MacroalgalBeds

Macroalgal Beds

Composition

Macroalgal beds are composed of 3 different catagories of algae. They are green (Chlorophyta), brown (Phaeophyta) and red (Phodophyta) algae. What makes a it a macroalgal bed is that it is visible to the human eye. Macroalgae is a plant and therefore convert sunlight into chemical energy via photosynthesis. These the different colors of these plants are based on the pigments that they contain. As you likely already know chlorophyll pigments give the plant a green tint. Chlorophyll is found in all types of the macroalgae. Red algae also contain red and blue pigments called phycobillins. While brown macroalgae contain orange pigments called carotenoids.

Macroalgae is typically found growing off of hard surfaces such as coral skeletons, shells and rocks.

Species

There are many species of macroalgae but only 4 are classified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as being capable of growing dense enough to form a macroalgal bed. These are Ulva spp., Gracilaria pacifica, Fucus gardneri and Sargassum muticum.

Role

-Role in Shallow Estuaries

Relationship with Coral Reefs

Beneficial Impacts on Coral Reefs

-Primary Production, organic carbon leaking in water, nitrogen fixation and structure/construction

Negative Impacts on Coral Reefs

-Coral reefs are being over ran by macroalgal beds do to a change in Coral microbiome

-How Hypnea sp., Padina sp. and Colpomenia sp. impact protein content in Acropora aspera, coral type

-Macro algal structural impacts on Coral reefs

-Bioerosion