Abstract
Mangrove forests provide critical ecological and societal benefits, including shoreline stabilization, habitat provision, storm surge protection, and carbon sequestration. This study evaluated carbon pools across restored and naturally disturbed nonrestored mangrove sites in an urban-adjacent coastal preserve in Palmetto Bay, Florida. Forest structure was quantified using in situ transects, and species-specific above- and belowground biomass was estimated using allometric equations, while soil cores were collected to assess soil organic carbon stocks. Nonrestored sites exhibited greater structural complexity and aboveground biomass dominated by Rhizophora mangle, whereas restored sites showed more even and consistent structural growth and biomass distribution. Soil carbon stocks were comparable between restored areas (116.51 Mg C ha⁻¹ [ SD 46.64]) and the nonrestored site (131.25 Mg C ha⁻¹ [SD 62.51]), and total ecosystem carbon storage ranged from approximately 37.84 to 259.04 Mg C ha⁻¹ across sampling locations. Carbon storage variability was driven primarily by land-use and disturbance history rather than restoration status alone. These findings suggest that although restored mangrove forests may exhibit delayed structural development relative to natural stands, they can recover substantial soil carbon stocks, highlighting the importance of site history in shaping long-term blue carbon potential. Future research should further examine disturbance–carbon interactions and dynamics following extreme weather events to better understand ecosystem resilience and carbon recovery trajectories.