Seagrass meadows are considered crucial natural carbon stocks. However, in Tanzania, few species have been assessed for their potential carbon stocks and variability in percentage organic carbon (%Corg) stocks. The study reports the contributions of seagrasses Halodule uninervis and Syringodium isoetifolium in carbon storage in WIO region. Findings revealed a significantly higher %Corg in seagrass meadows compared to unvegetated, confirming that seagrass heightens organic carbon storage. The seagrass carbon storage varied significantly among sites ranging from 4.05 ± 0.7% in Kaole to 0.62 ± 0.05% in Kunduchi. Syringodium isoetifolium meadows had higher organic carbon (p = 0.002) than H. uninervis. The partial least square analysis showed that below- and aboveground biomass and canopy height were positively correlated to %Corg. Sediment density and porosity were the vital predictor but negatively correlated with %Corg. The study showed a higher %Corg in the marine protected area, which could be linked to seagrass structural complexities and sediment porosity.
Keywords: Organic carbon; Seagrasses; Sediment; Western Indian Ocean.
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