The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: Recent advances in a changing climate

Abstract

BackgroundThe sugar kelp Saccharina latissima is a Laminariales species widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Its physiology and ecology have been studied since the 1960s, given its ecological relevance in western temperate coasts. However, research interest has recently been rising, driven mainly by reports of negative impacts of anthropogenically induced environmental change and by the increased commercial interest in cultivating the species with several industrial applications for the resulting biomass. • ScopeWe reviewed peer-review research articles, reports, doctoral theses, and book chapters that targeted Saccharina latissima published from 2009 to May 2023. We include earlier publications only in the few cases where some key knowledge has not been recently supported or contested. • ConclusionsThe comprehensive view of the ecology, physiology, biochemical and molecular biology of S. latissima given here can fuel our understanding of its survival in nature and finetuning of cultivation methods for several specific applications, promoting a sustainable resource. Recent developments in genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics have contributed significantly to improving the understanding of genetic diversity and molecular mechanisms underlying plasticity and local adaptation. Due to its wide distribution, S. latissima has to cope with a large variability of different environmental conditions and possible interactions between drivers. Therefore, S. latissima has developed a variety of physiological and biochemical mechanisms to adjust to environmental changes. Survival, growth, photosynthetic performance, metabolism, and 3 enzymatic activity are strongly affected by abiotic conditions, such as temperature, salinity, nutrient conditions or ocean acidification. Massive alterations regarding abundance, depth distribution and seasonal growth patterns of S. latissima have been reported recently throughout its distribution range, likely in response to climate change. These biogeographic changes are expected to continue, and although much effort has been dedicated to studying S. latissima responses to environmental drivers, there are still large knowledge gaps. keywords: acclimation -biogeography -climate change -local adaptation -macroalgae -marine ecology -metabolites -molecular biology -omics -physiology -seaweedwarming How S. latissima adjusts to its environment has been extensively studied, although unbalanced among drivers and geographical regions (see Responses to environmental drivers). In seaweeds, biochemical compounds, including pigments, carbohydrates, antioxidants, lipids, fatty acids and proteins, vary in composition and concentration depending on environmental conditions (summarized in Amsler 2008; Wiencke and Bischof 2012; Hurd et al. 2014; Zhang and Thomsen 2019). Furthermore, biological interactions with other taxa have the potential to profoundly change S. latissima growth and survival and are summarized in Biotic interactions. In addition to seasonal effects or differences on larger globa...

The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima II: Recent Advances in farming and applications

“…Finally, knowledge gaps and emerging issues are summarised in Section 12. The first part of the review (part I) focuses on the latest research on ecology, physiology, biochemical and molecular biology of S. latissima, "The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: Recent advances in research" (Diehl et al 2023).…”

“…latissima, listed as a value range from the 19 studies reviewed. For additional information on the chemical composition of S. latissima, read sections 2 and 4 in the review: "The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: recent advances in research" (Diehl et al 2023).…”

“…However, the extent of its application will depend on regional and local marine spatial planning plans, legislation and overall public acceptance. Ferreira M, Larsen BK, Granby K, et al (2020) Diets supplemented with Saccharina latissima influence the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and oxidative stress (see more in Review I, Diehl et al 2023). This affects the concentration of chemical compounds in the sporophytes (e.g., vitamins, carbohydrates), which determines the use of S. latissima (e.g., for food, feed, biomaterial).…”

“…This review provides a comprehensive overview of farming and applications of S. latissima from the last 15 years. Additional insights on other research topics, such as ecology, physiology, biochemical and molecular biology of S. latissima, are given in the first review, "The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: recent advances in a changing climate" (Diehl et al 2023).…”