Open research questions in Marine and coastal plant biology

What the literature leaves open

• 62. Drupp, P. S. et al. Porewater CO2–carbonic acid system chemistry in permeable carbonate reef sands. Mar. Chem. 185, 48–64 (2016). 63. Chou, W.-C. et al. Short-term variability of carbon chemistry in two contrasting seagrass meadows at Dongsha Island. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 210, 36–44 (2018). 64. Chou, W.-C. et al. Dynamics of O2 and pCO2 in a Southeast Asia seagrass meadow. Front. Mar. Sci. 10, 1076991 (2023). 65. Fakhraee, M., Planavsky, N. J. & Reinhard, C. T. Ocean alkalinity enhancement through restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. Nat. Sustain. 6, 1087–1094 (2023). 66. Ward, M. et al. Management approach matters: meeting seagrass recovery and carbon mitigation goals. npj Ocean Sustain 4, 18 (2025). 67. Macreadie, P. I. et al. Blue carbon as a natural climate solution. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 2, 826–839 (2021). 68. van de Velde, S. J., Hylén, A. & Meysman, F. J. R. Ocean alkalinity destruction by anthropogenic seafloor disturbances generates a hidden CO2 emission. Sci. Adv. 11, eadp9112 (2025). 69. Reithmaier, G. M. S. et al. Carbonate chemistry and carbon sequestration driven by inorganic carbon outwelling from mangroves and salt marshes. Nat. Commun. 14, 8196 (2023). 70. Frankignoulle, M. A complete set of buffer factors for acid/base CO2 system in seawater. J. Mar. Syst. 5, 111–118 (1994). 71. Frankignoulle, M., Canon, C. & Gattuso, J.-P. Marine calcification as a source of carbon dioxide: positive feedback of increasing atmospheric CO2. Limnol. Oceanogr. 39, 458–462 (1994). 72. Orr, J. C. et al. Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms. Nature 437, 681–686 (2005).

