Estimation of Carbon Sequestered by Seagrass Tissues in Pasil Sanctuary, Iloilo, Philippines
Keywords:
Biomass, Carbon stock, Climate change mitigation, Loss on Ignition (LOI), Seagrass communityAbstract
This study aimed to assess the carbon stock within the seagrass community of Pasil Seagrass Sanctuary, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. Key seagrass parameters measured included density, coverage, biomass, general health condition, and carbon stock. Biomass and carbon measurements were categorized into above-ground biomass (top) and below-ground biomass (bottom substrate). The carbon stock was quantified using the Loss on Ignition (LOI) method. The results revealed that the seagrass ecosystem in Pasil Seagrass Sanctuary was composed of five species: Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, Syringodium isoetifolium, Halophila spinulosa, and Halodule pinifolia. Overall, the seagrass community was in a less healthy condition, with an average percentage cover of 43.06% and a density ranging from 253 to 1,539 shoots/m². The average above-ground biomass was 690.04 g/m², while the below-ground biomass averaged 893.49 g/m². Carbon stock measurements ranged from 8.96 to 48.91 g Corg/m² for above-ground carbon stock (AGCS) and 14.1 to 98.36 g Corg/m² for below-ground carbon stock (BGCS). These findings provide a valuable foundation for developing a database to analyze the potential of seagrass meadows as carbon dioxide (CO₂) repositories, contributing to efforts to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
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