Investigation of the antifouling constituents from the brown alga Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt

One of the most promising alternatives to toxic heavy metal-based paints is offered by the development of antifouling coatings in which the active ingredients are compounds naturally occurring in marine organisms and operating as natural antisettlement agents. Sessile marine macroalgae are remarkably free from settlement by fouling organisms. They produce a wide variety of chemically active metabolites in their surroundings, potentially as an aid to protect themselves against other settling organisms. In this study, a dichloromethane extract from the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum was tested in situ and, after 2 months of immersion, showed less fouling organisms on paints in which the extract was included, compared to paints containing only copper after 2 months of immersion. No barnacles or mussels have been observed on the test rack. Identification by NMR and GC/MS of the effective compound revealed the abundance of palmitic acid, a commonly found fatty acid. Pure palmitic acid showed antibacterial activity at 44 μg mL⁻¹, and also inhibited the growth of the diatom Cylindrotheca closterium at low concentration (EC₅₀ = 45.5 μg mL⁻¹), and the germination of Ulva lactuca spores at 3 μg mL⁻¹. No cytotoxicity was highlighted, which is promising in the aim of the development of an environmentally friendly antifouling paint.     

Spatial and seasonal variation in density,reproductive status,length and phenolic content of the invasive brown macroalga Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt along the coast of Western Brittany (France)

The introduced macroalga Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt is currently observed along the coasts of Brittany. From February 2003 till June 2004, variations in density, reproductive status, length and phenolic content were assessed at three sites. Seasonal variability of the density was pronounced at two exposed sites (Fort Bloqué and Pointe du Diable), but absent at the sheltered site (Callot), where the macroalga was observed year-round. Thalli were generally longer in Summer (up to 73.2 ± 2.7 cm at Fort Bloqué), and had reproductive receptacles from May to September at Pointe du Diable, though only from June to September in the other stations (Callot and Fort Bloqué). Phenolic content was maximal during the reproductive period, which could be interpreted as chemical protection of the receptacles. Finally the collected data were used to explain the persistence of S. muticum and its proliferation in Brittany.     

Long-Term Field Study Reveals Subtle Effects of the Invasive Alga Sargassum muticum upon the Epibiota of Zostera marina

Invasive species can alter coastal ecosystems both directly, e.g. through competition for substratum and nutrients, and indirectly. Indirect effects may be mediated by creation of dissimilar or inimical habitats, changes in predator and/or prey assemblages, alterations in associated biota, and perturbations of water movement and thermal regimes. Previous studies have shown that invasive algae can modify native habitat architecture, disrupt intricately linked food webs and alter epibiotic assemblages. In the UK, the seagrass Zostera marina supports a diverse epibiotic assemblage, influencing key factors such as sediment dynamics, depositional regime and trophic linkages. Increasing encroachment of the invasive alga Sargassum muticum into seagrass meadows changes the physical and chemical characteristics of the local environment and creates the potential for changes in the epibionts associated with the seagrass blades, threatening the integrity of the seagrass ecosystem. We investigated the effects of S. muticum invasion upon the epibiota of Z. marina in a drowned river valley in SW England seasonally from spring to autumn over four years in an in-situ manipulative experiment, comparing permanent quadrats with and without artificially introduced S. muticum. Epibiota were weighed, identified to the most detailed operational taxonomic unit (OTU) possible, and unitary organisms were enumerated. Multivariate PERMANOVA+ analysis revealed significant differences in epibiont assemblages between Sargassum treatments. Linear mixed effects models indicated that differences in epibiota assemblage composition were not reflected as significant differences in mean biomass per sample, or number of epibiont OTUs per sample. We conclude that S. muticum invasion into Z. marina meadows may significantly alter the species composition and abundance distribution of epibiotic assemblages found on the blades of the seagrass. Thus S. muticum invasion could have more wide-reaching effects on processes within coastal ecosystems than predicted purely by direct effects.     

