Laminaria culture for reduction of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in salmon farm effluent

Finfish culture is a growing industry, and it causes a nutrient loading problem. To investigate the feasibility of an integrated culture of kelp and salmon, 15-cm long kelp (Laminaria saccharina) was grown in salmon culture effluent. The objectives were to test the effects of flow rate and kelp density on dissolved inorganic nitrogen removal (DIN), and DIN uptake and growth by the kelp. NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^– and DIN (NH ₄ ⁺ + NO ₃ ^– ) loadings were in the ranges 6.2–25.4, 12.9–40.0, 19.7–52.7 mol 1^–1, respectively, over the experimental period.Surplus uptake of nitrogen was not evident, because the C:N ratio (10–11) was constant in all experiments. During light periods, the kelp removed from 170–339 mol 1^–1 h^–1, and approximately 26–40% of the incoming DIN. The DIN uptake rate, based on daylight sampling periods, ranged between 6.1–22.5 mol g^–1 dry mass h^–1. The highest-flow rate, lowest-density tank had the highest DIN uptake rate. Debris from the fish effluent settling on the kelp thalli in the low-flow rate tanks affected uptake. Mean DIN uptake rate based on 3 days of growth for all flow-density combinations ranged between 5.4–8.3 mol g^–1 dry mass h^–1. The kelp utilized NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^– equally.The growth ranged between 6.5–9% d^–1. The biomass production ranged from 1–2 g per sampling period. The highest growth rate and biomass production were achieved by kelp in the highest-flow rate, lowest-density tank. Lower DIN concentrations due to higher DIN removal rates in the other tanks and light limitation due to self-shading in the high-density tanks were probably responsible for the reduced growth rate in these tanks.Author for correspondence     

Mass cultivation of seaweeds: current aspects and approaches

A word-wide overview is presented of the current state of mass cultivation of seaweeds. In comparison with a total annual commercial production of fish, crustaceans and molluscs of about 120 × 10⁶t, of which one-third is produced by aquaculture, the production of seaweeds is about 10 × 10⁶t wet weight; the majoirty of this comes from culture-based systems. The Top Ten Species List is headed by the kelp Laminaria japonica with 4.2 × 10⁶t fresh weight cultivated mainly in China. The productivity of a well-developed, multi-layered, perennial seaweed vegetation is as high as dense terrestrial vegetation, and even higher annual values for productivity have been reported for tank cultures of macroalgae. Epiphytes provide a major problem for the seaweed cultivator, but can be controlled by growing plants at high densities in rope cultures in the sea, or, more easily, in seaweed tank cultures on land. The main environmental problem of animal (fed) aquaculture is the discharge of nutrient loads into coastal waters, e.g., 35 kg N and 7 kg P t^–1 aquacultured fish. Integration of fish and seaweed farming may help to solve this problem, since seaweeds can remove up to 90% of the nutrient discharge from an intensive fish farm. Mass culture of commercially valuable seaweed species is likely to play an increasingly important role as a nutrient-removal system to alleviate eutrophication problems due to fed aquaculture.     

The efficiency and effectiveness of different sea urchin removal methods for kelp forest restoration

Sea urchin overgrazing has caused widespread phase shifts from kelp forests to “urchin barrens” on many temperate reefs, reducing habitat complexity, productivity, and biodiversity. Sea urchin removal is increasingly used for kelp restoration; however, few studies have quantified the efficiency and effectiveness of different removal methods, resulting in limited understanding of their practicality. In this study, the efficiency (removal rate) and effectiveness (proportion removed) of four removal methods were evaluated in northeastern New Zealand. We compared culling or collecting sea urchins by either SCUBA or freediving in 128 small-scale plots (25 m²). We also evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of culling in four large (1.6–2 ha) barren areas, scales relevant for restoration. On average, culling sea urchins was 1.9–4.4 times faster than collecting, and SCUBA was 1.5–3.3 times faster than freediving. Removal rates increased with sea urchin density, especially for culling on SCUBA, while freediving removal rates increased with experience. Effectiveness was lower in large-scale removals (86–93% of sea urchins ≥40 mm removed) compared to small-scale removals (98–99%), but sufficient for restoration objectives. Estimated time per area (using SCUBA culling) was similar across large-scale removals (49–57 hours/ha), despite an almost 2-fold variation in initial sea urchin densities (approximately 4–8 urchins/m²), suggesting area may better predict total removal time than simply number of sea urchins across low-density ranges. While sea urchin removal provides a rapid, feasible, and effective approach to restoring kelp in urchin barrens, restoration plans need to also address the causes of sea urchin overpopulation to ensure long-term benefits.     

