Faunal differences between the invasive brown macroalga Sargassum muticum and competing native macroalgae

Interactions between macroalgae and their associated fauna are of great interest for marine invasions, because fauna may increase the biotic resistance of a system and macroalgal invasions may cause shifts in faunal composition. We tested for differences in faunal community structure between a macroalgal invader, Sargassum muticum, and several native macroalgae in intertidal pools on both the west and south coast of Portugal. On each coast, we compared the faunal diversity and composition associated with the invader with that of the competing native macroalga(e). On the west coast, the diversity of the fauna associated with S. muticum was equal to or lower than with the native competitor, Cystoseira humilis. Fauna composition differed between S. muticum and C. humilis at both locations, but within each species, no differences between locations were detected. In contrast, the fauna diversity on S. muticum of the south coast varied among locations. S. muticum fauna differed from the fauna of all native macroalgae at one location, but only from three out of seven native macroalgae at the other location. Discriminating fauna species did not show a consistent pattern towards higher or lower abundances in S. muticum compared to most native macroalgae, and species-specific contributions were small. Differences in fauna community also depended on the identity of the native macroalga. In conclusion, the fauna associated with S. muticum differs from many native brown macroalgae, but these differences were not consistent as they depend both on the native macroalgal species and on location. This invader does not seem to have a severe negative impact on local macroalgae-associated fauna.     

The green tide-forming macroalga Ulva linza outcompetes the red macroalga Gracilaria lemaneiformis via allelopathy and fast nutrients uptake

The objective of this study was to evaluate the interactions between green tide-forming macroalgae Ulva linza and red macroalgae Gracilaria lemaneiformis in the laboratory. The results demonstrated that the presence of U. linza can restrict growth (9–31 %) and photosynthesis (25–85 %) of G. lemaneiformis. In contrast, G. lemaneiformis had little apparent effect on the growth of U. linza. Culture medium experiments confirmed that allelochemicals may be released by both the tested macroalgae. The causative mechanism for the growth and photosynthesis inhibition of G. lemaneiformis was not light limitation nor increase of pH, but a combination of allelopathic effects of U. linza and nutrient competition between the two macroalgae. Moreover, the “green tide” macroalga U. linza was a stronger competitor for nutrient than G. lemaneiformis. The results from this study provide evidence for the mechanisms of “green tide” formation by U. linza: potent allelopathic effects on G. lemaneiformis and faster nutrients uptake than its competitors.     

Feeding rates of common Antarctic gammarid amphipods on ecologically important sympatric macroalgae

Single species feeding trials employing both fresh algal tissues and alginate food pellets containing dried finely ground algal tissues were conducted to examine the relative palatability of sympatric Antarctic macroalgae (three brown and five red macroalgal species) to three common herbivorous gammarid amphipods (Prostebbingia gracilis Chevreux, Gondogeneia antarctica (Chevreux) Thurston, and Metaleptamphopus pectinatus Chevreux). In fresh algal tissue bioassays, both the amphipods P. gracilis and G. antarctica consumed significantly greater amounts of the red alga Palmaria decipiens over all other seven species of macroalgae. The amphipod M. pectinatus failed to consume measurable quantities of fresh thalli of any macroalgae and therefore is likely to feed on other resources. In food pellet bioassays, the consumption rates of amphipods fed with eight different species of macroalgae were compared with consumption rates on a highly palatable control green alga. Alginate pellets containing finely ground tissues of P. decipiens were consistently the most palatable of any of the macroalgae to P. gracilis and G. antarctica, while pellets containing the brown algae Desmarestia menziesii, D. anceps and the red alga Plocamium cartilagineum were not consumed by any of the three amphipod species. Regression analysis indicated that feeding rates of the amphipods P. gracilis and G. antarctica on alginate food pellets were not significantly correlated with known species-specific parameters of macroalgal nutritional quality (%N, %C, C:N ratio, soluble protein, soluble carbohydrate, and lipid). Therefore, differences in amphipod macroalgal palatability are most likely related to other factors including physical and/or chemical deterrents.     

