BlueCarbonLab

🌏 It’s #InternationalWomensDay! At the BlueCarbonLab, we strive to #InspireInclusion in our work. Our team of 22 women are of 14 different nationalities and speak 15+ languages! Today, we celebrate this #diversity and the inspiring work of the women in the team to protect the environment and create positive change   #IWD2024 Stacey Trevathan-Tackett | Micheli Costa | Melissa Wartman | | Maria del Mar Palacios | Rifaee Rasheed | Sabiha Marine | Jasmine Bursic | Sabrina Kleis Brenøe Olsson | Phebe Fidge (Rowland) | Dr Jacqui Pocklington | Tallulah Davey | Nipunika Hansani | Ruby Martin | Kendrika Gaur | Nipuni Perera | Alexandra Rodríguez | Elizabeth Galanis | Agustina Quadri | Ahalya Suresh | Nataly Guevara | Teah Coate

🌿 Does nutrient pollution impact seagrass meadows’ ability to store carbon? 🌊 Recent studies reveal that nutrient enrichment in coastal environments can alter seagrass chemistry, reducing its potential to sequester #bluecarbon. 🔬 Research by Luo et al. reveals nutrient enrichment reduces the amount of recalcitrant carbon produced by seagrass plants. Building on this, a new study by Liu et al. found that elevated nutrient levels change seagrass litter chemistry, accelerating the decay of recalcitrant carbon. 📉 Together, these findings indicate that #eutrophication not only reduces the production of recalcitrant carbon in seagrass meadows, but also speeds up its decomposition, reducing long-term carbon storage.  🌍 With seagrass meadows being vital global #carbonsinks, these findings highlight how nutrient pollution can compromise carbon sequestration in #coastalwetlands. Effective management of nutrient inputs is key to protect and preserve the long-term carbon storage of these vital ecosystems. 🔗 Explore the research: Liu et al. 2024: https://lnkd.in/ginaX67z  Luo et al. 2024: https://lnkd.in/gGXWsMhR #BlueCarbon #Seagrass #Eutrophication #Nutrients #Pollution  Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN) I Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography 

🌊🏠 Attention Australian coastal landholders - have you participated in our nationwide landholder survey on #coastalwetland restoration?     If you haven’t had the chance yet, our survey is still open!     Help us understand your challenges and concerns to restore coastal wetlands. Your insights will be used to inform future restoration practices and policy measures (e.g., funding or incentive-schemes) to support landholder engagement in wetland restoration projects.   🔗 Take the survey: https://lnkd.in/ec664SNK   🔍 Learn more in our blog: https://lnkd.in/d9X88mwS  

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐧? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? In the #RegenOurCoasts program, we’re monitoring coastal wetlands for #ecologicalrestoration and exploring #circulareconomy practices through industry-generated biomass waste production. This includes trialing apple- and seaweed-based cellulose as a biodegradable material for 3D printing and mould casting. If you want to learn more about the wonders of waste, our latest blog explores how #biomasswaste is being transformed into novel #biodegradable habitats, helping to restore vital coastal habitats.🌊 https://lnkd.in/gG9-a5CD #RegenOurCoasts is funded by Beach Energy Ltd Stacey Trevathan-Tackett I @Sachin Talekar | Sabrina Kleis Brenøe Olsson I Teah Coate I Imogen A. | Ivona Buljat | Lucille Bailey I Linda French | Danielle De Wit

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦!   Ivona Buljat is a botanist and environmental scientist with a passion for conservation, restoration and environmental education. Throughout her career, Ivona has worked in natural resource management and environmental education, providing conservation and restoration efforts in the grassland and saltmarsh ecosystems of Western Melbourne. Ivona joins the growing team of researchers, where she will bring her knowledge in conservation and coastal restoration as part of the #RegenOurCoasts program 🌱🌊     Welcome Ivona! Learn more about her work at https://lnkd.in/gekPfP9p 

🌍🔬 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀! 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Led by Dr Omosalewa Odebiri, we found that fencing off farm dams reduces methane emissions by over 70% but also improves water quality with lower nitrogen-phosphorous levels and improved dissolved oxygen. Using our innovative mobile sensors called ‘Pondi’, we monitored greenhouse gases continuously, providing insights into seasonal impacts. This method offers a scalable solution to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the overlooked sources—farm dams. 💡📊Simple management changes like fencing can make farm dams sustainable, informing global strategies and local practices to combat climate change. 👩🔬🌾Our study highlights the importance of including farm dams in national carbon accounting and offers actionable strategies for environmental and economic benefits. Paper: (https://lnkd.in/gjnwS_eg) #Sustainability #ClimateAction #MethaneReduction #FarmDams #LivestockManagement #CarbonBudget  Omosalewa Odebiri I Jake Archbold I Joshua Glen I Peter Macreadie I Martino E. Malerba I Deakin Research