Skinny kelp (Saccharina angustissima) provides valuable genetics for the biomass improvement of farmed sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima)

Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) is one of the most widely cultivated brown marine macroalgae species in the North Atlantic and the eastern North Pacific Oceans. To meet the expanding demands of the sugar kelp mariculture industry, selecting and breeding sugar kelp that is best suited to offshore farm environments is becoming necessary. To that end, a multi-year, multi-institutional breeding program was established by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources (MARINER) program. Hybrid sporophytes were generated using 203 unique gametophyte cultures derived from wild-collected Saccharina spp. for two seasons of farm trials (2019–2020 and 2020–2021). The wild sporophytes were collected from 10 different locations within the Gulf of Maine (USA) region, including both sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) and the skinny kelp species (Saccharina angustissima). We harvested 232 common farm plots during these two seasons with available data. We found that farmed kelp plots with skinny kelp as parents had an average increased yield over the mean (wet weight 2.48?±?0.90 kg m^?1 and dry weight 0.32?±?0.10 kg m^?1) in both growing seasons. We also found that blade length positively correlated with biomass in skinny kelp x sugar kelp crosses or pure sugar kelp crosses. The skinny x sugar progenies had significantly longer and narrower blades than the pure sugar kelp progenies in both seasons. Overall, these findings suggest that sugar x skinny kelp crosses provide improved yield compared to pure sugar kelp crosses.

     

Migratory Atlantic salmon as vectors for the transfer of energy and nutrients between freshwater and marine environments

SUMMARY 1. Annual energy, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes across the river mouth by Atlantic salmon were estimated for 18 years (1976–94) in the Norwegian River Imsa. The total energy content of the emigrating smolts in each year varied considerably with a mean value of 237 × 10³ kJ. That of returning adults also varied between years with a mean value of 141 × 10⁴ kJ. One‐sea‐winter salmon (grilse) made up 65% of the total energy content of the spawners in the river. Dead carcasses remaining in the river after spawning were estimated to have a mean annual energy content of 175 × 10³ kJ. 2. The net annual energy flux from the sea to the river varied between 48 × 10³ kJ (1987) and 152 × 10⁴ kJ (1989) with a mean of 616 × 10³ kJ, and a coefficient of variation of 67%. Average net marine import of the returning adults was 83 × 10⁴ kJ year^?1 with a coefficient of variation of 52%. Mean annual export of C, N and P to sea by the smolts was 595, 131 and 22 kg, and by kelts 1535, 352 and 70 kg, respectively, whereas gross import via the adults was 3176 kg C, 735 kg N and 132 kg P. The annual flux across the river mouth was 1046 kg C, 253 kg N and 39 kg P. The net marine import were 1585 kg C, 371 kg N and 60 kg P. The net flux was estimated at 0.2% for nitrogen and 5% for phosphorus of the total river load. 3. The energy flux caused by Atlantic salmon spawning in the River Imsa was relatively high because the general nutrient load in the river is low. Thus, even though most Atlantic salmon survive spawning, their contribution to the nutrient flux in the river is significant.     