Macroalgal Extracts Induce Bacterial Assemblage Shifts and Sublethal Tissue Stress in Caribbean Corals

Benthic macroalgae can be abundant on present-day coral reefs, especially where rates of herbivory are low and/or dissolved nutrients are high. This study investigated the impact of macroalgal extracts on both coral-associated bacterial assemblages and sublethal stress response of corals. Crude extracts and live algal thalli from common Caribbean macroalgae were applied onto the surface of Montastraea faveolata and Porites astreoides corals on reefs in both Florida and Belize. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to examine changes in the surface mucus layer (SML) bacteria in both coral species. Some of the extracts and live algae induced detectable shifts in coral-associated bacterial assemblages. However, one aqueous extract caused the bacterial assemblages to shift to an entirely new state (Lobophora variegata), whereas other organic extracts had little to no impact (e.g. Dictyota sp.). Macroalgal extracts more frequently induced sublethal stress responses in M. faveolata than in P. astreoides corals, suggesting that cellular integrity can be negatively impacted in selected corals when comparing co-occurring species. As modern reefs experience phase-shifts to a higher abundance of macroalgae with potent chemical defenses, these macroalgae are likely impacting the composition of microbial assemblages associated with corals and affecting overall reef health in unpredicted and unprecedented ways.     

The Ecological Perspective of Microbial Communities in Two Pairs of Competitive Hawaiian Native and Invasive Macroalgae

Marine macroalgae are known to harbor large populations of microbial symbionts, and yet, microbe symbiosis in invasive macroalgae remains largely unknown. In this study, we applied molecular methods to study microbial communities associated with two invasive algae Acanthophora spicifera and Gracilaria salicornia and the two native algae Gracilaria coronopifolia and Laurencia nidifica at spatial and temporal scales in Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems. Bacterial communities of both the invasive and native macroalgae displayed little spatial and temporal variations, suggesting consistent and stable bacterial associations with these macroalgae. Results of this study identified three types of bacterial populations: nonspecific (present in both algal and water samples); algae-specific (found in all algal species); and species-specific (only found in individual species). The bacterial diversity of invasive algae was lower than that of their native counterparts at phylum and species levels. Notably, the vast majority (71 %) of bacterial communities associated with the invasive algae G. salicornia were representatives of Cyanobacteria, suggesting a potential ecological significance of symbiotic Cyanobacteria.     

Quantification of Selected Endogenous Hydroxy-oxylipins from Tropical Marine Macroalgae

The present study investigated the contents of hydroxy-oxylipins hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs), hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acids (HOTrEs), and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) in 40 macroalgae belonging to the Chlorophyceae, Rhodophyceae and, Phaeophyceae. The hydroxy-oxylipin content was low and ranged from 0.14?±?0.012 ng/g (Codium dwarkense) to 8,161.9?±?253 ng/g (Chaetomorpha linum) among the Chlorophyceae, 345.4?±?56.8 ng/g (Scytosiphon lomentaria) to 2,574.5?±?155.5 ng/g (Stoechospermum marginatum) among the Phaeophyceae, and 19.4?±?2.2 ng/g (Laurencia cruciata) to 1,753.1?±?268.2 ng/g in Gracilaria corticata v. folifera) among the Rhodophyceae on fresh weight basis (p?≤?0.01). The concentrations of C18-oxylipins were greater than C20-oxylipins in all the investigated macroalgae, except forUlva linza, Codium sursum, Dictyopteris deliculata, S. marginatum, Sargassum tenerrimum, Gracilaria spp. (except G. textorii), Rhodymenia sonderi, and Odonthalia veravalensis.The macroalgal species rich in HODEs, HOTrEs, and HETEs were segregated using principal component analysis. The red macroalgae showed the highest contents of HETEs, followed by brown and green macroalgae in consistent with their PUFA profiles. The relative contents of isomeric forms of oxylipins displayed the species-specific positional selectivity of lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme in macroalgae. All the species exhibited 13-LOX specificity for linoleic acid analogous of higher plants, while 21 out of 40 species showed 9-LOX selectivity for the oxygenation of α-linolenic acid. No trend was observed for the oxygenation of arachidonic acid in macroalgae, except for in the Halymeniales, Ceramiales (except L. cruciata), and Corallinales. This study infers that LOX products, octadecanoids and eicosanoids, described in macroalgal taxa were similar to those of higher plants and mammals, respectively, and thus can be utilized as an alternative source of chemically synthesized oxylipin analogues in therapeutics, cosmetics, and nutritional oil supplements.     