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Chou, W.-C. et al. A unique diel pattern in carbonate chemistry in seagrass meadows of Dongsha Island. Front. Mar. Sci. 8, 717685 (2021). 41. Bandibas-Natividad, M. et al. Estimation of metabolic dynamics of restored seagrass meadows in a Southeast Asia islet: insights from ex situ benthic incubation. Biogeosciences 22, 5157–5171 (2025). 20. Saderne, V. et al. Role of carbonate burial in blue carbon budgets. Nat. Commun. 10, 1106 (2019). 21. Reithmaier, G. M. S. et al. Alkalinity production coupled to pyrite formation. Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 35, e2020GB006785 (2021). 42. Burdige, D. J., Zimmerman, R. C. & Hu, X. Rates of carbonate dissolution in permeable sediments estimated from porewater profiles: the role of seagrasses. Limnol. Oceanogr. 53, 549–565 (2008). 22. Zeller, M. A. et al. The unique biogeochemical role of carbonate- 43. Bates, N. R. Twenty years of marine carbon cycle observations at associated organic matter in a subtropical seagrass meadow. Commun. Earth Environ. 5, 681 (2024). 23. Fakhraee, M. et al. Climate stabilization by alkalinity production from pyrite burial during oceanic anoxia. Nat. Geosci. 18, 495–502 (2025). 24. Van Dam, B. R. et al. Calcification-driven CO2 emissions exceed blue carbon sequestration. Sci. Adv. 7, eabj1372 (2021). 25. Chou, W.-C. et al. Contrasting CO2 dynamics in seagrass meadows between organic carbon-rich reef and organic carbon-poor terrestrial sediments. Geophys. Res. Lett. 52, e2024GL112373 (2025). 26. Goossens, C., van de Velde, S. J. & Meysman, F. J. R. A revised estimate of calcium carbonate dissolution in coastal and shelf sediments suggests large shelf exports in the marine CaCO3 cycle. Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 40, e2025GB008936 (2026). Devil’s Hole, Bermuda provide insights into seasonal hypoxia, coral reef calcification and ocean acidification. Front. Mar. Sci. 4, 36 (2017). 44. Van Dam, B. R. et al. Net heterotrophy and carbonate dissolution in two subtropical seagrass meadows. Biogeosciences 16, 4411–4428 (2019). 45. Cai, W.-J. et al. Carbon cycling and the coupling between proton and electron transfer reactions in aquatic sediments in Lake Champlain. Aquat. Geochem. 16, 421–446 (2010). 46. Brodersen, K. E., Nielsen, D. A., Ralph, P. J. & Kühl, M. Oxic microshield and local pH enhancement protects Zostera muelleri from sediment-derived hydrogen sulfide. N. Phytol. 205, 1264–1276 (2015). 47. Brodersen, K. E. et al. Oxygen consumption and sulfate reduction in 27. van de Velde, S. J. et al. Anthropogenically stimulated carbonate vegetated coastal sediments. Front. Mar. Sci. 6, 14 (2019). dissolution in the global shelf seafloor is potentially an important and fast climate feedback. AGU Adv. 7, e2025AV001865 (2026). 28. Egea, L. G., Jiménez-Ramos, R., Hernández, I. & Brun, F. G. Effect of in situ short-term temperature increase on carbon metabolism and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes in a community dominated by the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Together, the Dongsha IL demonstrates that autotrophic seagrass meadows with net CaCO3 dissolution on OC-rich reef sediments can function as sediment-driven regulators of pCO2. By coupling auto- chthonous OC remineralization, allochthonous geogenic carbonate dis- solution, and hydrodynamic confinement, these ecosystems promote sustained atmospheric CO2 uptake, revealing a previously underrecognized pathway for regulating marine pCO2.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03805-4 Fig. 4 | Conceptual model of enhanced sedimentary alkalinity production and sustained low pCO2 in the Dongsha inner lagoon. The Dongsha Inner Lagoon, located in the northern South China Sea (see the insert map), illustrates how strong sediment–water biogeochemical coupling in seagrass-dominated, carbonate-rich reef systems regulates water-column carbonate chemistry under conditions of elevated autochthonous organic carbon (OC) supply and abundant allochthonous geogenic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) sediments.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Box 2: | source-dependent controls on OC–IC coupling We define four end-member sedimentary configurations that determine how OC and IC pathways regulate seawater pCO2: (A) Autochthonous OC + autochthonous CaCO3→ Internal cycling dominates; limited net change unless OC or CaCO3 is buried (B) Autochthonous OC + allochthonous CaCO3→ Enhanced alkalinity production via CaCO3 dissolution; promotes CO2 uptake (C) Allochthonous OC + autochthonous CaCO3→ DIC enrichment without compensating uptake; promotes CO2 release (D) Allochthonous OC + allochthonous CaCO3→ Coupled increases in DIC and TA; typically CO2-releasing systems Scenario B (autochthonous OC coupled with allochthonous geogenic CaCO3) represents the optimal configuration with the greatest potential for pCO2 reduction, as it enhances alkalinity generation and thereby promotes sustained CO2 uptake. Fig. 3 | Conceptual framework of organic carbon (OC) and inorganic carbon (IC) cycling in seagrass ecosystems under different source configurations. A Autochthonous OC + autochthonous IC. B Autochthonous OC + allochthonous IC. C Allochthonous OC + autochthonous IC. D Allochthonous OC + allochthonous IC. Scenarios highlight