The Blue Carbon Lab celebrated World Wetlands Day 2020 with a citizen science day at Hobsons Bay Wetland Centre.

The Citizen Science day began at the community centre where Deakin’s scientist Maria Palacios introduced local community members to coastal wetlands and Blue Carbon research. Citizen Scientists then headed to the saltmarsh (next to Laverton Creek) to research the ability of Victoria’s saltmarsh species to drawdown atmospheric carbon and recover from degradation.

Citizen scientists worked in pairs to set up a plot experiment in which saltmarsh species Sarcocornia quinqueflora, Sueda australis, and Distichlis distichophylla were assigned to control or recovery treatments. Measures of above-ground biomass and soil “carbon sink” properties were recorded at the start of the experiment and will be monitored 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.

On each experimental plot, participants helped us identify saltmarsh species, estimate plant cover, collect soil cores, plant “tea” bags, and sprinkle feldspar. Tea bags will be retrieved during the monitoring visits and used to estimate soil decomposition.

Despite the hot sun and strong winds, participants worked hard to install 48 experimental plots and plant 192 tea bags 🙂 Stay tuned for for upcoming visits to monitor this exciting experiment.

Many thanks to all the Citizen Scientists who joined the #BlueCarbonArmy and helped us collect Blue Carbon data!