δ15N values of macroalgae as an indicator of the potential presence of waste disposal from land-based marine fish farms

The nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) in tissues of native macroalgae was evaluated as a means of indicating the intensity and spatial extent of organic contamination due to disposal of waste from land-based marine fish farms (LBMFFs). Three species of macroalgae from the genus Fucus and the green macroalgae Codium tomentosum were selected for study. The study was carried out at seven flat marine fish farms located in Galicia (NW Spain). Tests were carried out to determine the intra-annual variation in δ¹⁵N values and any differences between selected macroalgae. The δ¹⁵N values enrichment was observed close to the disposal point, and δ¹⁵N values varied more widely throughout the year (±5.57 ‰) at sites affected by the marine fish farm effluent compared to natural conditions (±2 ‰). No significant differences in the isotopic signals were observed in the different species studied (standard major axis). The δ¹⁵N values of macroalgae may be an ideal means of detecting the presence of LBMFFs effluents.     

Phylogeny and bioactivity of epiphytic Gram-positive bacteria isolated from three co-occurring antarctic macroalgae

Marine macroalgae are emerging as an untapped source of novel microbial diversity and, therefore, of new bioactive secondary metabolites. This study was aimed at assessing the diversity and antimicrobial activity of the culturable Gram-positive bacteria associated with the surface of three co-occurring Antarctic macroalgae. Specimens of Adenocystis utricularis (brown alga), Iridaea cordata (red alga) and Monostroma hariotii (green alga) were collected from the intertidal zone of King George Island, Antarctica. Gram-positive bacteria were investigated by cultivation-based methods and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and screened for antimicrobial activity against a panel of pathogenic microorganisms. Isolates were found to belong to 12 families, with a dominance of Microbacteriaceae and Micrococcaceae. Seventeen genera of Actinobacteria and 2 of Firmicutes were cultured from the three macroalgae, containing 29 phylotypes. Three phylotypes within Actinobacteria were regarded as potentially novel species. Sixteen isolates belonging to the genera Agrococcus, Arthrobacter, Micrococcus, Pseudarthrobacter, Pseudonocardia, Sanguibacter, Staphylococcus, Streptomyces and Tessaracoccus exhibited antibiotic activity against at least one of the indicator strains. The bacterial phylotype composition was distinct among the three macroalgae species, suggesting that these macroalgae host species-specific Gram-positive associates. The results highlight the importance of Antarctic macroalgae as a rich source of Gram-positive bacterial diversity and potentially novel species, and a reservoir of bacteria producing biologically active compounds with pharmacological potential.     

Positive and Negative Effects of Habitat-Forming Algae on Survival,Growth and Intra-Specific Competition of Limpets

Understanding the effects of environmental change on the distribution and abundance of strongly interacting organisms, such as intertidal macroalgae and their grazers, needs a thorough knowledge of their underpinning ecological relationships. Control of grazer-plant interactions is bi-directional on northwestern European coasts: grazing by limpets structures populations of macroalgae, while macroalgae provide habitat and food for limpets. Scottish shores dominated by the macroalga Fucus vesiculosus support lower densities and larger sizes of limpets Patella vulgata than shores with less Fucus. These patterns may be due to differences in inter-size-class competitive interactions of limpets among shores with different covers of Fucus. To examine this model, densities of small and large limpets were manipulated in plots with and without Fucus. Amounts of biofilm were measured in each plot. The presence of Fucus increased survival but hindered growth of small (15 mm TL) limpets, which were negatively affected by the presence of large limpets (31 mm TL). In contrast, large limpets were not affected by the presence of Fucus or of small limpets. This suggests the occurrence of asymmetric inter-size-class competition, which was influenced by the presence of macroalgae. Macroalgae and increased densities of limpets did not influence amounts of biofilm. Our findings highlight the role of interactions among organisms in generating ecological responses to environmental change.     

