Development of a sustainable land-based Gracilaria cultivation system

김장균,Charles Yarish 한국조류학회I 2014 ALGAE Vol.29 No.3

Land-based seaweed (Gracilaria) cultivation systems may provide products with high quality and biosafety for human consumption, as well as for other high value applications. However, a limitation for this land based system is high management costs. The objective of this study was to determine if the management costs for Gracilaria cultivation can be reduced without a decrease in productivity by using CO2 injection along with a high stocking density and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and commercially available fertilizers. When Gracilaria tikvahiae was cultivated at a high stocking density and high PAR, coupled with CO2 enhancement, the productivity was significantly higher than that at a lower stocking density, low light without CO2 injection. We also found that G. tikvahiae grown in a medium of commercially available fertilizer (Jack’s Special, JS) showed a similar growth rate and productivity to that grown in von Stosch's enriched (VSE) seawater, while the cost for JS media is only 2% of the cost for VSE. These results suggest that CO2 injection and commercial fertilizer may be a potential way to provide sustainability in land-based Gracilaria cultivation systems.

Development of a tide-simulating apparatus for macroalgae

김장균,Charles Yarish 한국조류학회I 2010 ALGAE Vol.25 No.1

A tide-simulating apparatus was developed for culturing marine macroalgae. The objective of this study was to introduce a novel tide-simulating apparatus that can simulate a diurnal or semi-diurnal tidal cycle in the laboratory. In this apparatus, the seaweeds are move up and down and the water level remains the same during the simulated tidal cycle. The apparatus consists of 18 cylindrical culture tanks (3 blocks × 6 culture tanks) with 12 cm diameter and 24.5 cm long containing up to 2.5 L of seawater. There is a horizontal plate which covered all 18 culture tanks, and it is raised and lowered by a programmable motor that can regulate exposure time. In one application, seaweeds are attached to braided twine hung on Plexiglas air-tubing. The air-tubing is attached to a lid that is set on a horizontal plate. This apparatus is made of colorless Plexiglas to maximize light transmittance. This apparatus is easily disassembled and transportable to any indoor laboratory, wet laboratory, greenhouse, etc. This apparatus also offers considerable flexibility in terms of design. The size of culture tank can be redesigned by either increasing the height of cylinder or/and using a different diameter of cylindrical Plexiglas, therefore, larger/taller thalli can be cultivated. Growth rates of three eulittoral Porphyra species from different tidal elevations have been compared using this device.

Seaweed aquaculture: cultivation technologies, challenges and its ecosystem services

김장균,Charles Yarish,황은경,박미선,김영대 한국조류학회I 2017 ALGAE Vol.32 No.1

Seaweed aquaculture technologies have developed dramatically over the past 70 years mostly in Asia and more recently in Americas and Europe. However, there are still many challenges to overcome with respect to the science and to social acceptability. The challenges include the development of strains with thermo-tolerance, disease resistance, fast growth, high concentration of desired molecules, the reduction of fouling organisms and the development of more robust and cost efficient farm systems that can withstand storm events in offshore environments. It is also important to note that seaweed aquaculture provides ecosystem services, which improve conditions of the coastal waters for the benefit of other living organisms and the environment. The ecosystem services role of seaweed aquaculture and its economic value will also be quantitatively estimated in this review.

Thermal and light impacts on the early growth stages of the kelp Saccharina angustissima (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae)

Augyte, Simona,Yarish, Charles,Neefus, Christopher D. The Korean Society of Phycology 2019 ALGAE Vol.34 No.2

Anthropogenic disturbances, including coastal habitat modification and climate change are threatening the stability of kelp beds, one of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems. To test the effect of temperature and irradiance on the microscopic gametophyte and juvenile sporophyte stages of the rare kelp, Saccharina angustissima, from Casco Bay, Maine, USA, we carried out two sets of experiments using a temperature gradient table. The first set of experiments combined temperatures between $7-18^{\circ}C$ with irradiance at 20, 40, and $80{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. The second set combined temperatures of $3-13^{\circ}C$ with irradiance of 10, 100, and $200{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Over two separate 4-week trials, in 2014 and again in 2015, we monitored gametogenesis, the early growth stages of the gametophytes, and early sporophyte development of this kelp. Gametophytes grew best at temperatures of $8-13^{\circ}C$ at the lowest irradiance of $10-{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Light had a significant effect on both male and female gametophyte growth only at the higher temperatures. Temperatures of $8-15^{\circ}C$ and irradiance levels of $10-100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$ were conditions for the highest sporophyte growth. Sporophyte and male gametophyte growth was reduced at both temperature extremes-the hottest and coldest temperatures tested. S. angustissima is a unique kelp species known only from a very narrow geographic region along the coast of Maine, USA. The coupling of global warming with high light intensity effects might pose stress on the early life-history stages of this kelp, although, as an intertidal species, it could also be better adapted to temperature and light extremes than its subtidal counterpart, Saccharina latissima.

