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Machado CB, Marsh R, Hargreaves JK, Oxenford HA, Maddix GM, Webber DF, Webber M, Tonon T. Changes in holopelagic Sargassum spp. biomass composition across an unusual year. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312173121. [PMID: 38805287 PMCID: PMC11161783 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312173121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The year 2021 marked a decade of holopelagic sargassum (morphotypes Sargassum natans I and VIII, and Sargassum fluitans III) stranding on the Caribbean and West African coasts. Beaching of millions of tons of sargassum negatively impacts coastal ecosystems, economies, and human health. Additionally, the La Soufrière volcano erupted in St. Vincent in April 2021, at the start of the sargassum season. We investigated potential monthly variations in morphotype abundance and biomass composition of sargassum harvested in Jamaica and assessed the influence of processing methods (shade-drying vs. frozen samples) and of volcanic ash exposure on biochemical and elemental components. S. fluitans III was the most abundant morphotype across the year. Limited monthly variations were observed for key brown algal components (phlorotannins, fucoxanthin, and alginate). Shade-drying did not significantly alter the contents of proteins but affected levels of phlorotannins, fucoxanthin, mannitol, and alginate. Simulation of sargassum and volcanic ash drift combined with age statistics suggested that sargassum potentially shared the surface layer with ash for ~50 d, approximately 100 d before stranding in Jamaica. Integrated elemental analysis of volcanic ash, ambient seawater, and sargassum biomass showed that algae harvested from August had accumulated P, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Ni, probably from the ash, and contained less As. This ash fingerprint confirmed the geographical origin and drift timescale of sargassum. Since environmental conditions and processing methods influence biomass composition, efforts should continue to improve understanding, forecasting, monitoring, and valorizing sargassum, particularly as strandings of sargassum show no sign of abating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Botelho Machado
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Marsh
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, SouthamptonSO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Hazel A. Oxenford
- Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, University of the West Indies, Cave HillBB 11000, Barbados
| | - Gina-Marie Maddix
- Centre for Marine Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, MonaKingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Dale F. Webber
- Centre for Marine Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, MonaKingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Mona Webber
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, MonaKingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Thierry Tonon
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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Lyra GP, Colombo AL, Duran AJFP, Parente IMDS, Bueno C, Rossignolo JA. The Use of Sargassum spp. Ashes Like a Raw Material for Mortar Production: Composite Performance and Environmental Outlook. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:1785. [PMID: 38673142 PMCID: PMC11051454 DOI: 10.3390/ma17081785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation of brown algae from the genus Sargassum has been increasing over the years in coastal regions of the Caribbean, Africa, Brazil, and Mexico. This causes harmful effects to the ecosystem, human health, the economy, and the climate due to gas emissions from its decomposition process. There is the possibility of this biomass being reused in civil construction, and some studies have been carried out on its application to common Portland cement mortar. As such, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of sargassum ash as a mineral addition to partially replace fine aggregates in Portland cement mortar. Characterization of the raw materials was carried out through X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, loss on ignition, particle size distribution, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, real density, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and dispersion spectroscopy of electrons. The mortars were prepared by partially replacing the fine aggregate (sand) with sargassum ash at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%. Mortar performance was evaluated through water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, and compressive strength 7, 28, and 63 days after curing. Lastly, a life cycle assessment was conducted in accordance with ISO standards 14040:2006 and 14044:2006. The results showed that replacing sand with sargassum ash increases water absorption and apparent porosity, and decreases the apparent specific mass and compressive strength as replacement increases. Nevertheless, the compressive strength results after 63 days for 5 and 10% replacement did not differ statistically from reference values. The life cycle assessment indicated that mortars with partial replacement of sand by sargassum ash show positive environmental impacts when compared to reference values for most categories, regardless of the scenario analyzed, especially for mortar with 10% replacement. As such, the use of sargassum ash at 10% does not alter the mortar's compressive strength values after 63 days, but does reduce its environmental impact. The application of this biomass in civil construction materials provides a destination for this algae, and that can be a solution to mitigate the social, environmental, and economic problems it has been causing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Pitolli Lyra
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil;
| | - Ana Letícia Colombo
- Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.L.C.); (A.J.F.P.D.); (I.M.d.S.P.)
| | - Afonso José Felício Peres Duran
- Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.L.C.); (A.J.F.P.D.); (I.M.d.S.P.)
| | - Igor Machado da Silva Parente
- Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.L.C.); (A.J.F.P.D.); (I.M.d.S.P.)