how OC and IC sources regulate dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (TA), and potential air–sea carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange. pCO2 denotes the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. raises both DIC and TA in roughly a 1:1 ratio (reaction ④). Although TA increases, the concurrent rise in DIC exerts a stronger control on the carbonate system, leading to higher pCO2. This configuration reinforces a CO2- releasing regime typical of heterotrophy with external carbonate-dominated environments. Within this framework, Scenario B emerges as the configuration most conducive to CO2 uptake, where autotrophic meadows supply autochthonous OC to sediments while promoting the dissolution of allochthonous geogenic CaCO3 and anaerobic remineralization (e.g., sulfate reduction). Under these conditions, enhanced TA generation counterbalances DIC accumulation, lowers pCO2, and maximizes the capacity of seagrass ecosystems to act as effective CO2 sinks. Such process coupling is supported by studies showing that seagrass meadows on reef-derived sediments (i.e., allochthonous geogenic CaCO3) can act as natural biogeolowering seawater pCO2, and chemical factories for TA production, enhancing atmospheric CO2 uptake19,25,34. In summary, the mitigation potential of seagrass ecosystems is governed not only by the balance between NCP and NCC in the overlying water column, but also by sedimentary carbon-source dynamics. Crucially, the net effect depends on whether seagrass presence enhances TA generation or carbon retention relative to baseline conditions. Recent work shows that restored seagrass meadows can shift benthic systems toward net autotrophy relative to adjacent unvegetated sediments, enhancing carbon uptake despite concurrent calcification, as OC production exceeds CO2 release41. Consistently, NCP in developing meadows can increase by an order of magnitude relative to bare sediments, indicating a pronounced metabolic shift following restoration57. Restoration also promotes the accumulation of sediment OC as meadow structure develops, reinforcing long-term carbon storage58,59. However, such responses are not universal; restored temperate meadows may remain net heterotrophic, underscoring the role of local biogeochemical conditions and baseline states in determining carbon balance60. Climate relevance thus depends on net system-scale modification of carbon fluxes relative to baseline conditions.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Box 1: | NCP/NCC compensation ratio and its control on seawater pCO2 The NCP/NCC compensation ratio defines the threshold at which organic carbon-driven CO2 uptake (NCP) balances calcification-driven CO2 release (NCC), resulting in no net change in seawater pCO2. This balance emerges along iso-pCO2 trajectories in the TA–DIC space, where the slope (s = ΔTA/ΔDIC) reflects carbonate system buffering. The corresponding slopes vary from ~1.172 to 1.459 across pCO2 levels of 100–600 μatm (S = 35; T = 25 °C). Given the stoichiometry of carbonate precipitation (ΔTA:ΔDIC = 2:1) and organic metabolism (ΔDIC = 1; negligible ΔTA): s ¼ 2 (cid:2) NCC NCC þ NCP ¼ 2 1 þ NCP NCC Thus, NCP NCC ¼ 2 (cid:3) s s ð1Þ ð2Þ Scenario C: allochthonous OC input with autochthonous CaCO3 production; and Scenario D: both OC and CaCO3 are allochthonous. These scenarios represent idealized end-members designed to isolate dominant pathways rather than to serve as deterministic predictors of CO2 source–sink status, although natural systems are more likely to span a continuum in which multiple processes co-occur. Accordingly, each scenario may still include contributions from both autochthonous and allochthonous OC and IC, but is defined by the predominance of a particular combination of inputs. Across these scenarios, carbon-source configuration controls the pathways of carbonate-system modification, but not necessarily the climaterelevant outcome. Sustained ocean–atmosphere CO2 removal arises only from processes that generate net TA and/or enhance long-term OC storage beyond baseline conditions (i.e., the corresponding unvegetated or prerestoration state). Distinguishing internal recycling from TA production driven by geogenic IC sources is therefore critical for resolving the true mitigation potential of seagrass ecosystems. In Scenario A (Fig. 3A, see Table S1), autochthonous OC production (i.e., photosynthesis) decreases DIC with minimal effect on TA, thereby lowering pCO2 (reaction ①). By contrast, autochthonous CaCO3 production (i.e., calcification) removes both DIC and TA in a 1:2 ratio, thereby increasing pCO2 (reaction ②). The net pCO2 response thus depends on the relative balance between NCP and NCC, defined by the NCP/NCC compensation ratio introduced earlier. In the sediments, aerobic respiration of autochthonous OC restores water-column carbonate chemistry (reactions ① + ③) if all OC is respired and the resulting DIC returns to the overlying water. Autochthonous OC metabolism coupled with autochthonous CaCO3 dissolution similarly produces no net change (reactions ① + ② + ④), since both CH2O and CaCO3 are internally produced and recycled within the same system. This apparent balance (ΔDIC ≈ 0 and ΔTA ≈ 0) in Scenario A applies only to the fraction of internally produced CH2O and CaCO3 that is fully recycled (reaction ④).

