Article
Plant Sciences
Jonas Blomme, Xiaojie Liu, Thomas B. Jacobs, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: In this study, a molecular cloning toolkit was developed for the green seaweed U. mutabilis, containing various entry vectors, destination vectors, and functionally validated expression vectors. The importance of endogenous regulatory sequences for transgene expression was demonstrated, and two vector architectures for transgene expression were described. The toolkit enables the study of gain-of-function lines and gene characterization in a green seaweed, paving the way for large-scale functional genomics studies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ning Gong, Kuishuang Shao, Kun Shen, Yanbin Gu, Yu'an Liu, Jinqing Ye, Chuanming Hu, Lingyu Shen, Yanlong Chen, Dongwei Li, Jingfeng Fan
Summary: This study proposed a method to prevent the development of Ulva bloom by inactivating the overwintering banks of green algae on Porphyra yezoensis cultivation ropes in February and early March. Chlorine dioxide was used as an algaecide to effectively inhibit the growth of green algae on the ropes, reducing the magnitude of Ulva blooms in the Yellow Sea.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Shahab Saedi, Jun Tae Kim, Mastaneh Shokri, Ju-Hyoung Kim, Gye Hwa Shin
Summary: In recent years, algae blooms have caused severe problems in coastal areas worldwide, including environmental pollution and disruptions to tourism and shore-based activities. To address these issues, researchers used algae biomass to develop a transparent regenerated cellulose-based film for food packaging. The film exhibited strong mechanical strength, UV-visible light transmittance, and oxygen barrier properties. Furthermore, by incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles and curcumin, antibacterial and antioxidant properties were added to the film.
Article
Polymer Science
Uruchaya Sonchaeng, Phanwipa Wongphan, Wanida Pan-Utai, Yupadee Paopun, Wiratchanee Kansandee, Prajongwate Satmalee, Montakan Tamtin, Prapat Kosawatpat, Nathdanai Harnkarnsujarit
Summary: This study extracted water-soluble substances from Ulva rigida and prepared biodegradable films. The composition of polysaccharides and proteins in Ulva rigida was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance and high-performance liquid chromatography. The addition of glycerol significantly improved the plasticity of the films, as shown by the analysis of microstructure and properties.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stephanie Brain-Isasi, Claudia Caru, Maria Elena Lienqueo
Summary: This study demonstrates the saccharification and fermentation of green macroalgae biomass by a cellulolytic fungus to produce high-quality proteins suitable for feed production. The fungal biomass protein obtained from the fermentation of Ulva rigida showed favorable nutritional characteristics and increased digestibility compared to the raw algae, indicating its potential as a valuable protein source.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jonas Blomme, Thomas Wichard, Thomas B. Jacobs, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: Green seaweeds, particularly Ulva species, have various morphologies and ecological roles, making them important for research in carbon assimilation, bacteria interactions, life cycle, and economic benefits. Ulva mutabilis/compressa is suggested as a model species and the article highlights available molecular data and tools for further research. Exciting developments in other Ulva species are also discussed.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Hongtian Luo, Yuzhong Fu, Jian Shi, Songguang Xie, Yufeng Yang
Summary: Initiatives to mitigate climate change and the role of natural carbon sinks in coastal ecosystems have attracted considerable attention. This study focuses on seaweed mariculture in China's coastal areas over the past 20 years and quantifies the carbon storage in cultivated seaweed biomass. The results show a rising trend in the carbon sink potential of cultivated seaweeds. The total benefit of carbon sequestration and environmental benefits were also evaluated. These findings highlight the ecological value of large-scale cultivated seaweeds in increasing marine carbon sequestration and resolving offshore environmental issues, emphasizing the need for further development of the seaweed cultivation industry worldwide.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rima Gnaim, Mark Polikovsky, Razan Unis, Julia Sheviryov, Michael Gozin, Alexander Golberg
Summary: This study isolated a series of bacterial strains associated with the green seaweed Ulva sp. and evaluated their capability to produce PHA. The highest PHA content was observed in the Cobetia strain, indicating its potential for PHA production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Feng Liu, James T. Melton