Effects of removing sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis): Stability of the barren state and succession of kelp forest recovery in the east Atlantic

Stability properties of the barren state of a kelp forest-sea urchin system were studied in northern Norway. The ability of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis to maintain high population densities and recover from perturbations, and the succession of kelp forest revegetation, were studied experimentally by reducing the sea urchin density on a barren skerry. Additional information was obtained from community changes following a natural, but patchy, sea urchin mortality that varied between sites. On the barren grounds, high sea urchin densities (30 50 per m²) is maintained by annual recruitment. Severe reductions of sea urchin densities initiated luxuriant kelp growth, while more moderate reductions allowed establishment of opportunistic algae (during spring and early summer), but no kelps. Succession of algal growth, after the severe decline in sea urchin densities, followed a predictable pattern. At first the substrate was colonized by filamentous algae, but within few weeks they were outcompeted by the fast growing kelp Laminaria saccharina. After 3–4 years of the removal experiment, the slower-growing, long-lived kelp L. hyperborea became increasingly dominant. Increased food availability after reduction in sea urchin density led to increased individual growth of the remaining sea urchins. However, the population density did not increase, neither from recruitment nor immigration from adjacent areas with high sea urchin densities. Possibly, early establishment of a dense kelp stand, may represent a breakpoint in the ability of sea urchins to reestablish a barren state. The ability of L. saccharina quickly to invade and monopolize an area may have both positive and negative effects on the succession towards the climax L. hyperborea kelp forest. Competitive interactions may slow the process, but development of a dense stand of L. saccharina will also reduce grazing risk on scattered recruits of the more slowly growing L. hyperborea.     

Macroalgal farming in the sea: water motion and nitrate uptake

A better understanding of water motion effects on nutrient uptake by marine crop plants should make it possible to farm the sea more effectively. Farms in China, Japan and the Philippines now grow plants on slack lines or nets that move with passing waves and currents. Nutrient uptake rates are increased onLaminaria farms in China by adding nitrogen-containing fertilizer. In contrast, forests of the giant kelp,Macrocystis grow in California at low nutrient levels without fertilization. The giant kelp, compared as a structure with the slack Chinese farms, has float-supported, spring-like stipes that stretch and recoil as waves pass. This motion seems likely to enhance flow over the thallus surface. In thus study we modified flow around kelp blades in a water tunnel in the laboratory by changing orifice plates, and flow around Chinese-style long-line farms in the sea by tightening them under various sea conditions. Our measurements suggest that if marine farms were designed and operated to increase water movement over the plants being grown, their rates of nutrient uptake, and growth would increase.This paper was presented at the Symposium on Applied Phycology at the Fourth International Phycological Congress, Duke University.     

Large-Scale Geographic Variation in Distribution and Abundance of Australian Deep-Water Kelp Forests

Despite the significance of marine habitat-forming organisms, little is known about their large-scale distribution and abundance in deeper waters, where they are difficult to access. Such information is necessary to develop sound conservation and management strategies. Kelps are main habitat-formers in temperate reefs worldwide; however, these habitats are highly sensitive to environmental change. The kelp Ecklonia radiate is the major habitat-forming organism on subtidal reefs in temperate Australia. Here, we provide large-scale ecological data encompassing the latitudinal distribution along the continent of these kelp forests, which is a necessary first step towards quantitative inferences about the effects of climatic change and other stressors on these valuable habitats. We used the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) facility of Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) to survey 157,000 m² of seabed, of which ca 13,000 m² were used to quantify kelp covers at multiple spatial scales (10–100 m to 100–1,000 km) and depths (15–60 m) across several regions ca 2–6° latitude apart along the East and West coast of Australia. We investigated the large-scale geographic variation in distribution and abundance of deep-water kelp (>15 m depth) and their relationships with physical variables. Kelp cover generally increased with latitude despite great variability at smaller spatial scales. Maximum depth of kelp occurrence was 40–50 m. Kelp latitudinal distribution along the continent was most strongly related to water temperature and substratum availability. This extensive survey data, coupled with ongoing AUV missions, will allow for the detection of long-term shifts in the distribution and abundance of habitat-forming kelp and the organisms they support on a continental scale, and provide information necessary for successful implementation and management of conservation reserves.     

