Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks

Patricia M. Glibert; Rhodora V. Azanza; Michele Astrid Burford; Ken Furuya; Eva G. Abal; Adnan R.N. Al-Azri; Faiza Aa Al-Yamani; Per Kragh Andersen; Donald M. Anderson; John Beardall; Gry Miné Berg; Larry E. Brand; Deborah A. Bronk; Justin D. Brookes; Jo Ann Burkholder; Allan D. Cembella; William P. Cochlan; Jackie L. Collier; Yves Collos; Robert J. Diaz; Martina A. Doblin; Thomas E. Drennen; Sonya T. Dyhrman; Yasuwo Fukuyo; Miles J. Furnas; James N. Galloway; Edna Granéli; Dao Viet Ha; G. M. Hallegraeff; John A. Harrison; Paul J. Harrison; Cynthia A. Heil; Kirsten Ruth Heimann; Robert W. Howarth; Cécile Jauzein; Austin A. Kana; Todd M. Kana; Hakgyoon Kim; Raphael M. Kudela; Catherine Legrand; Michael A. Mallin; Margaret R. Mulholland; Shauna A. Murray; Judith M. O'Neil; Grant C. Pitcher; Yuzao Qi; Nancy N. Rabalais; Robin C.T. Raine; Sybil Putnam Seitzinger; Paulo Sergio Salomon; Caroline M. Solomon; Diane K. Stoecker; Gires Usup; Joanne R. Wilson; Kedong Yin; Mingjiang Zhou; Mingyuan Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010

Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks

Patricia M. Glibert, Rhodora V. Azanza, Michele Astrid Burford, Ken Furuya, Eva G. Abal, Adnan R.N. Al-Azri, Faiza Aa Al-Yamani, Per Kragh Andersen, Donald M. Anderson, John Beardall, Gry Miné Berg, Larry E. Brand, Deborah A. Bronk, Justin D. Brookes, Jo Ann Burkholder, Allan D. Cembella, William P. Cochlan, Jackie L. Collier, Yves Collos, Robert J. DiazMartina A. Doblin, Thomas E. Drennen, Sonya T. Dyhrman, Yasuwo Fukuyo, Miles J. Furnas, James N. Galloway, Edna Granéli, Dao Viet Ha, G. M. Hallegraeff, John A. Harrison, Paul J. Harrison, Cynthia A. Heil, Kirsten Ruth Heimann, Robert W. Howarth, Cécile Jauzein, Austin A. Kana, Todd M. Kana, Hakgyoon Kim, Raphael M. Kudela, Catherine Legrand, Michael A. Mallin, Margaret R. Mulholland, Shauna A. Murray, Judith M. O'Neil, Grant C. Pitcher, Yuzao Qi, Nancy N. Rabalais, Robin C.T. Raine, Sybil Putnam Seitzinger, Paulo Sergio Salomon, Caroline M. Solomon, Diane K. Stoecker, Gires Usup, Joanne R. Wilson, Kedong Yin, Mingjiang Zhou, Mingyuan Zhu

Flinders University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1049-1056
Number of pages	8
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	56
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010
Publication status	Published - 2008

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Glibert, P. M., Azanza, R. V., Burford, M. A., Furuya, K., Abal, E. G., Al-Azri, A. R. N., Al-Yamani, F. A., Andersen, P. K., Anderson, D. M., Beardall, J., Berg, G. M., Brand, L. E., Bronk, D. A., Brookes, J. D., Burkholder, J. A., Cembella, A. D., Cochlan, W. P., Collier, J. L., Collos, Y., ... Zhu, M. (2008). Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56(6), 1049-1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010