Launching a new tool to identify blue carbon restoration opportunities! 🌊 Restoration efforts for blue carbon ecosystems are growing globally and rely on a range of factors to be effective, like smart planning and precise site selection. As part of #RegenOurCoasts, Dr Siegmund Nuyts led the development of a tool to expand these efforts.  📍 Our GIS-based decision support tool harnesses high-resolution spatial data, to pinpoint optimal sites for #ecosystemrestoration along the coastline of Victoria, Australia.  🗺️ Using the tool, we identified 33,253 hectares of high-potential restoration areas in Victoria, primarily in coastal areas that have experienced significant historical losses. This provides a versatile decision support framework to help plan targeted #restoration. 🌿 This tool offers a new approach for #bluecarbon restoration, adaptable to other regions, and will support strategic blue carbon investments and climate action. Collaborating with local communities and consideration of socio-economic factors will be key to maximise impact. 🌎 Discover how our tool can enhance blue carbon restoration at the links below! 🏁 Open access restoration tool resources on GitHub: https://lnkd.in/gCRtxkmP 🔗 Read the full paper: https://lnkd.in/g38igbd2 #EcosystemRestoration #GenerationRestoration #GIS Siegmund Nuyts I Micheli Costa I Peter Macreadie I Stacey Trevathan-Tackett | Deakin Research | Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre   #RegenOurCoasts is funded by Beach Energy Ltd. 

One of our scientists has been hard at work advocating for clean energy technologies in her hometown of Wollongong!  In her article, published last week through RenewEconomy, Phebe Fidge (Rowland) draws on the best available evidence to unpack the expected impacts of offshore wind development on ocean wildlife, the physical environment, economies, and communities.  She presents a youth perspective, suggesting we reframe our thinking around offshore wind to support rapid #climate action.    🔗 Read the full article here -   https://lnkd.in/g8N8Z7UF     #Offshorewind #RenewableEnergy  

🌿 Tidal marshes play a crucial role as carbon sinks. With invasive wetland species spreading worldwide, how does this impact stored #bluecarbon? 🌾 This new paper, led by BlueCarbonLab PhD candidate Wenzhen Zhao, explores the impact of the invasive saltmarsh cordgrass (𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢) on tidal marsh #bluecarbon in the Yangtze Estuary, China.    💻 Using #machinelearning, scientists modelled the spatiotemporal dynamics of the invasive 𝘚. 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 on sediment organic carbon (SOC).  📉 It was found that 𝘚. 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 contributed to over half of total SOC in the tidal marshes of the Yangtze Estuary. While the species initially boosted SOC levels within the first 15 years, these gains were not sustained and gradually declined over time. 🌍 With biological invasions on the rise globally, this modelling approach provides valuable insights for developing targeted #management strategies that balance preserving #bluecarbon storage with effective invasive species control.    🔗 Paper - https://lnkd.in/g5p3jSdZ    #Wetlands #ClimateChange #MachineLearning #InvasiveSpecies    Wenzhen Zhao I Xiuzhen Li I Micheli Costa I Melissa Wartman I Shiwei Lin I Jiangjing Wang I Lin Yuan I Teng Wang I Hualei Yang I Yutao Qin I Huanhong Ji I Peter Macreadie  

❇️ The combination of decision-making and environmental science is crucial for successful wetland renewal. This special feature, led by scientist Dr. Pawel Waryszak in collaboration with Dr. Emma Asbridge from University of Wollongong, has synthesized our latest understanding of the effective renewal of wetlands. To foster this understanding, a diverse group of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners were brought together at an online #ESAus2021 symposium “Tailored restoration response: predictions and guidelines for coastal wetland renewal using ecological theory and data”, 23 –Nov-2021. 🔍 Following the symposium, 22 papers were curated from a global community of wetland experts for a special feature on #WetlandRenewal. This special feature includes findings from 15 field-based experiments and 7 data-driven papers. The research within the #WetlandRenewal special feature is essential for advancing #EcologicalRestoration and informing #policy and practice. Additionally, the Global Wetlands Project hosted the inaugural Coastal Wetlands Twitter Conference (#CWTC21). This conference held completely on Twitter, allowed students, scientists, coastal wetland managers, and policymakers to share their research and experiences on an international stage.  🔗 Read the synthesis of the special feature here - bit.ly/3Ww5SDr    Pawel Waryszak I Emma Asbridge I Deakin Research | Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) | University of Southern Queensland | The University of Queensland