Microhabitat use by a post-settlement stage estuarine fish: evidence from relative abundance and predation among habitats

Seagrass beds provide food and shelter for many fish species. However, the manner in which fishes use seagrass bed habitats often varies with life stage. Juvenile fishes can be especially dependent on seagrass beds because seagrass and associated habitats (drift macroalgae) may provide an effective tradeoff between shelter from predation and availability of prey. This study addressed aspects of habitat use by post-settlement pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides (Linneaus), an abundant and trophically important species in seagrass beds in the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Abundance of post-settlement fish in seagrass beds was positively related to volume of drift macroalgae, but not to percent cover of seagrass, indicating a possible shelter advantage of the spatially complex algae. Tethering experiments indicated higher rates of predation in seagrass without drift macroalgae than in seagrass with drift macroalgae. Aquarium experiments showed lower predation with higher habitat complexity, but differences were only significant for the most extreme cases (unvegetated bottom, highest macrophyte cover). Levels of dissolved oxygen did not differ between vegetated and unvegetated habitats, indicating no physiological advantage for any habitat. Seagrass beds with drift macroalgae provide the most advantageous tradeoff between foraging and protection from predation for post-settlement L. rhomboides. The complex three-dimensional shelter of drift macroalgae provides an effective shelter that is embedded in the foraging habitat provided by seagrass. Drift macroalgae in seagrass beds is a beneficial habitat for post-settlement L. rhomboides by reducing the risk of predation, and by providing post-settlement habitat within the mosaic (seagrass beds) of adult habitat, thus reducing risks associated with ontogenetic habitat shifts.     

Influence of salinity, nutrients and light on the germination and growth of Enteromorpha sp. spores

In many shallow coastal areas worldwide, several species of opportunistic macroalgae (mainly Chlorophyta) have an excessive growth, as a consequence of eutrophication processes. Therefore, bloom-forming macroalgae become the dominant primary producers within these coastal systems. However, frequently the ecology and the ecophysiology of adult macroalgae have been insufficient to explain their seasonal abundances. Thus, it is essential to understand the factors that regulate the germination and growth of spores of opportunistic green macroalgae. In the present work, we assessed the effects of nutrients (N and P), salinity and light on the germination and growth of Enteromorpha spores. Overall, the results highlight the fact that, such as for adult macroalgae, spore germination and growth are adversely affected by low salinities. Growth of the spores is significantly decreased at 5 psu, while salinities of 20 and, especially of 35 psu, clearly promote the spore growth. Additionally, Enteromorpha spores seem to be particularly sensitive to PO₄-P limitation and to NH₄-N toxicity, which suggests a higher sensitivity to the variation of external nutrient concentrations than adult macroalgae. The present results contribute to increase the understanding about the factors that control macroalgal growth at its early phases of development. In particular, the results suggest that the growth of spores from opportunistic green macroalgae is strongly salinity-dependent. Consequently, in highly hydrodynamic systems such as most shallow estuaries, salinity variations may play a determinant role in the yearly abundances of green macroalgae, since it controls macroalgal growth from the spores to the adults.     

Benthic dinoflagellates: Testing the reliability of the artificial substrate method in the Macaronesian region

The suitability of the ‘artificial substrate’ method, i.e. standardized surfaces of fiberglass screens, for the quantification of four benthic harmful algal bloom (BHAB) dinoflagellates (Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum and Coolia) was tested relative to estimates from natural macroalgal substrates. Sampling took place in a variety of intertidal and subtidal coastal habitats under different water motion conditions, at depths from 1 to 7 m, in two archipelagos of the Macaronesia region: The Canary Islands and Cape Verde. An immersion time of 24 h was sufficient to adequately estimate dinoflagellate abundances. Seven replicates were established as the ideal replication level, considering both reproducibility and sampling effort. In most cases, cell abundances of the four dinoflagellate genera showed lower variability on artificial substrates than on macroalgae, leading to more reliable estimates of abundances. The ratio of mean cell abundances on artificial substrates to mean cell abundances on macroalgae highly varied among sampling sites for each genus. This was especially true for Ostreopsis and Coolia. Thus, given the potentially harmful nature of benthic dinoflagellates, the transformation of abundances expressed as cells g⁻¹ of macroalgae to abundances expressed as cells cm^-2 is risky, and it should not be attempted in monitoring and management programs of harmful microalgae. In summary, results of this study support the use of artificial substrates in monitoring programs of BHAB dinoflagellates, while the risks of using macroalgae are stressed.     

