Blue Carbon in Tidal Wetlands of the Pacific Coast of Canada

lation rates of coastal ecosystems, such as those of mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, as a means of sequestering (blue) carbon for climate mitigation purposes. Material from dead plants and animals in salt marshes accumulates over time in low-oxygen conditions, limiting the CO2 emissions from the normal process of aerobic decomposition (McLeod et al. 2011; Chmura et al. 2003; Duarte et al. 2013). This accumulation of organic matter can lead to a significant buildup of carbon stored in the soils and sediments of these ecosystems. Including carbon from these ecosystems in carbon accounting mechanisms requires thorough quantification of carbon stored in the relevant carbon sinks (Coverdale et al. 2014; Macreadie et al. 2012; McLeod et al. 2011; Mitsch et al. 2012). Although coastal salt marshes constitute only a small portion of the global land area, they are capable of storing a relatively large amount of carbon relative to their area due to their high productivity (McLeod et al. 2011). This carbon storage potential is increasingly recognized as a valuable ecosystem service of coastal salt marshes (Coverdale et al. 2014; Fourqurean et al. 2012; McLeod et Blue Carbon in Tidal Wetlands of the Pacific Coast of Canada Research Summary