Kelp gulls Larus dominicanus as predators in kelp Macrocystis pyrifera beds

Summary Minimum daily consumption of bivalves Gaimardia sp by kelp gulls in a Macrocystis kelp bed at Porvenir, Tierra del Fuego, was calculated to be ca. 525 000 individuals, corresponding to an energy removal of ca. 21 kJ·m^-2·d^-1. This is far in excess of energy removal by any other higher-trophic-level predator in southern Chilean Macrocystis beds, but previous work has ignored kelp gulls as a component of the kelp bed community.     

Seasonal sea ice cover as principal driver of spatial and temporal variation in depth extension and annual production of kelp in Greenland

We studied the depth distribution and production of kelp along the Greenland coast spanning Arctic to sub‐Arctic conditions from 78 ºN to 64 ºN. This covers a wide range of sea ice conditions and water temperatures, with those presently realized in the south likely to move northwards in a warmer future. Kelp forests occurred along the entire latitudinal range, and their depth extension and production increased southwards presumably in response to longer annual ice‐free periods and higher water temperature. The depth limit of 10% kelp cover was 9–14 m at the northernmost sites (77–78 ºN) with only 94–133 ice‐free days per year, but extended to depths of 21–33 m further south (73 ºN–64 ºN) where >160 days per year were ice‐free, and annual production of Saccharina longicruris and S. latissima, measured as the size of the annual blade, ranged up to sevenfold among sites. The duration of the open‐water period, which integrates light and temperature conditions on an annual basis, was the best predictor (relative to summer water temperature) of kelp production along the latitude gradient, explaining up to 92% of the variation in depth extension and 80% of the variation in kelp production. In a decadal time series from a high Arctic site (74 ºN), inter‐annual variation in sea ice cover also explained a major part (up to 47%) of the variation in kelp production. Both spatial and temporal data sets thereby support the prediction that northern kelps will play a larger role in the coastal marine ecosystem in a warmer future as the length of the open‐water period increases. As kelps increase carbon‐flow and habitat diversity, an expansion of kelp forests may exert cascading effects on the coastal Arctic ecosystem.     

A COMPARISON OF DRAGON KELP,EUALARIA FISTULOSA, (PHAEOPHYCEAE) FECUNDITY IN URCHIN BARRENS AND NEARBY KELP BEDS THROUGHOUT THE ALEUTIAN ARCHIPELAGO1

The Aleutian Archipelago coastal ecosystem has undergone a dramatic change in community composition during the past two decades. Following the removal of ～99% of the sea otters, Enhydra lutris, from the ecosystem, changes to the benthic communities resulted in widespread losses to most of the region’s kelp beds and corresponding increases in the prevalence of urchin barrens. Within the urchin barrens, the few kelps that have remained are exposed to elevated light, nutrients and currents, all of which may enhance their physiological condition and thus result in greater fecundity. To explore this further, we examined patterns of sporophyte fecundity in the dominant canopy‐forming kelp, Eualaria fistulosa, in both urchin barrens and in nearby kelp beds at seven Aleutian Islands spanning a range of 800 km. We found that the average weight of E. fistulosa sporophyll bundles was significantly greater on sporophytes occurring in the urchin barrens than in the nearby kelp beds. Furthermore, the average number of zoospores released per cm² of sporophyll area was also significantly greater in individuals from the urchin barrens than the nearby kelp beds. When these two metrics were combined, our results suggest that individual E. fistulosa sporophytes occurring in the urchin barrens may produce as many as three times more zoospores than individual E. fistulosa sporophytes occurring in the nearby kelp beds, and thus they may contribute disproportionately to the following year’s sporophyte recruitment in both urchin barrens and the adjacent kelp beds.     

Differences in proximate lipid composition,heavy metals,and mineral contents in bogue (Boops boops,Linnaueus, 1758) captured far away and directly at sea bass and sea bream cage farms

The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in proximate lipid composition, heavy metals, and mineral contents between bogue (Boops boops, Linnaeus, 1758) captured directly around and near a cage fish farm and those captured far away from it (“wild”). Wild fish were obtained from the fishery of the Aegean Sea and Northeastern Mediterranean. Fish were also caught at a distance of at least 100 meters away from the net cages using a commercial trammel set net. The fish captured near cages were taken at farms cultivating mainly sea bass and sea bream. Samples were taken in March 2016 to determine crude lipid content, moisture, and ash amounts. There were some differences between wild fish and near farm captured fish for both genders. Crude lipid contents of female wild fish and near farm captured fish were found to be higher than those in males (p < .05). The moisture contents of the males near the farms were higher than those in females. Results showed that the predominant macro minerals were potassium in females and males for both capture locations (near and far away from farms: range of 1070–1205 mg/kg). The near farm captured fish had a higher heavy metal content than those captured further away. This may be the result of environmental influences caused by the farm operations.     