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Fig. 2 | Diagnostic role of the ΔTA: ΔDIC and NCP: NCC ratios in regulating seawater pCO2 balance. Here, ΔTA and ΔDIC denote changes in total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon, respectively, while NCP and NCC denote net community production and net community calcification, respectively. a Modeled TA–DIC slopes along iso-pCO2 trajectories (100–600 μatm) at 25 °C and salinity 35, with TA ranging from 2000 to 2500 μmol kg⁻1 and corresponding DIC values. b Variation in TA–DIC slopes (blue circles) and NCP/NCC compensation ratios (red squares) along iso-pCO2 trajectories. c Conceptual framework linking ΔTA and ΔDIC to the combined effects of organic metabolism (NCP) and carbonate cycling (NCC), and their control on seawater pCO2. The dashed line represents the ΔTA:ΔDIC ratio of 1.226 required to maintain a constant pCO2 (~400 μatm). The green and red solid arrows in (c) represent net shifts in the carbonate-system state (TA and DIC) driven by organic carbon metabolism (i.e., photosynthesis and respiration) and inorganic carbonate cycling (i.e., CaCO3 formation and dissolution), respectively. Background color gradients indicate pCO2 tendencies: stronger CO2 uptake (blue) and CO2 release (orange). d Regime diagram illustrating how the NCP (vertical axis) and NCC (horizontal axis) govern seawater pCO2. The dashed line represents the compensation threshold (NCP/NCC ≈ 0.63 at ~400 μatm), regions I–III indicate CO2 sinks and IV–VI sources. pCO2 denotes the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. from long-term reservoirs, enhancing buffering capacity and promoting CO2 uptake25,26,51, consistent with natural ocean alkalinization driven by mineral weathering52. Recent evidence shows that carbonate dissolution can be dynamically stimulated under rising atmospheric CO2, particularly in shallow shelf environments where strong sediment–water coupling enables rapid TA feedbacks27. Thus, resolving both carbon origin and carbonate age is essential for evaluating seagrass climate mitigation potential. To capture the importance of these source-dependent pathways, we define four conceptual scenarios based on sedimentary OC and IC sources (Box 2), which are further illustrated in Fig. 3.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• TA affect surface-water pCO2 only when sediment–water exchange and water-residence times are sufficient to transmit benthic signals, whereas rapid hydrodynamic flushing dilutes these benthic inputs before they can significantly alter surface-water chemistry. Accordingly, NCP and NCC serve as diagnostics of short-term water-column CO2 regulation, whereas climate mitigation depends on the fraction of carbon retained beyond remineralization. versus (autochthonous allochthonous; modern Beyond the context-dependent balance between NCP and NCC, CO2 dynamics are further modulated by the origin and timescale of carbon inputs versus geogenic–recently formed vs. geologically derived CaCO3). Source attribution remains a critical yet often overlooked uncertainty. For OC, only autochthonous production reflects true seagrass-mediated carbon uptake2, whereas allochthonous inputs (e.g., mangrove litter, phytoplankton) may enhance burial while stimulating respiration and CO2 release16. A similar challenge exists for IC: biogenic calcification consumes TA and releases CO2, whereas dissolution of geogenic carbonates increases TA, lowers pCO2, and promotes uptake14. Importantly, burial of geogenic carbonate is biogeochemically distinct because its eventual dissolution releases TA derived from long-term geological reservoirs, altering seawater chemistry and TA fluxes34. Including such carbonate in carbon stock assessments can flux estimates by conflating geologically sourced TA therefore bias CO2 inputs with biologically mediated carbon emissions20. Recent evidence shows that much of the OC in coastal wetlands originates from external sources rather than from habitat-forming plants35,36. Similarly, IC burial often exceeds in situ production and limited enrichment relative to bare sediments16,20,37. Thus, carbon accounting frameworks that ignore carbon sources risk systematically misrepresenting carbon sequestration potential, consistent with emerging ‘forensic carbon accounting’ approaches that distinguish between autochthonous and allochthonous carbon inputs38. Ultimately, whether seagrass ecosystems act as net CO2 sinks or sources cannot be inferred from NCP or OC burial alone, but from the coupled balance between OC metabolism and carbonate cycling. Against this backdrop, there is a clear need for an integrated framework that captures the coupled roles of OC and IC in seagrass ecosystems. Here, we propose two complementary perspectives to fill this gap. First, the NCP/ NCC compensation ratio—a diagnostic metric that quantifies the threshold balance between organic production and calcification, more completely linking biogeochemical processes to seawater carbonate chemistry and pCO2 balance. Second, a sedimentary source–dependent conceptual model that expands this framework by incorporating the benthic processes that modulate water-column carbonate dynamics.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Fig. 1 | Organic carbon metabolism (photosynthesis and respiration) controls net community production (NCP), while CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution govern net community calcification (NCC) in both the water column and sediments. Autotrophic conditions (NCP > 0) reduce surface seawater partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), whereas heterotrophy (NCP < 0) elevates pCO2. In contrast, net calcification (NCC > 0) increases pCO2 through total alkalinity (TA) consumption, while net dissolution (NCC < 0) enhances CO2 uptake via TA generation. Benthic fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and TA, driven by organic matter remineralization and carbonate reactions, further modulate seawater carbonate chemistry. The net effect of dissolution depends on whether it reflects internal carbonate recycling or net TA generation. The balance between NCP and NCC ultimately determines surface seawater pCO2 and the direction of air–sea CO2 exchange in seagrass meadows. meadow–sediment system boundary and does not explicitly account for lateral OC transport. Because a fraction of exported OC may be remineralized elsewhere in the ocean rather than being permanently stored, the framework should be regarded as an upper-bound estimate of the net CO2 sequestration potential of seagrass ecosystems. As such, organiccentric framing underpins most blue-carbon assessments–yet it implicitly assumes that carbonate chemistry responds passively to metabolism, despite evidence that it is regulated by multiple interacting processes1,14. Seagrass ecosystems also host large reservoirs of inorganic carbon (IC) in the form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) stored within sediments, particularly in tropical carbonate-rich environments, and these pools can exert a first-order control on air–sea CO2 exchange15. These sediments contain an estimated 11–39 Pg of particulate inorganic carbon in the upper meter, with burial rates comparable to or exceeding OC burial in some systems (22–75 Tg C yr⁻1)16. IC cycling encompasses processes that directly modify DIC, TA, and seawater pCO2, thereby fundamentally controlling whether a system behaves as a net CO2 source or sink (Fig. 1). Through calcification and dissolution, seagrass meadows alter these parameters in opposing ways. Net calcification removes TA twice as much as DIC, thereby raising seawater pCO2 and promoting CO2 outgassing. Metabolically mediated carbonate dissolution occurs through two pathways. In shallow carbonate sediments, oxygen supplied by seagrass roots and rhizomes, together with high organic matter availability, enhances aerobic respiration, releasing CO2 and lowering pH, thereby promoting sedimentary carbonate dissolution17–19.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• A Nature Portfolio journal Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03805-4 Mariche B.

