Food and habitat choice of the isopod Idotea baltica in the northeastern Baltic Sea

The isopod Idotea baltica is the most important benthic herbivore in the Baltic Sea. There exists a significant correlation between the distribution of the adult isopod and the belts of bladder wrack Fucus vesiculosus. However, following the eutrophication induced blooms of the filamentous macroalga Pilayella littoralis and the disappearance of F. vesiculosus a notable increase in idoteid abundances has been observed. The aim of this paper was (1) to evaluate experimentally whether F. vesiculosus provides either food, shelter or both to the isopods and (2) to estimate the role of associated filamentous algae in the habitat selection process. Amongst six abundant macroalgal species, about 50% of isopod population was attracted to F. vesiculosuscovered with the filamentous algae P. littoralis. The majority of the remaining part of the population was either swimming freely or attracted to non-epiphytic P. littoralis. When both live algae and artificial substrata were provided, P. littoralis growing on artificial substrata was clearly preferred by the isopods over epiphyte-free F. vesiculosus. In the grazing experiment where I. baltica was allowed to choose between F. vesiculosus and P. littoralis the latter contributed practically 100% of the diet of the isopod. The results indicate the importance of P. littoralis as a food item and F. vesiculosus as a shelter for I. baltica.     

Responses of growth and phlorotannins in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fucus vesiculosus</Emphasis> to nutrient enrichment and herbivory

Discharge from anthropogenic sources may modify both macroalgal growth patterns and resource allocation to carbon based secondary compounds, thereby affecting their susceptibility for herbivory. We tested the effect of eutrophication in terms of nutrient enhancement on growth and phlorotannin concentration of Fucus vesiculosus by conducting manipulative experiments in the field and mesocosms. In the field experiment we utilised fish farms as nutrient sources and in the mesocosm-experiment we manipulated ambient nutrient levels and occurrence of the herbivorous isopod Idotea baltica. Vicinity of a fish farm affected neither growth nor the phlorotannin concentration of Fucus but increased the amount of epiphytes growing on Fucus. Other organisms such as epiphytic filamentous algae and periphyton, which are more capable of quickly utilizing excess nutrients, may restrain the direct effects of nutrient enhancement on Fucus. In a manipulative mesocosm experiment, neither nutrient enrichment nor occurrence of herbivores affected phlorotannin concentration implying lack of induced defences, at least in terms of increasing phlorotannin concentration. Feeding of thallus decreased the growth rate of algae, but the number of reproductive organs, receptacles, was not affected by herbivory. The negative effect of herbivory on the amount of apical tips tended to be stronger under nutrient enriched conditions. We conclude that eutrophication processes, in terms of nutrient enrichment, does not have strong direct effect on growth or phlorotannin production of F. vesiculosus. However, there may be important indirect consequences. First, herbivory may be targeted more to apical parts of the thallus under eutrophicated conditions. Second, the result that Fucus growing close to nutrient sources were smaller than those in control areas may reflect differences in mortality schedules of algae between eutrophicated and control areas.     

Nitrogen availability limits phosphorus uptake in an intertidal macroalga

Nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limit primary productivity, and recent anthropogenic activities are changing the availability of these nutrients, leading to alterations in the type and magnitude of nutrient limitation. Recent work highlights the potential for N and P to interact to limit primary production in terrestrial and freshwater systems. However, mechanisms underlying co-limitation are not well described. Documentation of ambient nutrient levels and tissue nutrients of the intertidal macroalga Fucus vesiculosus for 2 years in the southern Gulf of Maine, USA, indicates that N availability may be impacting the ability of F. vesiculosus to access P, despite relatively high ambient P concentrations. To experimentally validate these observations, F. vesiculosus individuals were enriched with N or P for 6 weeks, followed by an uptake experiment to examine how the interactions between these nutrients affected macroalgal N and P uptake efficiency. Results illustrate that exposure of seaweed to different nutrient regimes influenced nutrient uptake efficiency. Notably, seaweeds enriched with N displayed the highest P uptake efficiency at low, biologically relevant, P concentrations. Our results confirm that N availability may be mediating the ability of primary producers to access P. These interactions between limiting nutrients have implications for not only the growth and functioning of primary producers who rely directly on these nutrients but also the entire communities that they support.     