Development of a tide-simulating apparatus for macroalgae

Kim, Jang-K.,Yarish, Charles The Korean Society of Phycology 2010 ALGAE Vol.25 No.1

A tide-simulating apparatus was developed for culturing marine macroalgae. The objective of this study was to introduce a novel tide-simulating apparatus that can simulate a diurnal or semi-diurnal tidal cycle in the laboratory. In this apparatus, the seaweeds are move up and down and the water level remains the same during the simulated tidal cycle. The apparatus consists of 18 cylindrical culture tanks (3 blocks $\times$ 6 culture tanks) with 12 cm diameter and 24.5 cm long containing up to 2.5 L of seawater. There is a horizontal plate which covered all 18 culture tanks, and it is raised and lowered by a programmable motor that can regulate exposure time. In one application, seaweeds are attached to braided twine hung on Plexiglas air-tubing. The air-tubing is attached to a lid that is set on a horizontal plate. This apparatus is made of colorless Plexiglas to maximize light transmittance. This apparatus is easily disassembled and transportable to any indoor laboratory, wet laboratory, greenhouse, etc. This apparatus also offers considerable flexibility in terms of design. The size of culture tank can be redesigned by either increasing the height of cylinder or/and using a different diameter of cylindrical Plexiglas, therefore, larger/taller thalli can be cultivated. Growth rates of three eulittoral Porphyra species from different tidal elevations have been compared using this device.

Thermal and light impacts on the early growth stages of the kelp Saccharina angustissima (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae)

Simona Augyte,Charles Yarish,Christopher D. Neefus 한국조류학회I 2019 ALGAE Vol.34 No.2

Anthropogenic disturbances, including coastal habitat modification and climate change are threatening the stabilityof kelp beds, one of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems. To test the effect of temperature and irradianceon the microscopic gametophyte and juvenile sporophyte stages of the rare kelp, Saccharina angustissima, from CascoBay, Maine, USA, we carried out two sets of experiments using a temperature gradient table. The first set of experimentscombined temperatures between 7-18°C with irradiance at 20, 40, and 80 μmol photons m-2 s-1. The second set combinedtemperatures of 3-13°C with irradiance of 10, 100, and 200 μmol photons m-2 s-1. Over two separate 4-week trials, in 2014and again in 2015, we monitored gametogenesis, the early growth stages of the gametophytes, and early sporophytedevelopment of this kelp. Gametophytes grew best at temperatures of 8-13°C at the lowest irradiance of 10-μmol photonsm-2 s-1. Light had a significant effect on both male and female gametophyte growth only at the higher temperatures. Temperatures of 8-15°C and irradiance levels of 10-100 μmol photons m-2 s-1 were conditions for the highest sporophytegrowth. Sporophyte and male gametophyte growth was reduced at both temperature extremes—the hottest and coldesttemperatures tested. S. angustissima is a unique kelp species known only from a very narrow geographic region alongthe coast of Maine, USA. The coupling of global warming with high light intensity effects might pose stress on the earlylife-history stages of this kelp, although, as an intertidal species, it could also be better adapted to temperature and lightextremes than its subtidal counterpart, Saccharina latissima.

Seaweed aquaculture: cultivation technologies, challenges and its ecosystem services

Kim, Jang K.,Yarish, Charles,Hwang, Eun Kyoung,Park, Miseon,Kim, Youngdae The Korean Society of Phycology 2017 ALGAE Vol.32 No.1

Seaweed aquaculture technologies have developed dramatically over the past 70 years mostly in Asia and more recently in Americas and Europe. However, there are still many challenges to overcome with respect to the science and to social acceptability. The challenges include the development of strains with thermo-tolerance, disease resistance, fast growth, high concentration of desired molecules, the reduction of fouling organisms and the development of more robust and cost efficient farm systems that can withstand storm events in offshore environments. It is also important to note that seaweed aquaculture provides ecosystem services, which improve conditions of the coastal waters for the benefit of other living organisms and the environment. The ecosystem services role of seaweed aquaculture and its economic value will also be quantitatively estimated in this review.

