We searched the literature for experimental and observational studies assessing the effects of seagrass overgrazing on erosion of sediment and sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) and found that most studies reported a significant impact, likely caused by a cascading effect (i.e., seagrass shoot loss → belowground biomass degradation → sediment destabilization or SOC erosion). However, there appears to be a clear lack of knowledge on the extent and mechanisms behind SOC erosion in seagrass meadows and we highlight the need for research to (1) define spatial and temporal scales of occurrence; (2) assess the influence of belowground biomass degradation, sediment characteristics, and hydrodynamic exposure on sediment stabilization; and (3) estimate the greenhouse gas emission after a disturbance. Such information would help coastal resource managers to address the causes and effects of SOC loss and sediment erosion when evaluating impacts of global change on coastal ecosystems.

中文翻译：

---

海草过度放牧对沉积物侵蚀和碳汇能力的影响：目前的理解和未来的优先事项

我们搜索了评估海草过度放牧对沉积物侵蚀和沉积有机碳 (SOC) 影响的实验和观察性研究文献，发现大多数研究报告了显着影响，可能是由级联效应引起的（即海草芽损失 → 地下生物质降解 → 沉积物不稳定或 SOC 侵蚀）。然而，似乎对海草草地 SOC 侵蚀的程度和机制缺乏了解，我们强调需要进行研究以 (1) 定义发生的空间和时间尺度；(2) 评估地下生物量退化、沉积物特征和水动力暴露对沉积物稳定的影响；(3) 估算扰动后的温室气体排放量。