Guano deposition and nutrient enrichment in the vicinity of planktivorous and piscivorous seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

The crucial role of seabirds in the enrichment of nutrient-poor polar terrestrial ecosystem is well-known. However, no studies have examined the potentially different impacts associated with piscivorous and planktivorous bird colonies on the surrounding tundra soils. Therefore, we compared guano deposition and physical and chemical parameters of soil near two large seabird colonies, one of planktivorous little auks (Alle alle) and the other comprising piscivorous Brunnich’s guillemots (Uria lomvia) and kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla). The two colonies generated similar levels of guano deposition, with the intensity of deposition decreasing away from the colony. Guano deposition adjacent to both colonies was considerably higher than that in control areas. The increased guano supply around colonies significantly enhanced soil conductivity, nitrogen (NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺), potassium (K⁺), and phosphate (PO₄ ^3?) ion concentrations and led to reduced pH values. Guano deposition explained 84 % (piscivorous colony) and 67 % (planktivorous colony) of the total variation in the tested soil parameters. Planktivore and piscivore colonies affected adjacent tundra in different ways. The phosphate content and pH value of soil influenced by piscivores were significantly higher than values measured in planktivore-influenced soil. The gradient of guano deposition and associated ion content in the soil decreased more rapidly with distance from the piscivore colony. Climate-induced changes in populations of planktivorous and piscivorous seabirds are expected in the study region and may therefore have substantial consequential effects on Arctic terrestrial ecosystems.     

Effects of filamentous algae and deposited matter on the survival of Fucus vesiculosus L. germlings in the Baltic Sea

As a result of increased nutrient levels in the Baltic Sea during thepast 50 years, mass developments of filamentous algae have become a commonfeature along the Swedish east coast and deposition of organic matter has alsoincreased. To test whether these two factors have any effects on the early lifestages of Fucus vesiculosus a number of laboratory andfield studies were conducted. The amount of epilithic and epiphytic filamentousalgae on F. vesiculosus and the amount of deposited matterin the littoral zone were quantified during the two reproductive periods ofF. vesiculosus, early summer (May–June) and lateautumn (September–October). Both filamentous algae (Cladophoraglomerata) and deposited matter (introduced either before or aftersettlement of fertilized eggs) were shown to significantly decrease the numberof surviving germlings. The survival of germlings seeded on stones withfilamentous algae, or seeded on culture dishes concurrently with the lowestconcentration of deposited matter (0.1 g dm^–2),was 5% or less. In the field, the amount of filamentous algae was significantlyhigher during F. vesiculosus summer reproduction, whereasthe amount of deposited matter collected in traps was significantly higherduring the period of autumn reproduction. The greatest biomass of filamentousalgae was observed at sheltered sites. Based on the negative effects offilamentous algae and deposited matter on Fucusrecruitmentand the observation of local and seasonal differences in abundance offilamentous algae and deposition, we suggest that the prerequisites for thesurvival of either summer or autumn-reproducing populations of F.vesiculosus in the Baltic Sea may differ locally.     

Effects ofFucus vesiculosus covering intertidal mussel beds in the Wadden Sea

The brown algaFucus vesiculosus formamytili (Nienburg) Nienhuis covered about 70% of mussel bed (Mytilus edulis) surface area in the lower intertidal zone of Königshafen, a sheltered sandy bay near the island of Sylt in the North Sea. Mean biomass in dense patches was 584 g ash-free dry weight m^?2 in summer. On experimental mussel beds, fucoid cover enhanced mud accumulation and decreased mussel density. The position of mussels underneath algal canopy was mainly endobenthic (87% of mussels with >1/3 of shell sunk into mud). In the absence of fucoids, mussels generated epibenthic garlands (81% of mussels with <1/3 of shell buried in mud). Mussel density underneath fucoid cover was 40 to 73% of mussel density without algae. On natural beds, barnacles (Balanidae), periwinkles (Littorina littorea) and crabs (particularly juveniles ofCarcinus maenas) were significantly less abundant in the presence of fucoids, presumably because most of the mussels were covered with sediment, whereas in the absence of fucoids, epibenthic mussel clumps provided substratum as well as interstitial hiding places. The endobenthic macrofauna showed little difference between covered and uncovered mussel beds. On the other hand, grazing herbivores — the flat periwinkleLittorina mariae, the isopodJaera albifrons and the amphipodsGammarus spp. — were more abundant at equivalent sites with fucoid cover. The patchy growth ofFucus vesiculosus on mussel beds in the intertidal Wadden Sea affects mussels and their epibionts negatively, but supports various herbivores and increases overall benthic diversity.     

