MAGIEC

Unvegetated mudflats cover significant stretches of coastline on both sides of the Atlantic and may store considerably more carbon than previously recognised, yet they remain one of the least studied blue carbon ecosystems. MAGIEC will investigate how mudflat sediments sequester and retain carbon across a transatlantic network of sites ranging from heavily impacted to near-pristine. There, the project will examine the effects of stressors such as nutrient pollution, chemical contamination and extreme weather events, as well as the role of sediment mineralogy, microbial communities and invasive species in shaping carbon dynamics and ecosystem resilience. 

With a combination of sediment biogeochemistry, greenhouse gas flux measurements and molecular analysis, the project will develop standardised protocols for measuring mudflat carbon stocks and work with coastal managers to translate findings into practical conservation and restoration guidance.