| | - Cristiane Bueno
- Department of Civil Engineering, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil;
| | - João Adriano Rossignolo
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil;
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Fidai YA, Botelho Machado C, Dominguez Almela V, Oxenford HA, Jayson-Quashigah PN, Tonon T, Dash J. Innovative spectral characterisation of beached pelagic sargassum towards remote estimation of biochemical and phenotypic properties. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169789. [PMID: 38181957 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, pelagic sargassum (S. fluitans and S. natans - henceforth sargassum) macroalgal blooms have become more frequent and larger with higher biomass in the Tropical Atlantic region. They have environmental and socio-economic impacts, particularly on coastal ecosystems, tourism, fisheries and aquaculture industries, and on public health. Despite these challenges, sargassum biomass has the potential to offer commercial opportunities in the blue economy, although, it is reliant on key chemical and physical characteristics of the sargassum for specific use. In this study, we aim to utilise remotely sensed spectral profiles to determine species/morphotypes at different decomposition stages and their biochemical composition to support monitoring and valorisation of sargassum. For this, we undertook dedicated field campaigns in Barbados and Ghana to collect, for the first time, in situ spectral measurements between 350 and 2500 nm using a Spectra Vista Corp (SVC) HR-1024i field spectrometer of pelagic sargassum stranded biomass. The spectral measurements were complemented by uncrewed aerial system surveys using a DJI Phantom 4 drone and a DJI P4 multispectral instrument. Using the ground and airborne datasets this research developed an operational framework for remote detection of beached sargassum; and created spectral profiles of species/morphotypes and decomposition maps to infer biochemical composition. We were able to identify some key spectral regions, including a consistent absorption feature (920-1080 nm) found in all of the sargassum morphotype spectral profiles; we also observed distinction between fresh and recently beached sargassum particularly around 900-1000 nm. This work can support pelagic sargassum management and contribute to effective utilisation of the sargassum biomass to ultimately alleviate some of the socio-economic impacts associated with this emerging environmental challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y A Fidai
- University of Southampton, School of Geography and Environmental sciences, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - C Botelho Machado
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - V Dominguez Almela
- University of Southampton, School of Geography and Environmental sciences, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - H A Oxenford
- Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, BB11000, Barbados
| | - P-N Jayson-Quashigah
- Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 209, Ghana
| | - T Tonon
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - J Dash
- University of Southampton, School of Geography and Environmental sciences, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Alleyne KST, Johnson D, Neat F, Oxenford HA, Vallѐs H. Seasonal variation in morphotype composition of pelagic Sargassum influx events is linked to oceanic origin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3753. [PMID: 36882555 PMCID: PMC9992440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30969-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent proliferation of pelagic Sargassum spp. in the Tropical Atlantic causes major ecological and socioeconomic impacts to the wider Caribbean when it washes ashore, with regional fisheries and tourism industries particularly affected. The Caribbean influxes have been tracked to a new bloom region known as the North Equatorial Recirculation Region (NERR) encompassing the area between the South Equatorial Current and the North Equatorial Counter Current and extending from Africa to South America. The vast biomass of Sargassum presents serious problems when it washes ashore but also represents significant commercial opportunities, especially with biofuel and fertilizer. The floating Sargassum mats are themselves diverse ecosystems that vary both in their biodiversity and biochemical attributes. Two major species (Sargassum fluitans and S. natans) have been identified as well as several distinguishable morphotypes of each. Oceanic mixing tends to blend the morphotypes together making it difficult to determine if there are regions of the NERR that favour bloom and growth of the distinct types. In this study, we quantify the species and morphotype composition of Sargassum strandings in Barbados and test if this is related to separate oceanic origins and routes travelled using a backtracking algorithm based on ocean drifter data. We found significant seasonal variation in the relative abundance of three morphotypes and this could be traced to two distinct easterly sub-origins and/or transport pathways; one area around 15° N that travels directly E-W across the Atlantic, and another area generally south of 10° N that takes a more meandering route coming close the coast of South America. These findings contribute towards our understanding of why the Tropical Atlantic bloom is presently occurring as well as towards addressing valorisation constraints surrounding variation in the supply of the three commonly occurring morphotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie S T Alleyne
- WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, World Maritime University (WMU), Malmӧ, Sweden.
| | - Donald Johnson
- Center for Fisheries Research & Development, The University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, MS, USA
| | - Francis Neat
- WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, World Maritime University (WMU), Malmӧ, Sweden
| | - Hazel A Oxenford
- Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - Henri Vallѐs
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados
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Molina GA, González-Reyna MA, Loske AM, Fernández F, Torres-Ortiz DA, Estevez M. Weak shock wave-mediated fucoxanthin extraction from Sargassum spp. and its electrochemical quantification. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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