  Organic–inorganic carbon coupling shapes carbon dioxide fluxes in seagrass ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• This study is based on regional summaries and expert-vali- dated classifications rather than standardized survey instru- ments and therefore reflects qualitative perspectives that may vary in depth and emphasis across regions. Participation was uneven across regions (1–34 contributors per region), which themselves varied significantly in size and scope (a state versus a country versus a conglomerate of areas) and both factors may influence the level of detail captured. Because classifications were informed in part by contributor knowl- edge beyond the written narratives, the dataset is not fully reproducible from the narrative text alone. The use of binary presence–absence scoring simpli- fies complex conservation systems and does not capture differences in scale, intensity, timing, or effectiveness of Global patterns in kelp forest conservation Across the 35 regions analysed, region-level classifications indicate that kelp forest conservation most emphasised monitoring, multi-actor governance, and mixed conserva- tion objectives, with more limited and uneven application of restoration interventions (Figs. 4, 5, 6). Regions such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and parts of North America (e.g., Washington and California) exhibited high diversity of conservation actions, including multiple restoration approaches alongside monitoring (e.g., Reef Life Sur- vey), policy development (e.g., Washington State’s bull kelp recovery plan), and community engagement (e.g., Operation Crayweed). These regions also showed strong participation from multiple actor groups and diverse fund- ing structures. In contrast, several regions, including Arctic and sub- Arctic systems (e.g., Greenland, High Arctic, West Ber- ing Sea, Canada), Iceland, Argentina were characterized by conservation actions largely consisting of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, with limited intervention or absence of active restoration. Other regions, including Chile, Peru, and parts of Europe, showed intermediate profiles, combining govern- ance and monitoring with selective restoration approaches and strong connections to fisheries and resource use. Monitoring was the most consistently reported con- servation action, present in 86% of regions, followed by community stewardship (61%), policy planning (57%), and marine protected areas (54%). Harvest management (where needed) was reported in 43% of regions. In con- trast, active restoration approaches were less widespread (49% of regions), and included kelp seeding (46%), urchin removal (29%), and transplantation (31%), while substrate deployment (20%) and future-oriented or experimental approaches (20%) were relatively less common. Notably, 51% of regions reported no active restoration activities, indicating that restoration is absent, emergent, or not cur- rently considered necessary in many systems (Fig. 4).

