Marine Animal Forests as Carbon Immobilizers or Why We Should Preserve These Three-Dimensional Alive Structures

Marine ecosystems continue to be transformed by human activities.Among them, benthic ecosystems are perhaps one of the most affected, because ofbottom trawling, urban or agricultural development, climate change, and otherstressors. Benthic communities that are dominated by structuring species, the marineanimal forests (MAF), are among the most threatened ecosystems. MAFs aregenerally composed of benthic suspension feeders (e.g., sponges, corals) that formliving three-dimensional structures. Besides the paramount structuring role thesecommunities play, MAF also acts as carbon immobilizers. Estimates of carbonamount retained by terrestrial forests, seagrasses, mangroves, crops, and soils areavailable; however, there is scarce information on the amount of carbon retained byMAF. Here, we address the potential role of MAF as carbon immobilizers, highlighting the importance of their preservation and active restoration.