Effect of different conditioning treatments on total phenolic content and antioxidant activities in two Sargassacean species: Comparison of the frondose Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt and the cylindrical Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross

The effects of different conditioning treatments (fresh, freezing, freeze‐drying, oven‐drying and greenhouse‐drying) on the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of two brown algae, Sargassum muticum and Bifurcaria bifurcata, were investigated and compared. Phenolic compounds were extracted in a methanol/water (50:50) solution, and TPC was measured by the colorimetric Folin‐Ciocalteu assay. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the DPPH (2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and the β‐carotene bleaching method. The dried seaweeds showed lower phenolic contents and lower antioxidant capacities than the fresh and frozen ones, which suggests that the phenolic content and antioxidant activities are decreased by the drying treatments, especially, oven‐ and greenhouse‐drying. Relationships between TPC, antioxidant properties and conditioning treatments are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sargassum muticum</Emphasis> (Yendo) Fensholt in Ireland: an invasive species on the move

The invasive marine macroalga Sargassum muticum was recorded from Kilmore Quay, Co. Waterford, for the first time in the Republic of Ireland in 2001. It was found at several other places in that year and in subsequent years. An intensive survey was carried out from April 2003 to November 2003 to map the geographical distribution and spread of this invasive brown macroalga, and data on distribution were collected in subsequent years through 2006. This study indicated that S. muticum most probably arrived in the early or mid 1990s and has spread all around the Irish coastline colonising Co. Donegal for the first time in 2006. The results indicate that spreading is facilitated by boating and perhaps via shellfish transport. A rough rate of spread of 2–3 km year⁻¹ has been calculated within one bay and for the Irish coastline of about 54 km year⁻¹. Observations showed that S. muticum has been found growing in seagrass beds and in rock pools, which might have serious consequences for the biodiversity in rock pools and for the protective status of seagrass habitats. It is recommended that monitoring of S. muticum should continue, especially in areas of high amenity value and economic importance in order to observe possible effects on local flora and fauna, aquaculture, the seaweed industry and tourism.     

Ecosystem functioning impacts of the invasive seaweed Sargassum muticum (Fucales,Phaeophyceae)

Ongoing changes in natural diversity due to anthropogenic activities can alter ecosystem functioning. Particular attention has been given to research on biodiversity loss and how those changes can affect the functioning of ecosystems, and, by extension, human welfare. Few studies, however, have addressed how increased diversity due to establishment of nonindigenous species (NIS) may affect ecosystem function in the recipient communities. Marine algae have a highly important role in sustaining nearshore marine ecosystems and are considered a significant component of marine bioinvasions. Here, we examined the patterns of respiration and light‐use efficiency across macroalgal assemblages with different levels of species richness and evenness. Additionally, we compared our results between native and invaded macroalgal assemblages, using the invasive brown macroalga Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt as a model species. Results showed that the presence of the invader increased the rates of respiration and production, most likely as a result of the high biomass of the invader. This effect disappeared when S. muticum lost most of its biomass after senescence. Moreover, predictability–diversity relationships of macroalgal assemblages varied between native and invaded assemblages. Hence, the introduction of high‐impact invasive species may trigger major changes in ecosystem functioning. The impact of S. muticum may be related to its greater biomass in the invaded assemblages, although species interactions and seasonality influenced the magnitude of the impact.     

Antitumor Active Fucoidan from the Brown Seaweed,Umitoranoo (Sargassum thunbergii)

Neutral and acidic polysaccharides and their protein complexes were fractionated and purified from the brown seaweed umitoranoo (Sargassum thunbergii) by fractional extraction, iron-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. Thirty-one polysaccharide fractions were obtained and tested for antitumor activity in mice with Ehrlich carcinoma transplanted i.p. Two of the fractions, GIV-A ( – 127° and mol. wt., 19,000) and GIV-B ( – 110° and mol. wt., 13,500) had such activity. On the basis of chemical and spectral analyses, these compounds were found to be a fucoidan or L-fucan containing approx. 30% sulfate ester groups per fucose residue, about 10% uronic acid, and less than 2% protein.     

Algicidal Activity of Glycerolipids from Brown Alga Ishige sinicola toward Red Tide Microalgae

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a methanol extract of the brown alga, Ishige sinicola, led to the isolation of five algicidal compounds. Their structures were determined to be α-monoglycerides of eicosa-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-tetraenoic (arachidonic) acid, octadeca-6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-tetraenoic acid, linoleic acid and oleic acid, and 1-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(6-sulfo-α-D-quinovopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol on the basis of spectroscopic data and a comparison with the data in the literature. These glycerolipids showed moderate-to-high cell lysis activity against the red tide microalgal species, Heterosigma akashiwo, Karenia mikimotoi and Alexandrium catenella, at a concentration of 20 μg/mL.     

