Stratigraphic evidence of organic carbon depletion in an intensely trawled muddy seabed
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21408648 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hannah C Muir (0000-0002-0287-5746, National Oceanography Centre, corresponding author), James A Strong (National Oceanography Centre), Jan G Hiddink (Bangor University), David G Reading (0000-0002-6697-8525, National Oceanography Centre), Phillip E Warwick (0000-0001-8774-5125, National Oceanography Centre), Rowan Henthorn (Manx National Heritage), Jacqui Keenan (Manx National Heritage), Richard K F Unsworth (0000-0003-0036-9724), R W Unsworth (Swansea University), Claire Evans (0000-0003-3570-4713, National Oceanography Centre) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-28 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | AMBIO (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0044-7447 • E-ISSN: 1654-7209 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s13280-026-02439-2 |
| PMID | 42365558 |
| OpenAlex | W7166436833 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 49 |
Understanding the long-term effects of bottom trawling on sedimentary organic carbon (OC) is crucial for assessing its role in carbon cycling and climate regulation. Most studies analyse effects on surface sediments (≤10 cm), leaving impacts on deeper sediments poorly resolved. This study investigates how bottom trawling influences sediment OC density (SCD) and OC content within 0–50 cm of the Western Irish Sea Mud Belt, representing sediments deposited from 1860 to 2022. SCD and OC content were lower in intensely trawled areas, declining by 0.031 × 10 −2 gC cm −3 and 0.05 wt% per additional swept area ratio (+1 yr −1 ). OC decreased by 0.007×1 0 −2 gC cm −3 and 0.01 wt% for every centimetre into the sediment. Mud content had a significant effect on OC content, but not SCD, whereas Nephrops burrowing did not significantly affect either. These findings support evidence of trawlings potentially long-term negative impact on OC in muddy sediments
Bottom trawling · Nephrops norvegicus · Seabed · Sediment · Sedimentary rock · Total organic carbon · Trawling · Marine and coastal ecosystems · Marine and coastal plant biology · Marine and fisheries research
| Highly cited | No |
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