CRYPTOGAMIE - 2001 - Marine brown algae (Phaeophyta) from the north coast of Paua New Guinea, with a description of Dictyota magneana sp. nov. WIKIPEDIA - Sargassum. Lines of Sargassum can stretch for miles along the ocean surface Close-up of Sargassum, showing the air bladders that help it stay afloat Sargassum is a genus of brown (class Phaeophyceae) macroalgae (seaweed) in the order Fucales.
Numerous species are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world, where they generally inhabit shallow water and coral reefs, and the genus is widely known for its planktonic (free-floating) species. While most species within the class Phaeophyceae are predominantly cold water organisms that benefit from nutrients upwelling, genus Sargassum appears to be an exception to this general rule.[1] Any number of the normally benthic species may take on a planktonic often pelagic existence after being removed from reefs during rough weather; however, two species (S. natans and S. fluitans) have become holopelagic—reproducing vegetatively and never attaching to the seafloor during their lifecycle. History[edit] Description[edit] Ecology[edit] WIKIPEDIA - Brown algae. The Phaeophyceae or brown algae (singular: alga), is a large group of mostly marine multicellular algae, including many seaweeds of colder Northern Hemisphere waters.
They play an important role in marine environments, both as food and for the habitats they form. For instance Macrocystis, a kelp of the order Laminariales, may reach 60 m in length, and forms prominent underwater forests. Another example is Sargassum, which creates unique habitats in the tropical waters of the Sargasso Sea. Many brown algae, such as members of the order Fucales, commonly grow along rocky seashores. Some members of the class, such as kelp, are used as food for humans. Worldwide there are about 1500–2000 species of brown algae.[4] Some species are of sufficient commercial importance, such as Ascophyllum nodosum, that they have become subjects of extensive research in their own right.[5] Morphology[edit] Regardless of size or form, two visible features set the Phaeophyceae apart from all other algae. WAT. RES. - 2000 - SARGASSUM SEAWEED AS BIOSORBENT FOR HEAVY METALS.
WATER RESEARCH - 2003 - A review of the biochemistry of heavy metal biosorption by brown algae. Braz. arch. biol. technol. vol.46 no.4 Curitiba Dec. 2003 Temporal variation in Sargassum Biomass, Hypnea epiphytism and associated fauna. Temporal variation in Sargassum Biomass, Hypnea epiphytism and associated fauna Fosca Pedini Pereira LeiteI, *; Alexander TurraII IDepartamento de Zoologia; IB; fosca@unicamp.br; 13083-970; UNICAMP; Campinas - SP - Brazil IIPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia; turra@unicamp.br; 13083-970; UNICAMP; Campinas - SP - Brazil Studies were carried out to investigate the temporal variation in Sargassum biomass, Hypnea epiphytism and associated fauna.
There was a marked variation in the biomass of Sargassum and Hypnea among various sampling periods. Low values for Sargassum were recorded in August and November, while the lower value for Hypnea biomass was recorded in August. Key words: Sargassum, Hypnea, epiphytism, phytal, associated fauna Sargassum cymosum é uma alga muito freqüente e abundante no sudeste do Brasil a qual apresenta uma fauna associada muito diversificada e freqüentemente epifitada pela alga vermelha Hypnea musciformis.
Temporal variation of faunistic composition.