How light and biomass density influence the reproduction of delayed Saccharina latissima gametophytes (Phaeophyceae)

Kelp life-cycle transitions are complex and susceptible to various (a)biotic controls. Understanding the microscopic part of the kelp's lifecycle is of key importance, as gametophytes form a critical phase influencing, among others, the distributional limits of the species. Many environmental controls have been identified that affect kelp gametogenesis, whose interactive effects can be subtle and counterintuitive. Here we performed a fully factorial experiment on the (interactive) influences of light intensity, light quality, and the Initial Gametophyte Density (IGD) on Saccharina latissima reproduction and vegetative growth of delayed gametophytes. A total of 144 cultures were followed over a period of 21 d. The IGD was a key determinant for reproductive success, with increased IGDs (≥0.04 mg DW · mL⁻¹) practically halting reproduction. Interestingly, the effects of IGDs were not affected by nutrient availability, suggesting a resource-independent effect of density on reproduction. The Photosynthetically Usable Radiation (PUR), overarching the quantitative contribution of both light intensity and light quality, correlated with both reproduction and vegetative growth. The PUR furthermore specifies that the contribution of light quality, as a lifecycle control, is a matter of absorbed photon flux instead of color signaling. We hypothesize that (i) the number of photons absorbed, independent of their specific wavelength, and (ii) IGD interactions, independent of nutrient availability, are major determinants of reproduction in S. latissima gametophytes. These insights help understand kelp gametophyte development and dispersal under natural conditions, while also aiding the control of in vitro gametophyte cultures.     

Kelp rafts in the Southern Ocean

Kelp rafts were surveyed during three summer traverses between Hobart and Macquarie Island (subAntarctic) to determine the potential for dispersal of kelp‐associated macroinvertebrates across the latitudes of 46–53°S. Rafts of Durvillaea antarctica dominated the sightings (94% of rafts) and extrapolations to the full Southern Ocean between these latitudes indicate a figure of over 70 million rafts afloat at any one time, 20 million of which support a holdfast, the habitat supporting the highest faunal diversity in attached kelp plants. In contrast, few, small rafts of Macrocystis pyrifera were observed. The potential for dispersal of fauna is presumed to be related to the species of kelp with which they are associated. Empirical studies of survival of animals while drifting at sea, and also on making land‐fall, are required to allow fuller interpretation of the significance of these findings.     

Climate and fishing drive regime shifts in consumer‐mediated nutrient cycling in kelp forests

Globally, anthropogenic pressures are reducing the abundances of marine species and altering ecosystems through modification of trophic interactions. Yet, consumer declines also disrupt important bottom‐up processes, like nutrient recycling, which are critical for ecosystem functioning. Consumer‐mediated nutrient dynamics (CND) is now considered a major biogeochemical component of most ecosystems, but lacking long‐term studies, it is difficult to predict how CND will respond to accelerating disturbances in the wake of global change. To aid such predictions, we coupled empirical ammonium excretion rates with an 18‐year time series of the standing biomass of common benthic macroinvertebrates in southern California kelp forests. This time series of excretion rates encompassed an extended period of extreme ocean warming, disease outbreaks, and the abolishment of fishing at two of our study sites, allowing us to assess kelp forest CND across a wide range of environmental conditions. At their peak, reef invertebrates supplied an average of 18.3 ± 3.0 µmol NH₄⁺ m^?2 hr^?1 to kelp forests when sea stars were regionally abundant, but dropped to 3.5 ± 1.0 µmol NH₄⁺ m^?2 hr^?1 following their mass mortality due to disease during a prolonged period of extreme warming. However, a coincident increase in the abundance of the California spiny lobster, Palinurus interupptus (Randall, 1840), likely in response to both reduced fishing and a warmer ocean, compensated for much of the recycled ammonium lost to sea star mortality. Both lobsters and sea stars are widely recognized as key predators that can profoundly influence community structure in benthic marine systems. Our study is the first to demonstrate their importance in nutrient cycling, thus expanding their roles in the ecosystem. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of warming events, and rising human populations are intensifying fishing pressure in coastal ecosystems worldwide. Our study documents how these projected global changes can drive regime shifts in CND and fundamentally alter a critical ecosystem function.     

