Sargassum

Sargassum

Introduction

Plant - type of algae Plays a role as a macroalgal Bed Has several benefits to marine life, but in excess poses several threats to the coral reef, especially as an invasive species Habitats/Locations Generally sargassum are found in tidal splash zones, rocky marine pools, the intertidal zone, coral reefs and moderately deep coastal zonewaters. Sargassum generally inhabits the Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic, where it forms the nearly 2 million-square-mile Sargasso Sea. The seaweed often washes up on beaches in the Gulf, the southern U.S. Atlantic coast and the northern Caribbean in spring and summer. The seaweed has begun to spread to the Atlantic Coast of Europe Biology Sargassum is a type of Brown Algae Asexual Reproduction and by Meiosis Reproduces both sexually and via floating fragments. Fertilization usually takes place on the surfaces of the reproductive bodies (receptacles) and thousands of "germlings" are released. There are over 2800 estimated species Main on is sargassum muticum Relatively small, innocuous seaweed (1-2 m in length) can grow at up to 10 cm each day Life-span of 3-4 years The biological composition of sargassum has changed over time due to more sexual reproduction species are increasing variety is increasing a decline in pH, increase in summer temperatures, and changes in the abundance and distribution of Sargassum seaweed in the area might have contributed to these observations The variety is what allows it to keep growing