Glibert, Patricia M. ; Azanza, Rhodora V. ; Burford, Michele Astrid ; Furuya, Ken ; Abal, Eva G. ; Al-Azri, Adnan R.N. ; Al-Yamani, Faiza Aa ; Andersen, Per Kragh ; Anderson, Donald M. ; Beardall, John ; Berg, Gry Miné ; Brand, Larry E. ; Bronk, Deborah A. ; Brookes, Justin D. ; Burkholder, Jo Ann ; Cembella, Allan D. ; Cochlan, William P. ; Collier, Jackie L. ; Collos, Yves ; Diaz, Robert J. ; Doblin, Martina A. ; Drennen, Thomas E. ; Dyhrman, Sonya T. ; Fukuyo, Yasuwo ; Furnas, Miles J. ; Galloway, James N. ; Granéli, Edna ; Ha, Dao Viet ; Hallegraeff, G. M. ; Harrison, John A. ; Harrison, Paul J. ; Heil, Cynthia A. ; Heimann, Kirsten Ruth ; Howarth, Robert W. ; Jauzein, Cécile ; Kana, Austin A. ; Kana, Todd M. ; Kim, Hakgyoon ; Kudela, Raphael M. ; Legrand, Catherine ; Mallin, Michael A. ; Mulholland, Margaret R. ; Murray, Shauna A. ; O'Neil, Judith M. ; Pitcher, Grant C. ; Qi, Yuzao ; Rabalais, Nancy N. ; Raine, Robin C.T. ; Seitzinger, Sybil Putnam ; Salomon, Paulo Sergio ; Solomon, Caroline M. ; Stoecker, Diane K. ; Usup, Gires ; Wilson, Joanne R. ; Yin, Kedong ; Zhou, Mingjiang ; Zhu, Mingyuan. / Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks. In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2008 ; Vol. 56, No. 6. pp. 1049-1056.

@article{599634b6e652442ca0f7ee6852de88b2,

title = "Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks",

abstract = "The proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed.",

author = "Glibert, {Patricia M.} and Azanza, {Rhodora V.} and Burford, {Michele Astrid} and Ken Furuya and Abal, {Eva G.} and Al-Azri, {Adnan R.N.} and Al-Yamani, {Faiza Aa} and Andersen, {Per Kragh} and Anderson, {Donald M.} and John Beardall and Berg, {Gry Min{\'e}} and Brand, {Larry E.} and Bronk, {Deborah A.} and Brookes, {Justin D.} and Burkholder, {Jo Ann} and Cembella, {Allan D.} and Cochlan, {William P.} and Collier, {Jackie L.} and Yves Collos and Diaz, {Robert J.} and Doblin, {Martina A.} and Drennen, {Thomas E.} and Dyhrman, {Sonya T.} and Yasuwo Fukuyo and Furnas, {Miles J.} and Galloway, {James N.} and Edna Gran{\'e}li and Ha, {Dao Viet} and Hallegraeff, {G. M.} and Harrison, {John A.} and Harrison, {Paul J.} and Heil, {Cynthia A.} and Heimann, {Kirsten Ruth} and Howarth, {Robert W.} and C{\'e}cile Jauzein and Kana, {Austin A.} and Kana, {Todd M.} and Hakgyoon Kim and Kudela, {Raphael M.} and Catherine Legrand and Mallin, {Michael A.} and Mulholland, {Margaret R.} and Murray, {Shauna A.} and O'Neil, {Judith M.} and Pitcher, {Grant C.} and Yuzao Qi and Rabalais, {Nancy N.} and Raine, {Robin C.T.} and Seitzinger, {Sybil Putnam} and Salomon, {Paulo Sergio} and Solomon, {Caroline M.} and Stoecker, {Diane K.} and Gires Usup and Wilson, {Joanne R.} and Kedong Yin and Mingjiang Zhou and Mingyuan Zhu",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010",

language = "English",

volume = "56",

pages = "1049--1056",

journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",

issn = "0025-326X",

publisher = "Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd",

number = "6",

}

Glibert, PM, Azanza, RV, Burford, MA, Furuya, K, Abal, EG, Al-Azri, ARN, Al-Yamani, FA, Andersen, PK, Anderson, DM, Beardall, J, Berg, GM, Brand, LE, Bronk, DA, Brookes, JD, Burkholder, JA, Cembella, AD, Cochlan, WP, Collier, JL, Collos, Y, Diaz, RJ, Doblin, MA, Drennen, TE, Dyhrman, ST, Fukuyo, Y, Furnas, MJ, Galloway, JN, Granéli, E, Ha, DV, Hallegraeff, GM, Harrison, JA, Harrison, PJ, Heil, CA, Heimann, KR, Howarth, RW, Jauzein, C, Kana, AA, Kana, TM, Kim, H, Kudela, RM, Legrand, C, Mallin, MA, Mulholland, MR, Murray, SA, O'Neil, JM, Pitcher, GC, Qi, Y, Rabalais, NN, Raine, RCT, Seitzinger, SP, Salomon, PS, Solomon, CM, Stoecker, DK, Usup, G, Wilson, JR, Yin, K, Zhou, M & Zhu, M 2008, 'Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 1049-1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010

Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks. / Glibert, Patricia M.; Azanza, Rhodora V.; Burford, Michele Astrid; Furuya, Ken; Abal, Eva G.; Al-Azri, Adnan R.N.; Al-Yamani, Faiza Aa; Andersen, Per Kragh; Anderson, Donald M.; Beardall, John; Berg, Gry Miné; Brand, Larry E.; Bronk, Deborah A.; Brookes, Justin D.; Burkholder, Jo Ann; Cembella, Allan D.; Cochlan, William P.; Collier, Jackie L.; Collos, Yves; Diaz, Robert J.; Doblin, Martina A.; Drennen, Thomas E.; Dyhrman, Sonya T.; Fukuyo, Yasuwo; Furnas, Miles J.; Galloway, James N.; Granéli, Edna; Ha, Dao Viet; Hallegraeff, G. M.; Harrison, John A.; Harrison, Paul J.; Heil, Cynthia A.; Heimann, Kirsten Ruth; Howarth, Robert W.; Jauzein, Cécile; Kana, Austin A.; Kana, Todd M.; Kim, Hakgyoon; Kudela, Raphael M.; Legrand, Catherine; Mallin, Michael A.; Mulholland, Margaret R.; Murray, Shauna A.; O'Neil, Judith M.; Pitcher, Grant C.; Qi, Yuzao; Rabalais, Nancy N.; Raine, Robin C.T.; Seitzinger, Sybil Putnam; Salomon, Paulo Sergio; Solomon, Caroline M.; Stoecker, Diane K.; Usup, Gires; Wilson, Joanne R.; Yin, Kedong; Zhou, Mingjiang; Zhu, Mingyuan.

In: Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 56, No. 6, 2008, p. 1049-1056.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks

AU - Glibert, Patricia M.

AU - Azanza, Rhodora V.

AU - Burford, Michele Astrid

AU - Furuya, Ken

AU - Abal, Eva G.

AU - Al-Azri, Adnan R.N.

AU - Al-Yamani, Faiza Aa

AU - Andersen, Per Kragh

AU - Anderson, Donald M.

AU - Beardall, John

AU - Berg, Gry Miné

AU - Brand, Larry E.

AU - Bronk, Deborah A.

AU - Brookes, Justin D.

AU - Burkholder, Jo Ann

AU - Cembella, Allan D.

AU - Cochlan, William P.

AU - Collier, Jackie L.

AU - Collos, Yves

AU - Diaz, Robert J.

AU - Doblin, Martina A.

AU - Drennen, Thomas E.

AU - Dyhrman, Sonya T.

AU - Fukuyo, Yasuwo

AU - Furnas, Miles J.

AU - Galloway, James N.

AU - Granéli, Edna

AU - Ha, Dao Viet

AU - Hallegraeff, G. M.

AU - Harrison, John A.

AU - Harrison, Paul J.

AU - Heil, Cynthia A.

AU - Heimann, Kirsten Ruth

AU - Howarth, Robert W.

AU - Jauzein, Cécile

AU - Kana, Austin A.

AU - Kana, Todd M.

AU - Kim, Hakgyoon

AU - Kudela, Raphael M.

AU - Legrand, Catherine

AU - Mallin, Michael A.

AU - Mulholland, Margaret R.

AU - Murray, Shauna A.

AU - O'Neil, Judith M.

AU - Pitcher, Grant C.

AU - Qi, Yuzao

AU - Rabalais, Nancy N.

AU - Raine, Robin C.T.

AU - Seitzinger, Sybil Putnam

AU - Salomon, Paulo Sergio

AU - Solomon, Caroline M.

AU - Stoecker, Diane K.

AU - Usup, Gires

AU - Wilson, Joanne R.

AU - Yin, Kedong

AU - Zhou, Mingjiang

AU - Zhu, Mingyuan

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - The proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed.

AB - The proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed.

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010

M3 - Article

VL - 56

SP - 1049

EP - 1056

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

SN - 0025-326X

IS - 6

ER -