  Global patterns and regional insights into kelp forest protection, restoration, and stewardship · 2026 · DOI

• Dugongs ( Dugong dugon ) are specialist seagrass grazers who may strongly influence seagrass productivity and sediment carbon storage through a combination of biomass removal, sediment disturbance, and rapid nutrient recycling, but their net effect on ecosystem carbon balance remains unknown.

  Integrating megafauna into blue carbon strategies: dugongs could enhance seagrass carbon storage · 2026 · DOI

• Zostera marina is the main constructive species of the seagrass meadows of northern China, but the regulatory mechanism of its DOC release in response to environmental changes still remains unclear.

  DOC Release and Physiological Response of Zostera marina Under Light and Nutrient Gradients · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies that small volcanic islands require holistic management approaches to maintain seagrass ecosystem sustainability, but no specific monitoring protocol for detecting critical nutrient thresholds (NO3- and TP levels) or corresponding morphometric warning indicators for E. acoroides has been proposed or validated.

  Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Volcanic Sediment Nutrients and their Association of Morpho-Physiological Plasticity of Enhalus acoroides in the Small Islands of Wallacea: A Case Study from Ternate Island, Indonesia · 2026 · DOI

• The study demonstrates that E. acoroides exhibits morpho-physiological plasticity under extreme nutrient conditions but does not investigate recovery capacity—specifically, whether seagrass populations can physiologically recover and restore normal morphometric organ sizes following reduction in excessive NO3- and TP concentrations.

  Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Volcanic Sediment Nutrients and their Association of Morpho-Physiological Plasticity of Enhalus acoroides in the Small Islands of Wallacea: A Case Study from Ternate Island, Indonesia · 2026 · DOI

• The high similarity value (≈0.999) from AHC analysis suggests uniform seagrass damage patterns across Ternate Island, but comparative spatial-temporal nutrient and morphological data from other Wallacean volcanic islands have not been collected to determine whether these damage patterns are generalizable to the broader region.

  Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Volcanic Sediment Nutrients and their Association of Morpho-Physiological Plasticity of Enhalus acoroides in the Small Islands of Wallacea: A Case Study from Ternate Island, Indonesia · 2026 · DOI

• While the study documents morphometric organ trade-offs (negative correlations between internode length and rhizome diameter) in response to nutrient gradients, the underlying biochemical and physiological mechanisms driving these adaptive trade-offs in E. acoroides have not been mechanistically investigated.

  Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Volcanic Sediment Nutrients and their Association of Morpho-Physiological Plasticity of Enhalus acoroides in the Small Islands of Wallacea: A Case Study from Ternate Island, Indonesia · 2026 · DOI

• The study identified extreme NO3- concentrations during Northeast Monsoon that decrease drastically in Southeast Monsoon, but the specific threshold tolerance limits of E. acoroides morpho-physiological plasticity for nitrate and total phosphate have not been quantified, limiting predictive capacity for eutrophication management on volcanic islands.

  Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Volcanic Sediment Nutrients and their Association of Morpho-Physiological Plasticity of Enhalus acoroides in the Small Islands of Wallacea: A Case Study from Ternate Island, Indonesia · 2026 · DOI

• Integration of scientific knowledge into coastal policies through a Decision Support System (DSS) is needed to foster adoption of adaptive strategies reconciling environmental protection with tourism and local economies.

  Characterization and Management of Posidonia oceanica Banquettes as Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience · 2026 · DOI

• Whether or not the potential advantages outweigh the significant habitat change that is anticipated, any management strategies will likely require additional research into costs and benefits of all ecosystem services provided by Spartina including in relation to nutrient cycling, shoreline stabilisation, and biodiversity as well as in response to the longevity of carbon found within the sediments.