Summary: This study sequenced and compared three complete chloroplast genomes of Ulva compressa, revealing that variations in Ulva cpDNA size are mainly caused by intron differences, foreign DNA integration, and non-coding regions. Specific intron types were detected at various insertion sites in Ulva chloroplast genomes, showing a high level of plasticity in their structure due to rearrangement events. Additionally, a degenerate group II intron was found in all Ulva species but not in related taxa, suggesting an independent invasion event in their common ancestor.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Masanori Hiraoka
Summary: The green seaweed Ulva spp. play a crucial role as primary producers in marine coastal ecosystems. Some populations decline in response to ocean warming, while others cause massive blooms known as green tide, depending on the fate of cells between somatic cell division and sporic cell division. Research suggests that inhibiting biomass allocation to spore production is a key property for Ulva to cause a huge green tide.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaoxiang Miao, Jie Xiao, Shiliang Fan, Yu Zang, Xuelei Zhang, Zongling Wang
Summary: The epiphytic gammarid species, Apohyale sp., plays a significant role in controlling the floating algal biomass in the Yellow Sea Green Tide. The grazing behavior of Apohyale sp. affects the growth rate of algae, potentially leading to positive feedback on the floating algal biomass. Further research is needed to understand the population dynamics of these primary predators and their correlation with the expansion or decline of the Green Tide in the Yellow Sea.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Juan Jose Lopez-Mayan, Blanca Alvarez-Fernandez, Elena Pena-Vazquez, Maria Carmen Barciela-Alonso, Antonio Moreda-Pineiro, Julie Maguire, Mick Mackey, Monica Quarato, Ivone Pinheiro, Begona Espina, Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo, Pilar Bermejo-Barrera
Summary: A study was conducted to investigate the bioaccumulation of citrate-coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles in red (Palmaria palmata) and green (Ulva sp.) seaweed. The results showed that Ulva sp. had higher titanium concentrations than Palmaria palmata under the same exposure conditions. The titanium concentration in Ulva sp. reached its maximum after 28 days of exposure to 1.0 mgL(-1) of 5 nm TiO(2)NPs. The sizes and concentrations of TiO(2)NPs determined by SP-ICP-MS were similar for both seaweeds, suggesting that the titanium is mainly accumulated in Ulva sp. as ionic titanium or nanoparticles smaller than the limit of detection in size.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianhua Sun, Xinran Zhang, Yantao Liang, Kaiyang Zheng, Fraser Kennedy, Meiaoxue Han, Gang Liu, Yundan Liu, Ziyue Wang, Xuechao Chen, Yeong Yik Sung, Wen Jye Mok, Li Lian Wong, Andrew McMinn, Min Wang
Summary: In this study, a novel siphoviral-morphological bacteriophage, vB_PhoS_XC, was isolated from the coastal seawaters of Qingdao during a bloom of Ulva prolifera green tide. The virus showed characteristics of short latent period, large burst size, and tolerance to a wide range of temperatures/pH levels. Genome and eco-genomic analysis revealed the association between vB_PhoS_XC and the green tide, and identified two phosphatase-metabolism-related auxiliary metabolic genes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xintong Huang, Shanying Tong, Dong Xu, Fang Li, Naihao Ye
Summary: This study provides quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the acclimation mechanisms of Ulva prolifera to ocean deoxygenation, acidification, and phosphorus limitation. The findings show significant interactions between these environmental conditions and algal physiological performance. Elevated CO2 promotes algal growth and alleviates the negative effect of deoxygenation on photosynthesis.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Limin Ning, Zhong Yao, Benwei Zhu
Summary: The high-value utilization of Ulva bioresources has gained increasing attention due to green tide blooms. Ulva polysaccharides and oligosaccharides have promising potential as new functional foods or food additives. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the recent advances of their structure, extraction, preparation, activity, and applications.
Article
Fisheries
Jose A. Zertuche-Gonzalez, Jose M. Sandoval-Gil, Laura K. Rangel-Mendoza, Alberto Galvez-Palazuelos, Jose M. Guzman-Calderon, Charles Yarish
Summary: The nutritional benefits of seaweeds have increased their demand in the western world for human consumption. A study in Mexico's Pacific coast commercial pilot-facility demonstrated pond-culture of Ulva, showing temperature as a key factor influencing seaweed growth performance.
JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Schery Umanzor, Jose Sandoval-Gil, Mariana Sanchez-Barredo, Lydia B. Ladah, Mary-Mar Ramirez-Garcia, Jose Antonio Zertuche-Gonzalez
Summary: The study found that juvenile sporophytes of Macrocystis pyrifera are vulnerable to oxidative damage and reduced growth under simulated marine heatwave conditions, but they can partially recover to control values during the recovery period, showing high physiological resilience. However, the interaction of high temperature and nitrate scarcity can cause irreversible damage, leading to a decrease in photosynthetic capacity and highlighting potential limitations in the carbon balance of juvenile sporophytes.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stephanie Revilla-Lovano, Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil, Jose Antonio Zertuche-Gonzalez, Maria Dolores Belando-Torrentes, Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller, Laura Karina Rangel-Mendoza, Alejandra Ferreira-Arrieta, Jose Manuel Guzman-Calderon, Victor F. Camacho-Ibar, Raquel Muniz-Salazar, Maria del Carmen Avila-Lopez
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the physiological plasticity and growth of Ulva ohnoi during its cultivation, showing that changes in cultivation conditions can affect the physiological performance and growth of the seaweed. By understanding the capacity of U. ohnoi to acclimate to changing culture conditions, it could be possible to improve its productivity and chemical composition.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gabriela Yareli Cervantes-Diaz, Jose Martin Hernandez-Ayon, Alberto Zirino, Sharon Zinah Herzka, Victor Camacho-Ibar, Orion Norzagaray, Leticia Barbero, Ivonne Montes, Joel Sudre, Juan Antonio Delgado
Summary: This study improves the understanding of water mass dynamics by including biogeochemical data, particularly when thermohaline characteristics overlap. Water masses in the Gulf of Mexico are mainly affected by mesoscale processes and local evaporation, with proposed boundaries instrumental in clarifying the dynamics of surface waters.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Erika Lee-Sanchez, Victor F. Camacho-Ibar, Jorge A. Velasquez-Aristizabal, Jose A. Valencia-Gasti, Guillermo Samperio-Ramos
Summary: In this study, the researchers evaluated the role of mesoscale eddies in determining the vertical distributions of nutrients and other variables in the Gulf of Mexico. They found that the presence of eddies had a significant impact on the concentration of nitrate and other substances in the euphotic layer. Additionally, different types of eddies were associated with variations in dissolved oxygen and other variables. However, the concentration of nitrate was close to the detection limit in the 0-50 meter range, regardless of the presence of eddies.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lydia B. Ladah, Jose A Zertuche-Gonzalez
Summary: The Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula is a unique biogeographic transition zone for kelp species. This study found physiological differences in conspecific juveniles from different populations, which may be due to adaptation to thermal and nutrient stress. These findings have implications for kelp forest restoration efforts as oceans warm.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jessica Guadalupe Tobal-Cupul, Erika Paola Garduno-Ruiz, Emiliano Gorr-Pozzi, Jorge Olmedo-Gonzalez, Emily Diane Martinez, Andres Rosales, Dulce Daniela Navarro-Moreno, Jonathan Emmanuel Benitez-Gallardo, Fabiola Garcia-Vega, Michelle Wang, Santiago Zamora-Castillo, Yandy Rodriguez-Cueto, Graciela Rivera, Alejandro Garcia-Huante, Jose A. Zertuche-Gonzalez, Estela Cerezo-Acevedo, Rodolfo Silva
Summary: The aim of this study is to demonstrate how an OTEC Ecopark can meet the diverse needs of coastal communities in Mexico and boost the local blue economy. Through financial feasibility assessment and comparative analysis with other forms of energy generation, as well as market description, technical design, and risk analysis, the study finds that the system performs well in terms of financial viability. The methods used in this study can be adapted and applied to other coastal communities.
Article
Oceanography
J. A. Valencia-Gasti, V. F. Camacho-Ibar, J. C. Herguera
Summary: In this study, water mass fractions in the deepwater region of the southern Gulf of Mexico were estimated based on samples collected in June 2016. The study identified five dominant water masses and their core contributions, as well as the control of mesoscale eddies on the depth variability of water masses.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge A. Velasquez-Aristizabal, Victor F. Camacho-Ibar, Reginaldo Durazo, Jose A. Valencia-Gasti, Erika Lee-Sanchez, Armando Trasvina-Castro
Summary: In this study, oceanographic station classification based on nitrate availability and hydrographic variables was used to identify the influence of mesoscale eddies in the Gulf of Mexico. The best separation between station groups was achieved when nitrate concentration was integrated between the surface and 200 m depth. This classification system showed better results compared to previous classifications based on altimetric variables and hydrographic criteria.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
L. M. Martinez-Fuentes, C. O. Norzagaray-Lopez, J. M. Hernandez-Ayon, M. E. Solana-Arellano, A. G. Uribe-Lopez, J. A. Valdivieso-Ojeda, V. Camacho-Ibar, A. Mejia-Trejo, F. Delgadillo-Hinojosa, R. A. Cabral-Tena
Summary: The study indicates that the dynamics of DIC, AOU, nitrate, and temperature in BLA are influenced by the presence of Subtropical Subsurface Water (SSW), with high DIC and nitrate concentrations in the bay during winter and the opposite in summer.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose A. Zertuche-Gonzalez, Jose M. Sandoval-Gil, Mariana Sanchez-Barredo, Zarko Altamirano-Gomez, Jose M. Guzman-Calderon, Laura K. Rangel-Mendoza, Lydia B. Ladah, Ricardo Cruz-Lopez, Charles Yarish
Summary: This study explores the domestication and cultivation of E. arborea kelp on the west coast of Baja California, Mexico. The results show that it is possible to cultivate E. arborea in a variety of ocean conditions, but site selection and seasonality are important considerations. The perennial nature of E. arborea allows for periodic harvesting throughout the year, making it an ideal target for ocean farming and commercial cultivation, especially in the face of climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Armando Felix-Bermudez, Francisco Delgadillo-Hinojosa, Maria Lucila Lares, Eunise Vanessa Torres-Delgado, Miguel Angel Huerta-Diaz, Antonio Tovar-Sanchez, Victor Froylan Camacho-Ibar
Summary: The Gulf of Mexico, a dynamic marginal sea, is influenced by the Loop Current and anticyclonic eddies. This study examines the impact of these mesoscale dynamics on the distribution of dissolved nickel in surface waters. The presence of anticyclonic eddies in the Gulf affects the vertical distribution of nickel and macronutrients, leading to decreased surface inventories in areas impacted by these eddies. These findings highlight the important role of mesoscale dynamics in modifying the availability of bioessential trace metals in the Gulf of Mexico.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oscar Gabriel Hernandez-Sanchez, Victor F. Camacho-Ibar, Leticia Barbero, Juan Carlos Herguera, Sharon Z. Herzka
Summary: A synoptic gulf-wide isoscape of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the Gulf of Mexico based on mesozooplankton was used to calculate regional contributions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen sources. A striking latitudinal gradient was found in the nitrogen isotopes of zooplankton, with highest values in the northern shelf and lowest values in the central oligotrophic gulf. Nitrogen fixation was identified as an important source of new nitrogen in oceanic regions, while denitrification and inflow of heavy nitrogen from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya river system contributed to high nitrogen isotopes in the northern shelf.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
C. Hakspiel-Segura, F. Delgadillo-Hinojosa, M. L. Lares, E. V. Torres-Delgado, A. Felix-Bermudez, J. A. Segovia-Zavala, V. Camacho-Ibar, A. Munoz-Barbosa, E. Millan-Nunez
Summary: This paper investigates the effect of dissolved iron and dust additions on the Biological Carbon Fixation (BCF) rates in the surface layer of the central Gulf of California. Two experiments were conducted using natural phytoplankton assemblages collected from different depths. The results showed that despite the oligotrophic conditions, most of the iron or dust additions did not significantly affect the BCF rates, indicating that nitrogen rather than iron was the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton production. However, there were some samples that showed a significant increase in BCF rates, suggesting a possible role of atmospheric dust in maintaining high concentrations of dissolved iron in the surface waters.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rainer M. W. Amon, Jose Ochoa, Julio Candela, Sharon Z. Herzka, Paula Perez-Brunius, Julio Sheinbaum, Victor F. Camacho Ibar, Juan Carlos Herguera, Martin Hernandez Ayon, Robert M. Key, Sergey Molodtsov
Summary: This study investigates the ventilation in the deep Gulf of Mexico, its connection to the North Atlantic, and its sensitivity to changes in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Using radiocarbon data and transport measurements, it is found that the residence time of deep water in the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 100 years. Comparisons with previous radiocarbon observations suggest that the deep Gulf of Mexico has aged in recent years, which is consistent with temperature increases and CMIP6 global circulation model simulations. The distribution of radiocarbon indicates that there is a time lag of around 160 years between North Atlantic convection and complete ventilation of the deep Gulf of Mexico, suggesting that the aging and warming of deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico were initiated in the North Atlantic before approximately 1890, which aligns with the reported rapid and persistent weakening of AMOC since the Little Ice Age.
