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Corrigan S, Brown AR, Tyler CR, Wilding C, Daniels C, Ashton IGC, Smale DA. Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp ( Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13010209. [PMID: 36676158 PMCID: PMC9865293 DOI: 10.3390/life13010209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Seaweed farming in Europe is growing and may provide environmental benefits, including habitat provisioning, coastal protection, and bioremediation. Habitat provisioning by seaweed farms remains largely unquantified, with previous research focused primarily on the detrimental effects of epibionts, rather than their roles in ecological functioning and ecosystem service provision. We monitored the development and diversity of epibiont assemblages on cultivated sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) at a farm in Cornwall, southwest UK, and compared the effects of different harvesting techniques on epibiont assemblage structure. Increases in epibiont abundance (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 100.56, p < 0.001) and diversity (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 27.25, p < 0.001) were found on cultivated kelps over and beyond the growing season, reaching an average abundance of >6000 individuals per kelp plant with a taxonomic richness of ~9 phyla per kelp by late summer (August). Assemblages were dominated by crustaceans (mainly amphipods), molluscs (principally bivalves) and bryozoans, which provide important ecological roles, despite reducing crop quality. Partial harvesting techniques maintained, or increased, epibiont abundance and diversity beyond the farming season; however, these kelp plants were significantly fouled and would not be commercially viable in most markets. This paper improves understanding of epibiont assemblage development at European kelp farms, which can inform sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Corrigan
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (D.A.S.)
| | - A. Ross Brown
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Charles R. Tyler
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Catherine Wilding
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Carly Daniels
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ian G. C. Ashton
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (D.A.S.)
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Abstract
This article documents a case of genetic polyandry in the oceanic and pelagic shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus and briefly comments on the implications of this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Corrigan
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29412, U.S.A
| | - D Kacev
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, U.S.A
| | - J Werry
- Ocean and Coast Research, Main Beach, QLD 4217, Australia
- Griffith Centre for Coastal Management, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith Centre for Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
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