The impact of infauna (Nereis diversicolor and Saduria entomon) on the redistribution and biomass of macroalgae on marine soft bottoms

Mass occurrence of macroalgae is a phenomenon attributed to eutrophication, and can lead to drastic changes in the benthic communities on soft bottoms. While the negative effects of macroalgal blooms on the macrozoobenthos have been studied extensively, the effects of the infauna on the macroalgal material have not previously been studied in the northern Baltic Sea. The impact of the infaunal species Nereis diversicolor and Saduria entomon on the burial and biomass of Enteromorpha spp., Cladophora glomerata and Fucus vesiculosus, was assessed through a series of microcosm experiments. Results show that S. entomon did not significantly affect the biomass of the algae, nor actively relocate them. N. diversicolor redistributed the filamentous green algae into the sediment, down to 4 cm at most, and decreased the biomass of the filamentous algae by 140-360%. Furthermore, the loss of biomass promoted in presence of polychaetes proved to be a density dependent process. The effect on the perennial macroalgal species, F. vesiculosus, was less clear, as no redistribution or significant change in macroalgal biomass was observed. Our findings show that infauna can contribute to a loss in macroalgal biomass through feeding and burrowing activities leading to the redistribution and incorporation of the detritus into bioturbated sediment.     

Lipid Metabolism in the Brown Marine Algae Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum

Lipid metabolism and environmental effects on this process havebeen studied in the marine brown algae Fucus vesiculosus andAscophyllum nodosum. These algae showed very similar patternsof lipid metabolism during 24 h incubations. Labelling from[1-¹⁴C]acetate showed the major labelled lipids to be the ß-alanineether lipid and the neutral lipid fraction in both algae. Ofthe glycolipids, only sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerol was welllabelled and the phosphoglycerides were all poorly labelled.The major labelled fatty acids were palmitate and oleate, againin both algae, although Fucus vesiculosus also showed significantlabelling of stearate and behenate. Although the amount of fattyacid labelling increased with time, the proportion of labelin palmitate and oleate remained approximately constant. Verylong chain fatty acids (arachidic, behenic) were increasinglylabelled with time. Lowered incubation temperatures decreased labelling of the saturatedfatty acids. Cu²⁺ increased the proportion of oleate labelledin both algae, and of linoleate in Fucus vesiculosus. This cationdecreased the percentage labelling of stearate and myristatein Ascophyllum nodosum. Lipid metabolism in Ascophyllum nodosumwas more sensitive to raised Cu²⁺ levels than in Fucus vesiculosus Key words: Acyl lipid metabolism, Fucus vesiculosus, temperature effects, Ascophyllum nodosum, copper pollution     

The cell organization underlying structural colour is involved in Flavobacterium IR1 predation

Flavobacterium IR1 is a gliding bacterium with a high degree of colonial organization as a 2D photonic crystal, resulting in vivid structural coloration when illuminated. Enterobacter cloacae B12, an unrelated bacterium, was isolated from the brown macroalga Fucus vesiculosus from the same location as IR1. IR1 was found to be a predator of B12. A process of surrounding, infiltration, undercutting and killing of B12 supported improved growth of IR1. A combination of motility and capillarity facilitated the engulfment of B12 colonies by IR1. Predation was independent of illumination. Mutants of IR1 that formed photonic crystals less effectively than the wild type were reduced in predation. Conversely, formation of a photonic crystal was not advantageous in resisting predation by Rhodococcus spp. PIR4. These observations suggest that the organization required to create structural colour has a biological function (facilitating predation) but one that is not directly related to the photonic properties of the colony. This work is the first experimental evidence supporting a role for this widespread type of cell organization in the Flavobacteriia.Subject terms: Water microbiology, Microbial ecology     

How does eutrophication affect different life stages of Fucus vesiculosus in the Baltic Sea? – a conceptual model