Glycerolipid Acyl Hydrolase Activity in the Brown Alga Cladosiphon okamuranus TOKIDA

The brown alga, Cladosiphon okamuranus TOKIDA, was found to contain a large amount of free fatty acid (45% of the total lipids). A crude enzyme preparation from the alga showed activity for hydrolyzing the acyl groups of various glycerolipids. The results suggest that the free fatty acid in C. okamuranus was released mainly from glycoglycerolipids, which were the major lipid components in the alga, by such glycerolipid acyl hydrolases as galactolipase.     

Effects of Alginic Acid from a Brown Alga Laminaria cichorioideson the Physical Activity of Experimental Animals

We studied the possibility of stimulating physical activity in experimental animals using alginic acid, a polysaccharide isolated from a brown alga Laminaria cichorioides(family Laminaraceae). It is shown that the alginic acid increases working capacity, prevents fatigue, and activates restoration processes after muscular activity.     

Algicidal Sesquiterpene Hydroquinones from the Brown Alga Dictyopteris undulata

Flavoglaucin, its derivatives, and pyranonigrins, which are antioxidants produced by the molds used in fermented foods, were examined for their inhibition of tumor promotion by the Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation test. Flavoglaucin and its derivatives exhibited high activity. Flavoglaucin and such a derivative as isodihydroauroglaucin inhibited mouse skin tumor promotion in a two-stage carcinogenesis test and appear to be antitumor promoters.     

Light Energy Distribution in the Brown Alga Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp)

The brown alga Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp) was studied by a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy at 77 kelvin, room temperature modulated fluorimetry, and photoacoustic techniques to determine how light energy is partitioned between photosystems I and II in states 1 and 2. Preillumination with farred light induced the high fluorescence state (state 1) as determined by fluorescence emission spectra measured at 77K and preillumination with green light produced a low fluorescence state (state 2). Upon transition from state 1 to state 2, there was an almost parallel decrease of all of the fluorescence bands at 693, 705, and 750 nanometers and not the expected decrease of fluorescence of photosystem II and increase of fluorescence in photosystem I. The momentary level of room temperature fluorescence (fluorescence in the steady state, F_s), as well as the fluorescence levels corresponding to all closed (F_m) or all open (F_o) reaction-center states were measured following the kinetics of the transition between states 1 and 2. Calculation of the distribution of light 2 (540 nanometers) between the two photosystems was done assuming both the `separate package' and `spill-over' models. Unlike green plants, red algae, and cyanobacteria, the changes here of the light distribution were rather small in Macrocystis so that there was approximately an even distribution of the photosystem II light at 540 nanometers to photosystem I and photosystem II in both states 1 and 2. Photoacoustic measurements confirmed the conclusions reached as a result of fluorescence measurements, i.e. an almost equal distribution of light-2 quanta to both photosystems in each state. This conclusion was reached by analyzing the enhancement phenomenon by light 2 of the energy storage measured in far red light. The effect of light 1 in decreasing the energy storage measured in light 2 is also consistent with this conclusion. The photoacoustic experiments showed that there was a significant energy storage in light 1 which could be explained by cyclic electron transport around photosystem I. From a quantitative analysis of the enhancement effect of background light 2 (maximum enhancement of 1.4-1.5) it was shown that around 70% of light 1 was distributed to this cyclic photosystem I transport.     

Induction of Callus from the Marine Brown Alga Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus

A method for callus induction from an alga was established forthe first time. Callus tissues from the microthallus of themarine brown alga Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus were induced onASP 12-NTA medium of Provasoli (1963) supplemented with 3% mannitol,0.1% yeast extract and 1.5% agar. The addition of auxins andkinetin to the medium did not show any effect on the formationand growth of the callus. (Received November 24, 1981; Accepted March 30, 1982)     

A Virus Infection in the Marine Brown Alga Ectocarpus siliculosus (Phaeophyceae)

