall carbon sequestration per hectare.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dave Gauthier, Roy Olsen de Leon, Chris Bird
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Biology
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
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03 - Carbon Sequestration of Nypa fruticans and Metroxylon sagu in Negros Oriental, Philippines
Mangrove forests are highly productive biomes and important for many ecosystem services such as protecting against extreme weather conditions, providing a safe habitat for animals, and sequestering and storing carbon. Understanding carbon sequestration of mangrove systems can aid in understanding their capacity to buffer against climate change. In this study, we investigate the carbon potential of two mangrove palms native to Southeast Asia and Oceania: Nypa fruticans, the Nipa Palm, and Metroxylon sagu, the Sago Palm. In recent years, Nypa palm populations have declined due to their use in thatched roofing. The objective of this project was to investigate the estimated contribution to carbon budgets by these palms as well as educate and inform the public on the importance of these palms. We hypothesize that Nypa fruticans and Metroxylon sagu contribute significantly to the carbon sequestration potential of mangrove ecosystems. We collected fronds and soil samples from two study sites in the Philippines within the Central Visayas region. We measured frond length, weight, and number of fronds per individual, as well as organic matter content. The amount of carbon sequestered by each species was determined from species biomass. Additionally, information on the community structure, topsoil, and carbon content was used to calculate the overall carbon sequestration per hectare.