During the last few decades the perennial seaweed Fucus vesiculosus L. has rapidly declined in large parts of the Baltic Sea. Indirect effects of eutrophication, such as increased turbidity, sedimentation, grazing and occurrence of filamentous algae, have generally been suggested as major factors causing the decline. It is only recently, however, that the effects of these factors have been experimentally tested and here we summarise these results in a new conceptual model. In many areas, it might be desirable to enhance the recovery of Fucus artificially, as the natural rate of re-establishment of this important macroalga is limited both in time and space. To be able to optimise and evaluate the potential of restoring Fucus belts in eutrophicated areas, we need to know how eutrophication affects critical steps in its life cycle, such as the attachment, germination and early growth of germlings. We suggest that more attention should be given to the survival of early post-settlement stages in Fucusas they are crucial for the maintenance and re-establishment of populations. We also stress that the two reproductive periods that the species exhibits are included in discussions concerning effects of eutrophication on Fucus, as it is likely that the outcome of reproduction will differ between the two reproductive periods. In the new conceptual model we distinguish between the effects on adult and juvenile life stages and we add the two reproductive strategies of Fucus.     

The invasive mud crab enforces a major shift in a rocky littoral invertebrate community of the Baltic Sea

In rocky littoral communities, intense herbivory allows for the occurrence of trophic cascades where higher trophic levels influence producer communities. Invasive predators can be especially effective in imposing trophic cascades. The North American mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii is a recent invader in the Baltic Sea, with an expanding distribution range. Here, we document the effects of mud crab on the native invertebrate community associated with the key foundation species Fucus vesiculosus. During the initial 3 years of invasion, mud crab abundance in F. vesiculosus increased from 2 % to about 25 % of the algae being inhabited by crabs. Simultaneously, the invertebrate community underwent a major transition: Species richness and diversity dropped as a consequence of decreasing abundance and the loss of certain taxa. The abundance of gastropods decreased by 99 % and that of crustaceans by 75 %, while chironomids completely disappeared. Consequently, the community dominated earlier by herbivorous and periphyton-grazing gastropods and crustaceans shifted to a mussel dominated community with overall low abundances of herbivores. At the same time filamentous epiphytic algae prospered and the growth rate of F. vesiculosus decreased. We suggest that this shift in the invertebrate community may have far reaching consequences on ecosystem functioning. These arise through changes in the strength of producer–herbivore interaction, caused by mud crab predation on the dominating grazer taxa. This interaction is a major determinant of ecological function of ecosystems, i.e. productivity and energy flow to higher trophic levels. Therefore, the decrease in herbivory can be expected to have a major structuring role in producer communities of the rocky littoral macroalgal assemblages.     

Seasonal changes in situ grazing of the mesoherbivores Idotea baltica and Gammarus oceanicus on the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus and Pylaiella littoralis in the central Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

The in situ grazing experiments were performed in the shallow water rocky habitat of the northern Baltic Sea during ice-free season 2002. In the experiments the effects of algal species and choice on the grazing of the mesoherbivores Idotea baltica (Pallas) and Gammarus oceanicus Segerstråle were tested. Salinity, temperature, concentration of nutrients in water and macroalgae and net production of macroalgae were considered as random effects in the analysis. The invertebrate feeding rate was mainly a function of the net photosynthetic activity of Pylaiella littoralis (L.) Kjellman and Fucus vesiculosus L. Feeding rate increased significantly with decreasing algal photosynthetic activity. When the two algal species were incubated together invertebrates fed primarily on P. littoralis. Low selectivity towards P. littoralis coincided with its high photosynthetic activity. The presence of F. vesiculosus did not modify the invertebrate feeding on P. littoralis. The results indicated that (1) the grazing on F. vesiculosus depended on the availability of P. littoralis, (2) the photosynthetic activity of algae explained the best the variation in grazing rate and (3) the grazers are not likely to control the early outbreak of filamentous algae in the northern Baltic Sea by avoiding young and photosynthetically active algae. The likely mechanism behind the relationship is that the increased photosynthetic activity of macroalgae coincides with their higher resistance to herbivory.     

