Next Article in Journal
Unlocking the Potential of Green Gravel Production for Efficient Kelp Restoration: How Seeding Density Affects the Development of the Golden Kelp Laminaria ochroleuca
Previous Article in Journal
Microalgal Diversity and Molecular Ecology: A Comparative Study of Classical and Metagenomic Approaches in Ponds of the Eifel National Park, Germany
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Phycology
Volume 4
Issue 3
10.3390/phycology4030024
phycology-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Biodiversity and Reproductive Status of Beach-Cast Seaweeds from Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil: Sustainable Use and Conservation

by
Iago A. G. Martins
1,*,
Thiago H. Basílio
2,
Igor L. F. dos Santos
3 and
Mutue T. Fujii
4
1
Post-Graduate Programme ‘Vegetal Biodiversity and Environment’, Institute of Environmental Research—IPA, Av. Miguel Estefno 3687, São Paulo 04301-012, Brazil
2
Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Laboratory—LEPA, Federal Institute of Education of Espírito Santo—IFES, Campus Piúma, Augusto Da Costa Oliveira St., Piúma 29285-000, Brazil
3
AlgasBio., Vila Velha St., 603, Piúma 29285-000, Brazil
4
Biodiversity Conservation Center, Institute of Environmental Research—IPA, Av. Miguel Estefno 3687, São Paulo 04301-012, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Phycology 2024, 4(3), 427-442; https://doi.org/10.3390/phycology4030024
Submission received: 22 April 2024 / Revised: 30 August 2024 / Accepted: 2 September 2024 / Published: 5 September 2024
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
The state of Espírito Santo has one of the greatest diversities of macroalgae along the Brazilian coast. Beach-cast seaweeds are a frequent phenomenon and exhibit great diversity. This study assessed stranded macroalgae’s composition and reproductive status to evaluate their potential for sustainable use by the local community. Monthly collections were carried out from March to November 2022, covering the rainy and dry seasons, on five beaches in Espírito Santo: three in the north and two in the south. At each beach, two 50 m transects were set up parallel to the coastline over the stranded algae patches, one near the wave-breaking zone during low tide and another around high tide, and three 1 × 1 m quadrants were randomly selected in each transect. All material within each quadrant was collected, resulting in six samples per beach. We identified 81 taxa, including 54 Rhodophyta, 16 Ulvophyceae and 11 Phaeophyceae. The taxon composition was relatively consistent across the studied regions, with the rainy season exhibiting the greatest species richness. Seventeen of the identified taxa had reproductive structures, although only four consistently presented these structures. Our results suggest that removing stranded macroalgae does not significantly impact their role as propagule sources.

