Researchers on the College of Gothenburg surveyed 10,000 kilometres of coast and located twenty species of sea lettuce.
Inexperienced macroalgae of the genus Ulva, often known as sea lettuce, are nearly ubiquitous within the wider Baltic Sea area and may be discovered from the Atlantic waters all the way in which as much as the Bay of Bothnia within the Baltic Sea. Sea lettuce reproduce simply and develop rapidly, which makes it of enchantment for an increasing aquaculture trade and blue financial system.
Analysis is ongoing each in Sweden and overseas for utilising sea lettuce within the meals trade and for various biochemical functions.
There are a number of species, however till now it has not been recognized what number of there are and beforehand solely a handful had been recognized, stated Sophie Steinhagen, a researcher at Tjärnö Marine Laboratory.
Invasive species recognized
“We have now studied the organic range of the Baltic Sea, Kattegatt and Skagerak by taking a lot of samples from sea lettuce that we now have then carried out DNA evaluation of. We discovered 20 distinctive species and subspecies. Three of those are invasive species which have discovered their means right here in varied methods.”
The researchers additionally discovered fully new species of sea lettuce in Swedish waters that haven’t beforehand been described scientifically. A few of these seem to solely develop within the Baltic Sea.
The power to trace invasive species will assist propel the event of the seaweed aquaculture trade, she instructed FoodNavigator.
“The significance of this survey is critical,” she stated. “Rising sea lettuce as a meals supply is a quickly growing trade, and international species threat being unfold via easy ignorance. To keep up and shield useful ecosystems alongside the coasts, you will need to know which species develop there and to not introduce new species that threat out competing the native species.”
Develop the appropriate species in the appropriate place
“Our research exhibits that right now’s methodology of figuring out species, which is usually performed by wanting on the look of inexperienced algae, is inadequate for figuring out the distribution of the varied species. We have now not been in a position to see the true extent of the organic range.”
The stock found many new species, info that may be useful when cultivation of sea lettuces is initiated in new locations alongside the coast. It is very important develop the appropriate species on the proper place to keep away from the danger of impacting range, defined Steinhagen.
“This new data permits us to develop strategies for sustaining the distinctive sea lettuce species alongside a particular coast. Our survey may assist when writing rules associated to invasive species that shouldn’t be utilized in aquaculture whether it is to be sustainable.”
She added that the research’s observations additionally present a foundation for pressure choice. That’s essential for improvement of the sector, she defined, as it should permit growers to decide on strains which might be faster to develop. This may permit growers to focus on a number of makes use of and finish product functions ion the meals and beverage trade.
“All seaweed is thought for its umami flavour profile and its excessive mineral and vitamin content material, however we might select strains with the next protein or amino acid profile.”
Reference
‘Molecular identification of the ever present inexperienced algae Ulva reveals excessive biodiversity, crypticity, and invasive species within the Atlantic-Baltic Sea area’
Algal Analysis
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2023.103132