Factors organizing rocky intertidal communities of New England: Herbivory and predation in sheltered bays

In New England, U.S.A., shores exposed to severe wave action are dominated by the common blue mussel Mytilus edulis L. while moderately protected areas are covered with perennial algae. It is thought that algae are limited by mussels which are a superior competitor. Because the effectiveness of predators is inhibited by wave activity, it is assumed that the rate of predation, which varies across this environmental gradient, accounts for the observed distribution of mussels and algae.Shores along sheltered bays appear to be an exception to this pattern and this study addresses some of the possible causes. In New England bays, mussels and barnacles Semibalanus balanoides (L.) are the most common organisms on the solid surfaces in the lower intertidal zone. Perennial macroalgae, such as Chondrus crispas Stackhouse and Fucus vesiculosus L., are rare. The distribution and abundance of species differs from that on moderately protected shores and is similar to very exposed shores which are dominated by mussels and barnacles.Herbivory by the common periwinkle Littorina littorea (L.) limits the abundance of F. vesiculosus and indirectly affects the success of mussels. During 4 years of experimental manipulations, F. vesiculosus rarely recruited in the presence of periwinkles but dominated experimental surfaces if periwinkles were excluded. When experimental surfaces with F. vesiculosus, which had been protected from herbivory for > 1 year, were exposed to natural conditions, herbivores cleared most of the surfaces within several months. Recruitment by barnacles and mussels was higher when periwinkles were excluded. However, the effect of periwinkles on mussels was indirect; the snails reduced barnacle success and thus reduced mussel recruitment which was enhanced by the surface irregularities provided by barnacles.The occurrence of mussels in sheltered bays is not due to a lack of predators. Predators were commonly seen at all sites. Most mussels on experimental surfaces were removed <4 wk when surfaces were exposed to natural levels of predation. Experiments do not provide an explanation for the occurrence of mussels, although the enhancement of mussel recruitment by barnacles suggests that the availability of settlement sites may be important.     

Responses of a eutrophic pond community to separate and combined effects of N:P supply and planktivorous fish: a mesocosm experiment

We conducted an outdoor mesocosm experiment of factorial design consisting of three levels of nutrient supply (no nutrient addition and additions of nitrogen and phosphorus in ratios of 10:1 and 45:1) cross-classified with two levels of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) (presence and absence). Nutrient supply significantly affected total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), TN: TP ratio, turbidity, Secchi depth, phytoplankton chlorophyll, filamentous blue-green algae, periphyton chlorophyll, Asplanchna and non-predatory rotifers. The presence of bluegill significantly increased TP, turbidity, diatoms, unicellular green algae, colonial blue-green algae, filamentous blue-green algae, periphyton chlorophyll, Asplanchna and non-predatory rotifers, and decreased Secchi depth, cladocerans, cyclopoid copepodids, copepod nauplii and chironomid tube densities. Nutrient supply and fish effects were not independent of each other as shown by significant nutrient × fish interaction effects for TP, Secchi depth, filamentous blue-green algae, periphyton chlorophyll, Asplanchna and non-predatory rotifers.     

Influence of Eutrophication on the Distribution of Phytobenthic Plant and Animal Communities

A short review of effects of eutrophication on the phytobenthic communities in the Baltic Sea is given. Future monitoring aspects are briefly discussed. Local changes in phytobenthic communities outside point sources (e.g. industry outlets, enclosed bays receiving effluents from land runoff etc.) are easily detected and can be due to nutrient enrichment and/or toxic substances. In recent decades, changes have been reported from apparently unaffected areas. The disappearance of Fucus vesiculosus is the most conspicuous. The cause of events is similar in those areas: increases in epiphytes give increases in grazer populations. The thallus of algae is heavily grazed upon. The epiphytes shade their host and filamentous algae compete for space, disturbing recruitment and leading to a decrease in diversity. The rapid response of opportunistic filamentous algae on nutrient enrichment and changing herbivore pressure can easily be observed. Therefore, repeated surveillance in defined areas, which integrates the environmental response in both animal and plant communities, may be a fruitful approach for detecting large scale eutrophication of the Baltic Sea.     

Seasonal variation in the antifouling defence of the temperate brown alga Fucus vesiculosus

The important role of marine epibiotic biofilms in the interactions of the host with its environment has been acknowledged recently. Previous studies with the temperate brown macroalga Fucus vesiculosus have identified polar and non-polar compounds recovered from the algal surface that have the potential to control such biofilms. Furthermore, both the fouling pressure and the composition of the epibiotic bacterial communities on this macroalga varied seasonally. The extent to which this reflects a seasonal fluctuation of the fouling control mechanisms of the host is, however, unexplored in an ecological context. The present study investigated seasonal variation in the anti-settlement activity of surface extracts of F. vesiculosus against eight biofilm-forming bacteria isolated from rockweed-dominated habitats, including replication of two populations from two geographically distant sites. The anti-settlement activity at both sites was found to vary temporally, reaching a peak in summer/autumn. Anti-settlement activity also showed a consistent and strong difference between sites throughout the year. This study is the first to report temporal variation of antifouling defence originating from ecologically relevant surface-associated compounds.     