1. Introduction

The Brazilian coast is represented by more than 800 marine macroalgae species, encompassing tropical and subtropical regions. The state of Espírito Santo is located in the transition zone between these two regions, enabling the occurrence of species with tropical and subtropical affinities. So far, 416 taxa corresponding to 257 red (Rhodophyta), 97 green (Ulvophyceae) and 62 brown (Phaeophyceae) macroalgae have been registered in this state [1,2,3,4,5]. The coastline of Espírito Santo extends for approximately 370 km between Ponta dos Lençois, on the border with the state of Bahia (18°20′ S–39°10′ W), and Foz do Rio Itabapoana, on the border with the state of Rio de Janeiro (21°18′ S–40°57′ W) [6]. This region is characterized by a wide variety of consolidated substrates suitable for the development and growth of algal communities [6,7,8,9,10,11,12].
It is common to observe substantial amounts of macroalgal biomass washed ashore after high tides along the coast of Espírito Santo. Despite its frequent occurrence, the composition of this material remains poorly understood, and its biomass has yet to be utilized efficiently [4,11]. This biomass accumulation often causes problems as it decomposes, producing strong odors that render beaches less desirable for tourism and recreational activities. Some local governments have implemented programs to remove these algae and keep beaches attractive to tourists [13]. In several municipalities of Espírito Santo, algae are collected and sent to landfills, withholding adequate use by managers or the local community. However, there are some initiatives for the sustainable use of these fishery resources, such as the production of biostimulants and the commercialization of extracts for agricultural applications [14].
Since 2011, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico regions have received massive influxes of the brown macroalgae Sargassum C. Agardh [15], whose frequency has increased over time [15,16,17]. However, massive monospecific strandings are relatively uncommon along the Brazilian coast. Exceptions include two recorded monospecific Sargassum strandings on the north and northeast Brazilian coasts in July 2011 [16], with additional events in 2014 and 2015 [18]. Along the Brazilian coast, multispecific stranded macroalgae are reported frequently on many beaches, comprising an assembly of red, brown and green algae species [4,10,13,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26].
The biomass of stranded algae is rich in nitrogen, potassium and calcium, which makes it suitable for use as a natural fertilizer in the form of liquid extracts or powder. Their use offers several advantages over chemical fertilizers [20,24,25,27,28,29]; however, they remain largely underexploited. As fertilizers, macroalgae act as regulators in plant nutrition, enhancing the plant’s ability to respond to stress conditions more effectively [27,28,29]. Thus, the occurrence of algal strandings aligns with the growing demand for macroalgal biomass, which serves as raw material in several industries, particularly in agriculture, for use as a biostimulant and in food production [27,28,29].
Harb and Chow [13] have highlighted the growing demand for new marine natural products in which macroalgae are the primary raw material. Therefore, the availability of a large amount of algal biomass is crucial for this activity to be sustainable and avoid further degradation of marine environments. However, the current marine algal cultivation facilities and extractivism cannot meet the biomass demand. Therefore, stranded algae represent a promising alternative, as these events deposit large quantities of algal biomass that are easily accessible for collection [13,30].
Despite Brazil’s richness and abundance of macroalgae, their utilization is limited [13,30]. Every year, local authorities remove large quantities of seaweed from beaches during cleaning operations, often discarding it in landfills or incinerating it. Given the lack of an adequate market budget for this material in Brazil [13,30], identifying a commercial destination for these algae could significantly enhance their value. Therefore, controlled harvesting in specific areas where stranded algae are seen as a problem could simultaneously clean up affected beaches and produce various economic products, such as feed for marine fauna and livestock, agricultural fertilizers and soil conditioners [31]. These algae represent a valuable resource due to their secondary metabolites and potential applications in the agricultural industry [32,33,34].
However, the sustainable use of stranded algae must be carefully considered to preserve the resource and the ecosystems that depend on it. Harvesting stranded macroalgae can negatively impact coastal ecosystems by removing sand with the material, which may accelerate erosion and change the beach’s topographic profile [31]. Another concern is that some taxa of marine algae, such as Sargassum, can retain their reproductive viability after detachment from their substrates. Consequently, drifting algae can significantly contribute to the dispersal of propagules over long distances through both sexual and asexual reproduction [35,36].
In this study, we analyzed the taxonomic composition of stranded algae to better understand the species’ composition occurring in these phenomena, thereby enabling more effective biomass management and sustainable use of this resource. This research is part of a broader project with a social technology bias, coordinated by the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (Piúma campus), aimed to promote the use of macroalgae biomass available on beaches as the basis for a biostimulant that the local fishing community can easily manufacture. In addition, we also documented the reproductive status of the stranded macroalgae to ensure that their removal does not disrupt the maintenance of source populations by interrupting the supply of propagules these algae would provide.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area and Sampling

From March to November 2022, stranded algae were sampled monthly at five beaches along the coast of Espírito Santo: three in the north, in the municipalities of Aracruz (Barra do Sahy,) and Fundão (Enseada das Garças, Imigrantes), and two in the south, in Piúma (Central Beach) and Itapemirim (Itaoca) Figure 1).
Collections were carried out during low tide. The project execution was authorized by the Biodiversity Authorization and Information System–SISBIO No. 78465-1/85335. The sampling area was divided into two sub-areas: one near the wave-breaking zone during low tide and the other around the wave-breaking zone during high tide. In each sub-area, a 50 m transect was set up parallel to the coastline over the stranded algal patches. Three 1 × 1 m quadrants were randomly selected within these transects [4]. All material within the quadrant was collected, resulting in six samples per beach. The stranded algae were manually removed from the beaches using rakes and wheelbarrows. The collected algae were washed in situ with seawater in perforated plastic crates to remove excess debris and associated fauna. Afterward, the material was stored in plastic bags and immediately transported to the macroalgae processing facility at the Federal Institute of Education of Espírito Santo (IFES—Piúma Campus, Píuma, ES, Brazil).
The samples were washed with tap water, carefully cleaned of coarse debris and weighed using a precision balance for subsequent processing related to sustainable use research. The entire batch from each quadrat of collected algae was homogenized by manual mixing during the triage. Of these, 10% was set aside to analyze the algal species’ richness and reproductive status, ensuring representativeness on an analytical scale, considering two significant figures. This material was frozen and sent to the Institute of Environmental Research (IPA— SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) for further analysis.

2.2. Taxonomic Analysis and Assessment of Reproductive Status

The morphological identification of collected algae was performed using a Zeiss Stemi 2000-C stereomicroscope and a Zeiss Primo Star microscope (Zeiss, Göttingen, Germany). Identification was based on existing literature from previous taxonomic studies of stranded algae in this region [4]. Specimens with insufficient morphological detail for species-level diagnosis were identified at the generic level. After taxonomic treatment, the material was dried overnight in an oven at 60 °C and placed in plastic bags for storage. During identification, the reproductive status of the taxa was recorded as either present or absent based on the observation of reproductive structures [4].

