Carbon and nitrogen content of Laminaria saccharina in the eastern English Channel: biometrics and seasonal variations

Abstract

Fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), carbon and nitrogen content were measured for specimens of Laminaria saccharina (Heterokontophyta: Phaeophyceae) sampled in the eastern English Channel in order to conduct a biometrical study. The aim was to relate carbon and nitrogen masses of the algae to a simple and rapid morphological measurement of the total length of the sporophyte. These relationships were highly significant and appeared very useful to express the standing biomass of L. saccharina in terms of carbon or nitrogen and then to consider dynamic processes such as primary production. Variations in tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were examined over a complete seasonal cycle. Average carbon and nitrogen content ranged from 23·9 to 31·4% and 2·23 to 3·42% of the total dry weight, respectively. Variations in C/N ratio showed a clear seasonal pattern with an increase in the early spring corresponding to strong photosynthesis and growth.

The effect of light and nutrient availability on growth, nitrogen, and pigment contents of Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae) grown in outdoor tanks, under natural variation of sunlight and temperature, during autumn and early winter in Denmark

“…Growth physiology It has been previously described that the tissue concentrations of N in natural and cultivated kelps increase during fall and winter as ambient inorganic nutrients concentrations increase (Black 1950;Rosell and Srivastava 1985;Gevaert et al 2001;Nielsen et al 2014;Marinho et al 2015). It also has been described how tissue C contents decrease, and more apical tissue is lost than meristematic tissue is produced resulting in net length and biomass decrease (Gevaert et al 2001;Nielsen et al 2014).…”

“…The quality and potential yield of S. latissima biomass varies on temporal and spatial scales with the availability of light and nutrients being the most central controlling environmental factors (Black 1950;Gevaert et al 2001;Nielsen et al 2014). Thus, the desired end use of the produced biomass adds to determine optimal cultivation sites as well as the optimal timing of deployment and harvest.…”

Effects of temperature and ammonium on growth, pigment production and nitrogen uptake by four species of Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) native to the New England coast

“…Porphyra umbilicalis has a high capacity for nitrogen accumulation (6.76% tissue nitrogen at optimal conditions). This value is also much higher than that of other maricultured seaweeds, including Chondrus crispus (4.8%; Asare and Harlin 1983), Gracilaria pacifica (4.18-4.59%; Naldi and Wheeler 1999) and Laminaria saccharina (3.42%; Gevaert et al 2001). It is even markedly higher than other efficient nutrient scrubbers such as Ulva rotundata, Ulva intestinalis, Ulva fenestrate and Ulva pertusa (3.06%, 3.35%, 4.71% and 5.07%, respectively; Liu and Dong 2001;Hernández et al 2002).…”

Offshore and Multi-Use Aquaculture with Extractive Species: Seaweeds and Bivalves

“…Considering a 10:1 DW:FW ratio and average values of nitrogen (Pyropia/Porphyra: 5.5%, Gracilaria: 3.0%, Kappaphycus/Eucheuma: 1.7%, kelp: 2.0% and Sargassum: 4.1%) and carbon (Pyropia/Porphyra: 38%, Gracilaria: 28%, Kappaphycus/Eucheuma: 29%, kelp: 30% and Sargassum: 34%), the total nitrogen and carbon removal by these five major aquaculture groups is approximately 54 million t of nitrogen per year and 700 million t of carbon per year (equivalent to 2600 million t of CO 2 ), respectively (Asare and Harlin 1983;Gerard 1997;Schaffelke and Klumpp 1998;Gevaert et al 2001;Schaffelke 2001;Chung et al 2002;Rawson et al 2002;Sahoo and Ohno 2003;Dean and Hurd 2007;Kim et al 2007Kim et al , 2014aKim et al , 2015aBuschmann et al 2008;Abreu et al 2009;Robertson-Andersson et al 2009;Levine and Sahoo 2010;Broch et al 2013). This is, in fact, a significant amount of carbon and nitrogen removal.…”