Laboratory cultures of Ectocarpus siliculosus originating from New Zealand showed a defect in gametangium formation. Nuclear divisions in gametangium initials are not followed by cell wall formation. In the resulting multinucleate cells nuclear DNA increases dramatically, and nuclear membranes disintegrate. Eventually, the entire structure is filled with hexagonal particles of approximately 130 nm diameter. These were isolated and shown by EM to consist of a dense core surrounded by a 3-layered shell. They are released into the culture medium when the host cells burst. Ectocarpus gametes from healthy cultures could be infected by these particles. The resulting partheno-sporophytes developed pathological symptoms, suggesting that the particles are viruses. The expression of the defect is temperature dependent. At 10°C all gametangia are abnormal, while between 15 and 20 °C defective and normal gametangia and gametes are formed on the same plant. Partheno-sporophytes developing from such gametes carry the viral particles expressed in deformed unilocular and plurilocular sporangia.     

Complete Plastid Genome of the Brown Alga Costaria costata (Laminariales,Phaeophyceae)

Costaria costata is a commercially and industrially important brown alga. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to determine the complete plastid genome of C. costata. The genome consists of a 129,947 bp circular DNA molecule with an A+T content of 69.13% encoding a standard set of six ribosomal RNA genes, 27 transfer RNA genes, and 137 protein-coding genes with two conserved open reading frames (ORFs). The overall genome structure of C. costata is nearly the same as those of Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida. The plastid genomes of these three algal species retain a strong conservation of the GTG start codon while infrequently using TGA as a stop codon. In this regard, they differ substantially from the plastid genomes of Ectocarpus siliculosus and Fucus vesiculosus. Analysis of the nucleic acid substitution rates of the Laminariales plastid genes revealed that the petF gene has the highest substitution rate and the petN gene contains no substitution over its complete length. The variation in plastid genes between C. costata and S. japonica is lower than that between C. costata and U. pinnatifida as well as that between U. pinnatifida and S. japonica. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that C. costata and U. pinnatifida have a closer genetic relationship. We also identified two gene length mutations caused by the insertion or deletion of repeated sequences, which suggest a mechanism of gene length mutation that may be one of the key explanations for the genetic variation in plastid genomes.     

Canopy characteristics of the brown alga Sargassum muticum (Fucales,Phaeophyta) in Lake Grevelingen,southwest Netherlands

The present distribution of the invasive brown alga Sargassum muticum in the southwest Netherlands is updated. Populations of the alga were found to remain at their 1985 level in Lake Grevelingen, with a small eastward expansion into the Eastern Scheldt estuary. A new population for the brackish, non-tidal Lake Veere is reported. Within Lake Grevelingen S. muticum forms a persistent, extensive canopy of 100% cover (4,442.5 ± 525.6 g fresh wt m^–2, 640.3 ± 75.8 g dry wt m^–2) that has a marked effect upon the penetration of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (reduced by 97% at 0.1 m). Surface sea water temperatures can be elevated by 2.7 °C above water not associated with a Sargassum canopy; furthermore, the dense canopy shades and hence reduces water temperatures below 0.1 m depth. Productivity studies indicate that assimilation occurs in the upper levels of the canopy (57.09 µg C mg dry wt^–1 m^–2 at a mean PAR rate of 106.7 J cm^–2 h^–1). Self-shading and a resultant decrease in the rate of assimilation was evident below the canopy.     

Homogeneous Population of the Brown Alga Sargassum polycystum in Southeast Asia: Possible Role of Recent Expansion and Asexual Propagation

Southeast Asia has been known as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. Repeated glacial cycles during Pleistocene were believed to cause isolation of marine taxa in refugia, resulting in diversification among lineages. Recently, ocean current was also found to be another factor affecting gene flow by restricting larval dispersal in animals. Macroalgae are unique in having mode of reproduction that differs from that of animals. Our study on the phylogeographical pattern of the brown macroalga Sargassum polycystum using nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2), plastidal RuBisCO spacer (Rub spacer) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit-III (Cox3) as molecular markers revealed genetic homogeneity across 27 sites in Southeast Asia and western Pacific, in sharp contrast to that revealed from most animal studies. Our data suggested that S. polycystum persisted in single refugium during Pleistocene in a panmixia pattern. Expansion occurred more recently after the Last Glacial Maximum and recolonization of the newly flooded Sunda Shelf could have involved asexual propagation of the species. High dispersal ability through floating fronds carrying developing germlings may also contribute to the low genetic diversity of the species.