Net ground speed of downstream migrating radio-tagged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) smolts in relation to environmental factors

The downstream migration of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) and sea trout smolt (S. trutta L.) was investigated using radio telemetry in the spring of 1999 and 2000. Forty wild sea trout smolts, 20 F1 sea trout smolts, 20 hatchery salmon smolts and 20 salmon smolts from river stockings were radio tagged and released in the Danish River Lilleaa. The downstream migration of the different groups of fish was monitored by manual tracking and by three automatic listening stations. The downstream migration of radio tagged smolts of both species occurred concurrently with their untagged counterparts. The diel migration pattern of the radio tagged smolts was predominantly nocturnal in both species. Wild sea trout smolt migrated significantly faster than both the F1 trout and the introduced salmon. There was no correlation between net ground speed, gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity or fish length in any of the different groups. The migration speed of wild sea trout smolts was positively correlated with water discharge in both years. In F1 sea trout smolts, migration speed was positively correlated with temperature in 1999. The migration speed of salmon smolts did not correlate to any of the investigated parameters.     

Production, use and fate of Chilean brown seaweeds: re-sources for a sustainable fishery

Chile is an important producer of brown seaweeds representing 10% of world supply. Landings of Chilean kelp fluctuated between 40,000 t.year⁻¹ in the early ‘80s to 250,000 t.year⁻¹ more recently. Commercialized algae come from natural populations and no mass-cultures of involved species have been established. Four species of brown algae are commercially collected in the country: Lessonia trabeculata, L. nigrescens, Macrocystis pyrifera and M. integrifolia. Since 2000, the demand of alginate sources and food for cultivated abalones dramatically raised the harvesting of these species. Direct evaluations of Lessonia spp. and Macrocystis standing-stocks were made along 700 km of coast in northern Chile. Lessonia spp. estimated populations exceed 900,000 t, whereas M. integrifolia does not exceed 300 t. The insights provided indicate that sustainability of Chilean kelp subjected to intense harvesting would require management programs including the following bio-ecological recommendations: (1) to harvest the entire plant including the holdfast; (2) to harvest plants larger than 20 cm in diameter; (3) to harvest plants sparsely, selecting mayor specimens; (4) rotation of harvesting areas; and (5) for Macrocystis, to cut the canopy 1–2 m from the surface. They must be implemented in a National Program of Kelp Management, elaborated by government, scientists, fisherman, and industry.     

