Controls on mangrove forest‐atmosphere carbon dioxide exchanges in western Everglades National Park

A mangrove forest in the western Everglades National Park acts as a significant carbon sink, with an annual net ecosystem production (NEP) of 1170 ± 127 g C m⁻², attributed to year-round productivity and low ecosystem respiration. The study, conducted using an eddy covariance system from January 2004 to August 2005, revealed that environmental factors such as diffuse solar irradiance, surface water salinity, and tidal activity play critical roles in controlling carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange between the forest and atmosphere. High salinity (>34 ppt) reduced daily light use efficiency by 46%, while tidal inundation lowered daytime respiration by ∼0.9 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ and nighttime respiration by ∼0.5 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. These findings suggest that mangrove carbon balance may shift in response to changes in salinity and inundation patterns, potentially due to sea level rise and climate change.

Barr, J. G., Engel, V., Fuentes, J. D., Zieman, J. C., O’Halloran, T. L., Smith, T. J., & Anderson, G. H. (2010). Controls on mangrove forest‐atmosphere carbon dioxide exchanges in western Everglades National Park. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 115(G2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jg001186