2.3. Statistical Analyses

The analyses considered spatial (north and south coast) and temporal (dry and rainy periods) factors. The relative frequency of occurrence of a species was also calculated using the following equation:
Fr = I/It
where Fr represents the frequency of occurrence of a particular taxon as a percentage; I is the number of records of that species; and It is the total number of records for all species during the study. This calculation was performed separately for Rhodophyta, Phaeophyceae and Ulvophyceae, considering the total number of taxa recorded between all groups. For graphical representation, only the ten most frequent species were included due to the large number of red algae species and the large number of records. All species of brown and green algae were represented in the graphs, given their fewer species and total records.
In addition, the Feldmann [37] and Cheney [38] indices for the phytogeographic distribution of algae were applied, as described by the following equations:
F = R/P
C = (R + U)/P
where F is the Feldmann index; R is the number of Rhodophyta species; P is the number of Phaeophyceae species; C is the Cheney index; and U is the number of Ulvophyceae species. In this index, if F > 4, the studied region is typically tropical, while F < 2 corresponds to colder and temperate areas. Values of the Cheney index C > 6 characterized an area as tropical, while if C < 3, the area was characterized as temperate.
Graphical representations of qualitative data were produced using Microsoft Excel v.2013 and Microsoft PowerPoint programs v.2013.

3. Results

3.1. Taxonomic Data

A total of 81 taxa (genera and species) were identified: 54 Rhodophyta, 16 Ulvophyceae and 11 Phaeophyceae. Specifically, 59 were identified at Enseada das Garças Beach, 51 at Barra do Sahy Beach, 51 at Itaoca Beach, 44 at the Central Beach in Piúma and 38 at Imigrantes Beach. Of these, only 23 were common across all beaches, comprising 10 Rhodophyta, 7 Phaeophyceae and 3 Ulvophyceae (Table 1).
On the northern coast, an average of 49 taxa were recorded across the three studied beaches, while on the southern coast, an average of 47 taxa were recorded at the two beaches. Among the recorded taxa, 17 species presented reproductive structures, but only 4 had them throughout the studied period. Additionally, 57 taxa were listed during the dry season compared to 76 during the rainy season (Table 1).
The frequencies of the macroalgae identified in this study, categorized by group, are shown in Figure 2. In red algae, only the ten most frequently recorded are listed. Among the brown algae, Zonaria tournefortii stood out with approximately 32% of all records for this class. Among green algae, Ulva lactuca and Anadyomene stellata comprised approximately 44% of the total records.
The ten most frequent beach-cast macroalgae found in this study are shown in Figure 3.
Regarding their distribution, we found 66 taxa on the northern coast, with 21 occurring exclusively in this region (right circles). In contrast, the southern coast presented 60 taxa, 15 of which were recorded solely in this region (left circles) (Figure 4). Regarding seasonality, we found 76 taxa during the rainy period, out of which 24 were only found during this season (right circles). In the dry period, we recorded 57 taxa, with only 8 occurring exclusively during this time of year (left circles) (Figure 5). The intersections in the graphs represent the co-occurrence of taxa in both regions or seasons. During July and November, stranded macroalgae on the southern coast were insufficient for collection, likely due to the wind direction during these months.
The number of taxa recorded at each beach was relatively similar (Figure 6); however, the Imigrantes beach exhibited fewer red algae taxa than the other beaches. The Enseada das Garças beach had the highest number of taxa for all groups. While the occurrence of stranded algae was generally not influenced by seasonality, we observed a higher richness of Rhodophyta species during the rainy season. In contrast, Phaeophyceae and Ulvophyceae species increased slightly between the two seasons (Figure 7). Nonetheless, this increase does not imply a direct correlation with seasonality. Monthly data analysis revealed a decrease in taxa for all groups, suggesting that the highest species richness of stranded algae on the Espírito Santo coast occurs from March to June, particularly for red algae (Figure 7). Still, the species richness of brown and green algae varied little, indicating that many species may be perennial.
The Feldmann and Cheney indices revealed that in terms of phytogeography, the beaches of Espírito Santo are characteristically intermediate (Table 2), consistent with existing literature describing this region as a transitional area between tropical and subtropical waters [5].

