In the past two decades, seagrass meadows have garnered recognition for their ability to store significant amounts of carbon in sediment, potentially for millennia. However, incorporating seagrass carbon storage into nature-based climate change solutions remains challenging due to limited understanding of small-scale spatial variability in carbon storage and the impact of meadow greenhouse gas emissions. This dissertation research addresses these gaps by examining the effects of meadow history, stability, and biodiversity on carbon storage and emissions, utilizing existing datasets, field surveys, and laboratory experiments in Cedar Key, Florida. Findings indicate that species richness promotes meadow stability, leading to enhanced carbon stocks, while greenhouse gas emissions correlate with seagrass leaf area, albeit varying by species. Although data collection for the research projects is complete, the Florida Sea Grant fellowship will further the individual’s professional development and communication skills in the dissertation’s final stages through publication, extension activities, and outreach efforts.