Development of a sustainable land-based Gracilaria cultivation system

Kim, Jang K.,Yarish, Charles The Korean Society of Phycology 2014 ALGAE Vol.29 No.3

Land-based seaweed (Gracilaria) cultivation systems may provide products with high quality and biosafety for human consumption, as well as for other high value applications. However, a limitation for this land based system is high management costs. The objective of this study was to determine if the management costs for Gracilaria cultivation can be reduced without a decrease in productivity by using $CO_2$ injection along with a high stocking density and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and commercially available fertilizers. When Gracilaria tikvahiae was cultivated at a high stocking density and high PAR, coupled with $CO_2$ enhancement, the productivity was significantly higher than that at a lower stocking density, low light without $CO_2$ injection. We also found that G. tikvahiae grown in a medium of commercially available fertilizer (Jack's Special, JS) showed a similar growth rate and productivity to that grown in von Stosch's enriched (VSE) seawater, while the cost for JS media is only 2% of the cost for VSE. These results suggest that $CO_2$ injection and commercial fertilizer may be a potential way to provide sustainability in land-based Gracilaria cultivation systems.

Growth and nutrient bioextraction of Gracilaria chorda, G. vermiculophylla, Ulva prolifera, and U. compressa under hypo- and hyper-osmotic conditions

Wu, Hailong,Shin, Sook Kyung,Jang, Sojin,Yarish, Charles,Kim, JangKyun The Korean Society of Phycology 2018 ALGAE Vol.33 No.4

The present study was to determine the effects of salinity on the growth and nutrient bioextraction abilities of Gracilaria and Ulva species, and to determine if these seaweeds can be used for nutrient bioextraction under hypo- and / or hyperosmotic conditions. Two Gracilaria species, G. chorda and G. vermiculophylla, and two Ulva species, U. prolifera and U. compressa, were cultured at various salinity conditions (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 psu) for 3 weeks. Results showed that the growth rates, nutrient uptake, tissue nutrient contents and nutrient removal were significantly affected by salinity and species. All four species were euryhaline with the highest growth rates at 20 psu. Among the four species, U. prolifera, U. compressa, and G. vermiculophylla showed potential to be used for nutrient bioextraction in estuaries and / or land-based fish farms due to their rapid growth, high nutrient uptake, high tissue carbon and nitrogen accumulation and removal capacities.

The effects of temperature on the growth rate and nitrogen content of invasive Gracilaria vermiculophylla and native Gracilaria tikvahiae from Long Island Sound, USA

Gorman, Leah,Kraemer, George P.,Yarish, Charles,Boo, Sung Min,Kim, Jang K. The Korean Society of Phycology 2017 ALGAE Vol.32 No.1

The red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla, a species native to the waters of Korea and Japan, has invaded marine coastal areas of Europe and the Americas, thriving in conditions that differ from those of its native habitat. In recent years, G. vermiculophylla has been discovered in the Long Island Sound (LIS) estuary growing alongside the native congener Gracilaria tikvahiae. The goal of this study was to determine whether the two strains of G. vermiculophylla from different regions of the world have evolved genetic differences (i.e., ecotypic differentiation) or if the physiological performance of the strains simply reflects phenotypic plasticity. Two strains of G. vermiculophylla (isolated in Korea and LIS) and a strain of the LIS native G. tikvahiae were grown for four weeks under temperatures ranging from 20 to $34^{\circ}C$ using a temperature gradient table (all other environmental conditions were kept constant). At the end of each week, wet weight of each sample was recorded, and thalli were reduced to the original stocking density of $1gL^{-1}$ (excess biomass was preserved for tissue carbon and nitrogen analysis). Generally, the growth rates of Korean G. vermiculophylla > LIS G. vermiculophylla > G. tikvahiae. After one week of growth G. tikvahiae grew 9.1, 12.0, 9.4, and 0.2% $d^{-1}$, at temperatures of 20, 24, 29, and $34^{\circ}C$, respectively, while G. vermiculophylla (LIS) grew 6.6, 6.2, 5.7, and 3.6% $d^{-1}$. G. vermiculophylla (Korea) grew 15.4, 22.9, 23.2, and 10.1% $d^{-1}$, much higher than the two strains currently inhabiting the LIS. On average, the LIS G. vermiculophylla strain contained 4-5% DW N, while the Korean strain and G. tikvahiae had more modest levels of 2-3% N DW. However, tissue N content declined as temperature increased in LIS and Korean G. vermiculophylla. The non-native haplotype may have evolved genetic differences resulting in lower growth capacity while concentrating significantly more nitrogen, giving the non-native a competitive advantage.