Surface-associated fucoxanthin mediates settlement of bacterial epiphytes on the rockweed Fucus vesiculosus

The chemical defence against microfouling in the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus was investigated and an inhibitor of bacterial settlement was isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation of non-polar surface extracts. UV-vis and mass spectrometry were used to identify the compound as the carotenoid fucoxanthin. The metabolite was tested at the natural concentration (in a surface volume based assay) against the settlement of four bacterial strains isolated from F. vesiculosus and 11 strains isolated from co-occurring algae and marine sediment. Surface concentrations between 1.4 and 6 μg cm^?2 resulted in 50% inhibition of four of these isolates, which were studied in more detail using a surface area-based assay, while a fifth isolate proved to be less sensitive. The presence of fucoxanthin on the surface of F. vesiculosus was demonstrated with two different surface extraction methods. Fucoxanthin was detected at concentrations between 0.7 and 9 μg cm^?2 on the algal surface. Fucoxanthin was still present at the algal surface after removal of associated diatoms through mechanical cleaning and germanium dioxide treatment and was thus mainly produced by F. vesiculosus rather than by diatoms. Thus, the photosynthetic pigment fucoxanthin appears to be ecologically relevant as a surface-associated antimicrobial agent, acting against the settlement of bacteria on the surface of the macroalga F. vesiculosus.     

Occurrence of steryl glycosides and acylated steryl glycosides in some marine algae

There is some controversy concerning the presence of steryl glycosides and acylated steryl glycosides in eucaryotic algae. These two classes of sterol compounds were investigated in species belonging to the three major groups of eucaryotic algae: green algae (Ulva gigantea, Cladophora rupestris), brown algae (Fucus vesiculosus, Ascophyllum nodosum), and red algae (Rhodymenia palmata, Porphyridium sp.). All these algae contain both steryl glycosides and acylated steryl glycosides. The sterol components of these compounds vary according to the alga but they are always the same as the free sterols of the alga in question. The most common sugar moiety is glucose. In the acylated steryl glycosides, the fatty acid is mainly palmitic acid. The percentage of these compounds (as a percentage of the total sterol content) is often low.     

Induction and genetic identification of a callus‐like growth developed in the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus

Induction of an axenic filamentous‐like callus growth from the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus is described. Different treatments were investigated in various combinations to develop axenic cultures based on identification of surface symbionts via 18S ribosomal RNA. Moreover, viability was confirmed after such processes by 2,3,5‐triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay that demonstrated an average viability of 29%, relative to nonsterilized explants. After six weeks of a phototrophic cultivation on artificial sea water‐12‐nitrilotriacetic acid (0.5% w/v agar), a filamentous‐like callus growth was observed, which was identified genetically through its mitochondrial DNA after subculturing. Achievement of confirmed marine callus cultures might enrich old previously established blue biotechnology techniques and open new chances for cultivation of brown algae for production of good manufacturing practice‐compliant bioproducts.     

Quantitative studies on brown algal phenols. I. Estimation of absolute polyphenol content of Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. and Fucus vesiculosus (L.)

Methods for estimating the absolute polyphenol content of the brown algae Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. and Fucus vesiculosus (L.) have been developed and tested. Polyphenols were extracted almost quantitatively from Ascophyllum nodosum using aqueous acetone, whereas this procedure was somewhat less efficient with Fucus vesiculosus. Colorimetric methods based on the Folin-Denis reagent, Brentamine Fast Red 2G Salt, and vanillin-H₂SO₄ were applied to acetone-free extracts for determination of polyphenol content relative to suitable reference compounds. Gravimetric methods based on hide powder and on haemoglobin were employed to derive ‘estimation factors’ (EFs) which allow calculation of the absolute polyphenol content from the relative polyphenol content. The values calculated for absolute polyphenol content are considered to be reasonably accurate, despite imprecisions in the methods and despite often large standard deviations, and re-emphasize the potential physiological and ecological significance of brown algal polyphenols. Although the precise EFs calculated here are not valid for other brown algae, the methods are considered to be generally applicable to other Phaeophyceae.