  Invasive cordgrass (<i>Spartina</i> spp.) in south‐eastern Australia induces island formation, salt marsh development, and carbon storage · 2017 · DOI

• However, kelp-dominated habitats along much of the NE Atlantic coastline have been chronically understudied over recent decades in comparison with other regions such as Australasia and North America.

  Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast <scp>A</scp>tlantic perspective · 2013 · DOI

• The carrying capacity of the system for the new Virginian bay scallop population remains unknown with the population still in the exponential growth phase.

  Restoration of a Mid-Atlantic Coastal Bay Scallop Population (Argopecten irradians) · 2026 · DOI

• Despite their scale and importance to people, kelp forests remain under-recognized by the public and underrepresented in global policy and conservation agendas.

  Where Kelp Forests Meet People: An analysis of the spatial overlap among human population, global economies, and environmental threats to kelp forest ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

• Temperate seagrass carbon-stock data remain limited in northern China, especially for island meadow systems with mapped distribution and repeated field verification.

  A Standardized Regional Baseline for Seagrass Ecosystem Carbon Stocks in the Changshan Archipelago, Northern China · 2026 · DOI

• While research on coastal marine environments has expanded in recent decades, freshwater vegetated shorelines remain understudied despite their potential for significant carbon burial.

  Shoreline exposure controls teal carbon accumulation in boreal lakes · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Marine and coastal plant biology

• Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast <scp>A</scp>tlantic perspective · Ecology and Evolution · 2013 · 483 citations
• The Influence of Marine bottom Communities on the Depositional Environment of Sediments · The Journal of Geology · 1958 · 214 citations
• Forgotten underwater forests: The key role of fucoids on Australian temperate reefs · Ecology and Evolution · 2017 · 124 citations
• Seagrass blade motion under waves and its impact on wave decay · Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans · 2017 · 121 citations
• Carbon export from seaweed forests to deep ocean sinks · Nature Geoscience · 2024 · 101 citations
• Global impacts of marine heatwaves on coastal foundation species · Nature Communications · 2024 · 94 citations
• Evolutionary genomics of the emergence of brown algae as key components of coastal ecosystems · Cell · 2024 · 81 citations
• Mucilage Problem in the Semi-Enclosed Seas: Recent Outbreak in the Sea of Marmara · International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics · 2021 · 81 citations
• It's time to broaden what we consider a ‘blue carbon ecosystem’ · Global Change Biology · 2024 · 70 citations
• Macroalgae farming for sustainable future: Navigating opportunities and driving innovation · Heliyon · 2024 · 69 citations

Most recent work

• Impact of macroalgae farming on the carbonate system and biogenic sulfur dynamics in Sansha Bay, China · Marine Pollution Bulletin · 2026
• Ocean warming indirectly affects seagrass performance through effects on sediment microbial communities · New Phytologist · 2026
• Mass flowering of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica after 2022 record-breaking marine heatwaves, a Pan-Mediterranean study · Communications Earth & Environment · 2026
• When Sea Urchins Dine: The Roles of Friends, Food and Fear and Implications to Kelp Forest Conservation · Theoretical and Natural Science · 2026
• Characterization and Management of Posidonia oceanica Banquettes as Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience · 2026
• Effects of Marine Ranching on Phytoplankton Community: A Case Study in the Bailong Pearl Bay National Marine Ranching Demonstration Zone, China · Biology · 2026
• Centennial persistence of kelp forests on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada · Frontiers in Marine Science · 2026
• Early life-cycle biology and nursery suitability of the southern bull kelp (Durvillaea potatorum) · Journal of Applied Phycology · 2026
• Genomic and transcriptomic basis of morphological and life cycle diversity in the prasinophyte alga Pseudoscourfieldia marina · Communications Biology · 2026
• Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Volcanic Sediment Nutrients and their Association of Morpho-Physiological Plasticity of Enhalus acoroides in the Small Islands of Wallacea: A Case Study from Ternate Island, Indonesia · Advances in Biology & Earth Sciences · 2026

Related topics in Earth and Planetary Sciences