Effects of macroalgal identity on epifaunal assemblages: native species versus the invasive species Sargassum muticum

Seaweeds are a refuge from stressful conditions associated with life on rocky intertidal shores, and there is evidence that different macrophytes support different assemblages of mobile epifauna. Introduction of non-indigenous macroalgae may have a great impact on associated epifaunal assemblages and ecosystem processes in coastal areas. Previous studies have reported conflicting evidences for the ability of epifauna to colonize non-indigenous species. Here, we analyzed epifaunal assemblages associated with three species of macroalgae that are very abundant on intertidal shores along the Galician coast: the two native species Bifurcaria bifurcata and Saccorhiza polyschides and the invasive species Sargassum muticum. We collected samples of each species from three different sites at three different times to test whether variability of epifaunal assemblages was consistent over space and time. Epifaunal assemblages differed between the three macroalgae. Results suggested that stability and morphology of habitat played an important role in shaping the structure of epifaunal assemblages. This study also showed that the invasive S. muticum offered a suitable habitat for many invertebrates.     

Alternative methods of photosynthetic carbon assimilation in marine macroalgae

Two green macroalgae, Codium decorticatum and Udotea flabellum, differ photosynthetically. Codium had high O₂-sensitive, and Udotea low O₂-insensitive, CO₂ compensation points; Codium showed a Warburg effect at seawater dissolved inorganic carbon levels and had photorespiratory CO₂ release, whereas Udotea did not. Seawater dissolved inorganic carbon levels did not saturate photosynthesis. For Codium, but not Udotea, the Warburg effect was increased by ethoxyzolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, at high but not low pH. Isolated chloroplasts from both macroalgae showed a Warburg effect that was ethoxyzolamide-insensitive. In both macroalgae, chloroplastic and extrachloroplastic carbonic anhydrase activity was present. P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) carboxylating activity in Udotea extracts was equivalent to that of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, and enzyme activities for C₄ acid metabolism and P-enolpyruvate regeneration were sufficient to operate a limited C₄-like system. In Udotea, malate and aspartate were early-labeled photosynthetic products that turned over within 60 seconds. Photorespiratory compounds were much less labeled in Udotea. Low dark fixation rates ruled out Crassulacean acid metabolism. A limited C₄-like system, based on PEPCK, is hypothesized to be the mechanism reducing photorespiration in Udotea. Codium showed no evidence of photosynthetic C₄ acid metabolism. Marine macroalgae, like terrestrial angiosperms, seem to have diverse photosynthetic modes.     

Competitors as accomplices: seaweed competitors hide corals from predatory sea stars

Indirect biotic effects arising from multispecies interactions can alter the structure and function of ecological communities—often in surprising ways that can vary in direction and magnitude. On Pacific coral reefs, predation by the crown-of-thorns sea star, Acanthaster planci, is associated with broad-scale losses of coral cover and increases of macroalgal cover. Macroalgal blooms increase coral–macroalgal competition and can generate further coral decline. However, using a combination of manipulative field experiments and observations, we demonstrate that macroalgae, such as Sargassum polycystum, produce associational refuges for corals and dramatically reduce their consumption by Acanthaster. Thus, as Acanthaster densities increase, macroalgae can become coral mutualists, despite being competitors that significantly suppress coral growth. Field feeding experiments revealed that the protective effects of macroalgae were strong enough to cause Acanthaster to consume low-preference corals instead of high-preference corals surrounded by macroalgae. This highlights the context-dependent nature of coral–algal interactions when consumers are common. Macroalgal creation of associational refuges from Acanthaster predation may have important implications for the structure, function and resilience of reef communities subject to an increasing number of biotic disturbances.     

Percentage cover,biomass, distribution,and potential habitat mapping of natural macroalgae,based on high-resolution satellite data and in situ monitoring,at Libukang Island,Malasoro Bay,Indonesia

