Open AccessNEW YORK MARINE BIOMASS PROGRAM‐CULTURE OF Laminaria saccharina
Author(s) -
Brinkhuis Boudewijn H.,
Breda Valeria A.,
Tobin Sheila,
Macler Bruce A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of the world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0735-0147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1983.tb00090.x
Subject(s) - laminaria , saccharina , sporophyte , biology , biomass (ecology) , kelp , algae , botany , population , fishery , ecology , demography , sociology
A marine biomass program was initiated in New York in 1980. Preliminary screening studies indicated that Laminaria saccharina L. is a good candidate for growth in seaweed/rope culturing systems. numerous laboratory tank and field raft‐culture experiments have examined the relationships between growth and ambient light, temperature and nitrogen levels throughout the year. Laminaria sporophytes appear in the field during the spring and late summer. Maximum growth rate (up to 8%•day ‐1 ) occurs in the fall and spring. During the winter months, growth continues at 0.5 to l%•day ‐1 while temperatures range from ‐1 to 4°C. A rapid increase in growth rate is observed when temperatures approach 6°C in late March. Growth ceases during the summer months and mature blades erode from distal portions. Much of the field population disappears during the summer months, while plants on rafts show greater survival. During the summer months of 1983, a small‐scale rope culture farm will be deployed and stocked with young Laminaria sporophytes.