Integrated seaweed cultivation on an abalone farm in South Africa

Land-based abalone aquaculture in South Africa, based on the local species Haliotis midae, started in the early 1990s and has grown rapidly in the last decade, with 13 commercial farms now producing over 850 t per annum. Over 6,000 t per annum of kelp Ecklonia maxima are now harvested for this purpose, and some kelp beds are reaching maximum sustainable limits. Research into seaweed aquaculture as feed (Ulva and some Gracilaria) for abalone started in the late 1990s on the southeast coast (where there are no kelp beds) using abalone waste water. A growing body of evidence suggests that a mixed diet of kelp plus other seaweeds can give growth rates at least as good as compound feed, and can improve abalone quality and reduce parasite loads. A pilot scale Ulva lactuca and abalone integrated recirculation unit using 25% recirculation was designed and built on the south west coast of South Africa using one 12,000-L abalone tank containing 13,200 15 ± 2.5 g abalone, connected to two 3,000-L seaweed tanks containing an initial starting biomass of 10 kg of seaweed, replicated 3 times. In an 18-month period, there were no significant differences in abalone health or growth rates, sediment build up and composition, mobile macro fauna densities and species between the recirculation or the flow-through units. Transfer of oxygen generated by the seaweeds to the abalone tanks was poor, resulting in the recirculated abalone tanks having lower (33%) dissolved oxygen concentrations than a comparable flow-through abalone unit. Seaweed nutrient content and specific growth rates in the units were comparable to seaweeds cultivated in fertilized effluent (SGR = 3.2 ± 3.4%.day⁻¹; Yield = 0.2 ± 0.19 kg.m².day⁻¹). Indications were that at this low recirculation ratio the seaweeds in the units were nutrient limited and that there were no negative effects to the abalone being cultivated in such a recirculation unit at this recirculation ratio.     

Disturbance and reef topography maintain high local diversity in Ecklonia radiata kelp forests

Disturbance of competitive‐dominant plant and algae canopies often lead to increased diversity of the assemblage. Kelp forests, particularly those of temperate Western Australia, are habitats with high alpha diversity. This study investigated the roles of broad‐scale canopy loss and local scale reef topography on structuring the kelp‐dominated macroalgal forests in Western Australia. Eighteen 314 m² circular areas were cleared of their Ecklonia radiata canopy and eighteen controls were established across three locations. The patterns of macroalgal recolonisation in replicate clearances were observed over a 34 month period. Macroalgal species richness initially increased after canopy removal with a turf of filamentous and foliose macroalgae dominating cleared areas for up to seven months. A dense Sargassum canopy dominated cleared areas from 11 to 22 months. By 34 months, partial recovery of the kelp canopy into cleared areas had occurred. Some cleared areas did not follow this trajectory but remained dominated by turfing, foliose and filamentous algae. As kelp canopies developed, the initial high species diversity declined but still remained elevated relative to undisturbed controls, even after 34 months. More complex reef topography was associated with greater variability in the algal assemblage between replicate quadrats suggesting colonising algae had a greater choice of microhabitats available to them on topographically complex reefs. Shading by canopies of either Sargassum spp. and E. radiata are proposed to highly influence the abundance of algae through competitive exclusion that is relaxed by disturbance of the canopy. Disturbance of the canopy in E. radiata kelp forests created a mosaic of different patch types (turf, Sargassum‐dominated, kelp‐dominated). These patch types were both transient and stable over the 34 months of this study, and are a potential contemporary process that maintains high species diversity in temperate kelp‐dominated reefs.     

Integration of consumer-targeted microalgal production with marine fish effluent biofiltration – a strategy for mariculture sustainability

EU regulations recommend effluent treatment and nutrient recycling for aquaculture sustainability, so a study was undertaken to provide base-line data for the integration of commercial fish-farm effluents with the production of microalgae. The project relates to a specific bivalve consumer (Tapes decussatus) and biofiltration. Effluent inorganic nutrient composition was assessed and evaluated as culture media for Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Tetraselmis suecica and Tetraselmis sp. Optimization of the microalgal compartment included studies on preparation of a simple medium, nutrient or dilution rate manipulation and nutrient removal. Cell harvest was increased chiefly by N correction (6-fold for Tetraselmis sp.) and semi-continuous or continuous operation (by a factor of 3 to 11). Nutrient removal efficiency was high for ammonium and nitrite-nitrogen (80–100%), depending on species, nutrient ratio (Si correction for P. tricornutum) and culture regime for nitrate (41–100%) or phosphorus (21–99%). Data obtained under cyclostat cultivation (yields of 1.38 and 0.50×10⁶ P. tricornutum or Tetraselmis sp. cells mL⁻¹ d⁻¹ and nutrient uptake rates of 2.32 mg N L⁻¹ d⁻¹ and 0.96 mg P L⁻¹ d⁻¹) were used to show clam production and simultaneous wastewater treatment possibilities through the proposed fish-microalgae-clam integrated aquaculture system.