In this study, we combined remote sensing data and in situ observations to explore the potential habitats of macroalgae at Libukang Island, Indonesia. High-resolution satellite images from the GeoEye-1 were used to estimate and to map the geomorphological structures together with macroalgal species in the study area. Seasonal variations of percentage cover and biomass of macroalgae associated with substrates were investigated in May and November 2014, and June 2015, using quadrats as sampling unit. A total of nine common genera were found in the study area with three dominant genera: Sargassum, Padina, and Turbinaria. Most of macroalgae was observed in the eastern part of the Island, on several substrate types and particular oceanographic conditions (wave and current). Mean biomasses of Sargassum and Padina were high in May (1189.6 ± 455 and 166.7 ± 15.4 g DW.m^?2, respectively), while the biomass of Turbinaria was high in November (3245 ± 599.8 g DW.m^?2). The map accuracy of image classification for all typology substrates was 74.19%. Overall, approximately 62.3% of the total study area can be considered as potential for natural macroalgae habitats. Spectral response characteristic of shallow water substrates at study area based on GeoEye-1 is also presented. The results of this study exhibit a potential utilization of natural macroalgae in the study area, and provide information for a possible diversification of the use of macroalgae in Indonesia. The method could be useful for habitat management and future biomonitoring in the study area or other similar areas in Indonesia.     

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.     

Studies toward the comprehension of fungal-macroalgae interaction in cold marine regions from a biotechnological perspective

In marine ecosystems, macroalgae are the habitat for several microorganisms, fungi being among them. In the Antarctic benthic coastal ecosystem, macroalgae play a key role in organic matter cycling. In this study, 13 different macroalgae from Potter Cove and surrounding areas were sampled and 48 fungal isolates were obtained from six species, four Rhodophyta Ballia callitricha, Gigartina skottsbergii, Neuroglossum delesseriae and Palmaria decipiens, and two Phaeophyceae: Adenocystis utricularis and Ascoseira mirabilis. Fungal isolates mostly belonged to the Ascomycota phylum (Antarctomyces, Cadophora, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Phialocephala, and Pseudogymnoascus) and only one to the phylum Mucoromycota. Two of the isolates could not be identified to genus level, implying that Antarctica is a source of probable novel fungal taxa with enormous bioprospecting and biotechnological potential. 73% of the fungal isolates were moderate eurypsychrophilic (they grew at 5–25 °C), 12.5% were eurypsychrophilic and grew in the whole range, 12.5% of the isolates were narrow eurypsychrophilic (growth at 15–25 °C), and Mucoromycota AUe4 was classified as stenopsychrophilic as it grew at 5–15 °C. Organic extracts of seven macroalgae from which no fungal growth was obtained (three red algae Georgiella confluens, Gymnogongrus turquetii, Plocamium cartlagineum, and four brown algae Desmarestia anceps, D. Antarctica, Desmarestia menziesii, Himantothallus grandifolius) were tested against representative fungi of the genera isolated in this work. All extracts presented fungal inhibition, those from Plocamium cartilagineum and G. turquetii showed the best results, and for most of these macroalgae, this represents the first report of antifungal activity and constitute a promising source of compounds for future evaluation.     

In situ measurements of hydrodynamic forces imposed on Chondrus crispus Stackhouse

Among the hydrodynamic forces experienced by intertidal organisms, drag and the impingement force are thought to have the greatest effect on macroalgae. These forces are modified by biotic factors such as algal morphology, reconfiguration, and the presence of a canopy. However, much of what is known about the hydrodynamics of macroalgae has been garnered from low-velocity laboratory flume studies. Few field studies have measured drag and none have directly measured the effects of the canopy on force. To examine in situ hydrodynamic forces imposed on the turf forming macroalga Chondrus crispus, compact digital force sensors were developed that measure and record the 3-dimensional force imposed on a macroalga without disturbing the surrounding canopy. Sensors were positioned within natural Chondrus beds and the effects of the canopy, algal morphology, and sea state on in situ hydrodynamic force were examined. Additionally, the predictions of a new model for drag on flexible macroalgae were tested by simultaneously measuring force and water velocity. Digital force recordings indicated that Chondrus only experience drag; lift and impingement force were negligible in all combinations of factors. Canopies significantly reduced drag by 15-65%. Morphology and size also influenced drag, such that lower forces were imposed on small planar algae than large arborescent individuals. Further, planar algae experienced low drag in all combinations of sea and canopy state, indicating that these individuals may not be as susceptible to wave disturbance as arborescent individuals. Overall, these data indicate that the ability for Chondrus to grow large, arborescent individuals is dependent on the drag reducing properties of the canopy, while more hydrodynamically harsh habitats may be accessible to planar morphologies. Additionally, these data suggest that drag models for canopy forming macroalgae must incorporate the effects of the canopy to predict drag accurately in situ.