Evaluating the influence of neighboring coastal peatland on mangrove ecosystem and their blue carbon sink function (TealBlue)

• Applicant: Dr. K. Anggi Hapsari
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 574205303

Mangroves are prominent blue carbon ecosystems and are key nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation. Mangroves are known to be tightly interconnected with the adjacent seascape ecosystems. But their interconnectivity with adjacent landward ecosystems is much less known. In Indonesia, where majority of global mangroves are located, they typically coexist with coastal peatlands, prominent teal carbon ecosystems. While these two bordering ecosystems are very likely interconnected, cross-ecosystems material flow between mangrove and peatland is hardly studied. Changes occurring in one system may not have an immediate effect on other connected systems but could manifest after time lags that could extend decades or centuries. Such requirement for long-term information poses challenges in fully understanding their interconnectivity. Palaeoecological studies could provide ecological information extending for decades to even millennia and can provide insights into drivers of changes and underlying mechanisms over long term, ecosystem response. It can also estimate any potential time-lag between the occurrence of driver and observable impact or response. The proposed research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding on interconnectivity between mangrove and adjacent peatland ecosystems. For this, this research will assess carbon, nutrient and contaminant exchange between the two neighboring ecosystems and evaluate the response of recipient ecosystem to material transfer over long term. Information generated by this study will be useful for the development of well-tailored integrated management of wetland complexes in Indonesia.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants