Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Albert Pessarrodona, Jorge Assis, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Michael T. Burrows, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Carlos M. Duarte, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Pippa J. Moore, Dan A. Smale, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: This study provides global predictions of seaweed habitat productivity, using data from over 400 sites and finding a strong correlation between seaweed productivity and climatic variables. Seaweed forests exhibit exceptionally high per-area production rates, being more than 10 times higher than coastal phytoplankton.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lucia Lopez-Hortas, Noelia Florez-Fernandez, Maria D. Torres, Tania Ferreira-Anta, Maria P. Casas, Elena M. Balboa, Elena Falque, Herminia Dominguez
Summary: The interest in seaweed for cosmetic and skincare products is increasing due to their renewable nature, wide distribution, and rich bioactive compounds. Seaweed offers various technical features and the potential to valorize industrial waste streams, making it an attractive and low-cost raw material for beauty products.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Karla Dussan, Jan Wilco Dijkstra, Stefania Luzzi, Ilona van Zandvoort, Jaap W. van Hal
Summary: This short review discusses research and development initiatives in biomass supply, seaweed inundations, and seaweed biorefinery concepts. It covers areas such as mechanized cultivation, storage stabilization, hydrolysis methods, conversion and processing methods, biofuels production, and multiproduct biorefinery schemes.
CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Scott Spillias, Hugo Valin, Miroslav Batka, Frank Sperling, Petr Havlik, David Leclere, Richard S. Cottrell, Katherine R. O'Brien, Eve McDonald-Madden
Summary: Agricultural expansion is a major cause of climate change and biodiversity loss. Seaweed farming in the ocean could reduce the demand for terrestrial crops and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. By modeling the global potential of seaweed farming, this study explores how increased seaweed utilization could affect the environmental footprint of agriculture. Results show that a large area of the ocean has the potential to support seaweed farms, and cultivating Asparagopsis for ruminant feed could have the highest greenhouse gas mitigation.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carlos M. Duarte, Annette Bruhn, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: Seaweed aquaculture, accounting for over half of global mariculture production, provides various ecosystem services and food/natural products for industries. It is seen as a versatile solution for climate change and biodiversity crisis. Scaling up seaweed aquaculture as an emission capture and utilization technology is crucial to support a circular bioeconomy and achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals for a growing global population by 2050.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anna Lymperatou, Thor K. Engelsen, Ioannis V. Skiadas, Hariklia N. Gavala
Summary: The increasing amount of seaweed accumulated in the coasts requires proper disposal or treatment. In this study, three different pretreatment methods were used on beach-cast seaweed to improve methane yield. The thermo-acidic pretreatment resulted in the highest increase, 78% higher than raw seaweed, while the alkaline pretreatment showed a 36% increase and the highest reduction in methane production cost.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria Dyah Nur Meinita, Dicky Harwanto, Jae-Suk Choi
Summary: Seaweeds are marine macroalgae that produce bioactive substances with nutritional, therapeutic, and nutraceutical properties. Consumption of seaweeds in Asian countries has been associated with a lower incidence of chronic diseases. This review discusses the potential use of seaweed bioactive compounds in treating chronic diseases and highlights the need for further research in this field.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Julianne DeAngelo, Benjamin T. Saenz, Isabella B. Arzeno-Soltero, Christina A. Frieder, Matthew C. Long, Joseph Hamman, Kristen A. Davis, Steven J. Davis
Summary: Net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets are driving interest in biomass-based negative emissions and bioenergy from marine sources. This study assesses the costs and climate benefits of global seaweed production using growth and technoeconomic models. The results indicate that seaweed-based climate benefits are feasible, but further research is needed to reduce economic and biophysical uncertainties.
Article
Food Science & Technology
P. Santhoshkumar, K. S. Yoha, J. A. Moses
Summary: Seaweeds are marine bioresources rich in valuable ingredients that have various applications. Drying technologies for seaweeds have evolved to meet the increasing demand for dried seaweed and address challenges associated with existing practices.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Camila Jimenez-Gonzalez, Ana Maria Torrado Agrasar, Federico Mallo, Maria Luisa Rua, Clara Fucinos
Summary: Increased incomes, urbanization, and an aging population have led to changes in consumption patterns and increased demand for proteins. Red seaweed, with its high protein content and rich source of essential amino acids, has potential as a protein source. However, the utilization of red macroalgae proteins is still underdeveloped, and further research is needed to evaluate their digestibility and bioavailability.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yalei Li, Hege Gundersen, Robert Noddebo Poulsen, Lina Xie, Zhenming Ge, Kasper Hancke
Summary: Macroalgae and seagrass washed ashore create an ocean-to-land transport of carbon and nutrients. A novel method combining UAV photogrammetry and in situ measurements was proposed to quantify marine carbon and nutrient deposits in beach zones. The UAV method showed high accuracy for volume acquisition and cross-sectional area assessment when compared to manual and GNSS measurements. The method demonstrated its effectiveness in quantifying ecosystem carbon and nitrogen deposits, making it valuable for environmental monitoring and management.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Johana Marcela Concha Obando, Thalisia Cunha dos Santos, Roberto Carlos Campos Martins, Valeria Laneuville Teixeira, Elisabete Barbarino, Diana Negrao Cavalcanti
Summary: The cutting-edge technique of seaweed cell and tissue culture is widely applied in biotechnological practices, offering control over growth, development and secondary metabolites. Recent studies have provided insights into growth induction, chemical regulators, protoplast cultures, transcriptomic and genomic research.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Will Bolduc, Robert M. Griffin, Carrie J. Byron
Summary: The kelp aquaculture industry in the US is expected to grow in the future, but increasing demand is crucial for its success. Recent research has focused on the ecosystem services of kelp aquaculture and their value. A study showed that educating consumers about these ecosystem services significantly increased their willingness to pay for kelp end products.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yoichi Sato, Gregory N. Nishihara, Atsuko Tanaka, Dominic F. C. Belleza, Azusa Kawate, Yukio Inoue, Kenjiro Hinode, Yuhei Matsuda, Shinichiro Tanimae, Kandai Tozaki, Ryuta Terada, Hikaru Endo
Summary: The important role of vegetated ecosystems in carbon sequestration has attracted interest, and there is growing interest in applying knowledge of carbon capture rates to seaweed farming. This study investigated seaweed farms in Japan, comparing their autotrophic days and carbon capture rates with natural ecosystems and a degraded site. The results showed variations in autotrophy and carbon capture rates among different seaweed farms, with the Undaria pinnatifida farm in Matsushima Bay capturing the most carbon.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Cecilie Wirenfeldt Nielsen, Turid Rustad, Susan Lovstad Holdt
Summary: The vitamin C content in seaweeds varies among different species, but overall there are no significant differences observed; seaweeds can contribute to daily intake of vitamin C but are not a rich source of this nutrient; seasonal variations, analytical methods, and processing all impact the vitamin C content in seaweeds.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeffrey M. Schell, Deborah S. Goodwin, Rebecca H. Volk, Amy N. S. Siuda
Summary: Understanding the environmental tolerances and growth rates of different species of macroalgae is crucial for predicting their spatial and temporal dynamics. This study found that different morphotypes of Sargassum exhibited varying responses to temperature and salinity conditions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Erika Valzauez-Delfin, Carmen Galindo-De Santiago, Arely Paredes-Chi, Ameyalli Rios-Vazquez, Ana Benavides-Lahnstein, Kaysara Khatun, Juliet Brodie
Summary: Massive strandings of seaweed on the eastern coasts of the Yucat ' an peninsula, Mexico have become a major socioecological problem. A citizen science initiative, Big Seaweed Search Mexico (BSS-Mx), was developed to monitor temporal changes in the biomass stranded. The results represent baseline information that should be considered to develop management strategies and marine conservation actions according to each region.
Review
Plant Sciences
Lee H. Dietterich, Suhey Ortiz Rosa, Bianca R. Charbonneau, S. Kyle McKay
Summary: Riverine macrophytes play crucial ecological roles in river ecosystems, but their growth models have received relatively limited attention compared to other aquatic or terrestrial plants. This systematic review reveals that current models often overlook important factors such as shading and the role of macrophytes in nutrient cycles. Future research should focus on exploring these factors and developing a conceptual framework to guide macrophyte growth modeling. Emphasizing modularity and accessibility is also important for improving efforts to model and manage riverine ecosystems.
Review
Plant Sciences
Alba Martin, Jordi Corbera, Oriol Cano, Catherine Preece, Josep Penuelas, Francesc Sabater, Marcos Fernandez-Martinez
Summary: Bryophytes can play a significant role in ecosystem processes and hold potential as bio-indicators for monitoring environmental pollution. This study examined the effects of NO3- pollution on the elemental composition of aquatic and semi-aquatic bryophytes and identified suitable species as bio-indicators. Higher NO3- concentrations were found in spring water from intense farming and urban areas, positively correlated with N content and delta N-15 isotope ratio in bryophytes. Apopellia endiviifolia and Oxyrrhynchium speciosum were highlighted as promising candidates for bio-indication of aquatic NO3- pollution.
Article
Plant Sciences
Christine B. Rohal, Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Charles W. Martin, Sarah Tevlin, Laura K. Reynolds
Summary: This study investigated the seed production, seed banking, and germination cues of sub-tropical Vallisneria americana. It was found that the seeds of sub-tropical populations were dormant and could only germinate in the presence of organic material, light, or following scarification. Germination rate was enhanced by the presence of low-oxygen organic sediments and ethanol. These findings suggest a germination strategy focused on exploiting openings in existing vegetation following disturbance.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fabiano Faga, Carlos Frederico Deluqui Gurgel
Summary: Climate change is altering the distribution of marine biota, including Sargassum species. Future changes in abiotic variables are predicted to cause shifts in the latitudinal range and suitability area of Sargassum species. These changes may have significant impacts on marine ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ulo Mander, Martin Maddison, Alex C. Valach, Kaido Soosaar, Keit Kill, Kuno Kasak
Summary: Constructed wetlands treating runoff from agricultural catchments can reduce nutrient load of water, but they can also be significant sources of greenhouse gases, especially methane. This study assessed methane emission potentials and phosphorus removal efficiency in a 0.45 ha in-stream surface flow constructed wetland, and analyzed the temporal dynamics of methane emissions and phosphorus removal over a nearly 4-year period. The results showed a clear seasonal dynamic in phosphorus removal efficiency and an increasing trend in methane emissions over the years, with the majority of methane fluxes occurring during the warm period. Maintenance of the wetland and regular removal of aboveground vegetation can reduce methane emissions, and regular sediment removal is also necessary due to phosphorus saturation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Monsif El Madany, Mustapha Hassoun, Fatima El Aamri, Noureddine El Mtili
Summary: The non-indigenous brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae is invading and proliferating massively in the northwest of Morocco, including the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jessa May Malanguis, Tim Sierens, Ludwig Triest
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of movement ecology and dispersal mechanism in the dynamics and resilience of seagrass populations and ecosystems. The comparison of genetic diversity and fine-scaled structure of two co-occurring seagrass species reveals the significance of different survival strategies and reproductive modes. These findings have important implications for conservation efforts, suggesting the preservation of natural expansion and local seed recruitment for successful conservation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhi-Huan Chen, Rui Zhang, Jun-Cai Xin, Zi-Han Qian, Shu-Jie Wang, Shang-Yan Qiu, Xue-Ge He, Chao Si
Summary: Nutrient availability and light intensity play important roles in the expansion of amphibious clonal plants from terrestrial to aquatic habitats. High nutrient levels and light conditions promote the growth of the apical portions and overall performance of the clones. Maintaining clonal integration can benefit the expansion of the plants by optimizing resource utilization. These findings have implications for predicting community dynamics and vegetation restoration in ecotones like wetlands.