Fig. 3: Structural equation models (SEMs) for understanding the diversity association with blue carbon storage.

a–d Aboveground plant biomass carbon (a), Belowground plant biomass carbon (b), Sediment organic carbon (c), and Total ecosystem carbon (d). All four SEMs had a similar nonsignificant χ2 (Chi-Square) of 6.83 (P = 0.093) with a comparative fit index close to one (CFI; 0.99) and standardized root mean square residual close to zero (0.036) indicating no significant deviation from model and datasets at 3 degree of freedom. The lines with pink and black indicate a negative and positive association between the two covariables. Arrows with numbers indicate the standardized association of predictors with dependent variables. Numbers with percentages above boxes independent variables indicate their explained variance (Coefficient of determinant: R squared) by all the predictors. The paths value with star mark indicate their significance level (***:P < 0.001, **:P < 0.01, *:P < 0.05) while the insignificant paths were indicated as dotted line (P > 0.05).