3.2. Reproductive Structures

Among the species analyzed, 17 showed reproductive structures between the phylum Rhodophyta and the class Phaeophyceae. Nine of these species belong to Rhodophyta: Alsidium seaforthii, Calliblepharis jolyi, Gracilaria domingensis, G. cuneata, Halymenia integra, Laurencia dendroidea, Ochtodes secundiramea, Osmundaria obtusiloba, Plocamium brasiliense and Spyridia clavata. Only O. obtusiloba showed tetrasporangial structures throughout the year. The remaining algae with reproductive structures were recorded sporadically, without a consistent presence even within their respective beach during a particular month (Table 1).
Reproductive structures are typically found on individual branches intermingled with various branches lacking reproductive traits, suggesting that these algae do not have a well-defined reproductive period.
Eight species of Phaeophyceae showed reproductive structures during the study period. However, it was impossible to define whether they were gametes or spores, except for Sargassum spp., which produces male and female gametes in the same receptacle. These species were Dictyopteris jolyana, Dictyota ciliolata, Lobophora variegata, Padina gymnospora, Sargassum stenophyllum, S. vulgare, Spatoglossum schroederi and Zonaria tournefortii. Of these, only the two species of Sargassum and Z. tournefortii consistently presented reproductive structures throughout the year, being an exception among the other Phaeophyceae. Correlating seasonality with reproductive activity for the recorded algae was impossible, as the number of reproductively functional taxa for both groups remained almost constant across the two seasons (Figure 8).

4. Discussion

Our results are consistent with previous studies in this region [4,9,11,12,14]. We examined the differences in species richness related to seasonality and geographic distribution for the state of Espírito Santo, which had not been previously undertaken comparatively. Notably, there is a great richness of stranded marine macroalgae species, particularly within the red algae, underscoring the need for further research to increase our knowledge of the Espírito Santo coastal flora.
Guimarães [11,12] and Boltovskoy and Valentin [39] attribute the rich diversity of marine macroalgae species along the coast of Espírito Santo to its geographical position, the wide variety of substrates available for algae growth and the influence of cold ocean currents that allow greater water transparency. These conditions make it possible to facilitate the coexistence of species with tropical and subtropical affinities in the same location, as demonstrated by the Feldmann and Cheney indices. Additionally, Guimarães [11] observed that the southern region of the Espírito Santo state has a greater diversity of macroalgal species than the northern region, primarily due to the greater availability of substrates for algal fixation. Conversely, in the northern region, near the state boundary, rivers and large stretches of sandy beaches disrupt macroalgae presence, thereby decreasing the number of species.
In the present study, the northern and southern regions of Espírito Santo did not differ in the number of macroalgal species. Although the Barra do Sahy beach, located in the north of the state, is near a large shipyard, which we initially hypothesized might impact the number of local macroalgal species, our findings did not support this hypothesis. The species richness was similar in both regions, with the highest amount of stranded algae species recorded at Enseada das Garças Beach, situated in the municipality of Fundão on the northern coast of Espírito Santo. It is important to note that the northern coast considered in this study shares environmental characteristics with the southern coast due to their relative proximity. This area is located within an Environmental Protection Area named “Costa das Algas”, which has abundant reefs and rocky shores, differing from the conditions described by Guimarães [12].
The high number of stranded algae species is likely attributed to the extensive shallow sandstone reefs near the beaches. These algae may be more susceptible to the direct effects of tides and wave action, leading to their detachment from their substrate and eventual deposition on the sand. In contrast, algae from the southern coast are often associated with rhodolith banks [11,12].
The southern region hosts various coastal ecosystems supporting many macroalgae species, particularly in coastal islands, sandstone reefs and rocky shores. These environments are ideal for macroalgae development in the region [40,41]. In Piúma, on the southern coast, Basilio et al. (2020) found 62 species associated with the rocky shores of the coastal islands, indicating that many of these species are of local origin [14]. However, only 26 species were found in the collected stranded macroalgae in the present study, demonstrating that many species are not part of the macroalgal community in the areas near the beaches in this region. In the present study, 44 species of macroalgae were identified on the central coast of the municipality of Piúma, emphasizing that most of these species occur in deeper regions and not on the rocky shores and coastal islands of the municipality.
In the latest survey of stranded macroalgae along the southeastern coast of Brazil, 41 taxa were identified in the municipality of Itapemirim, comprising 6 green, 9 brown and 26 red algae. In contrast, only 24 species were listed for the municipality of Piúma, including 16 red and 8 brown algae [4,14]. The present study expands the number of species documented in southeastern Brazil, identifying 51 species in Itapemirim and 41 in Piúma.
Another factor to consider is that the algae found on other beaches are likely from deeper regions, particularly from rhodolith banks, as many were still attached to this type of substrate at the time of collection. The number of stranded algae species was slightly higher in March than from August to November. In some months, the absence of stranded algae may be related to oceanographic conditions, wind direction and current patterns, which may reduce the algal detachment from deeper areas, resulting in less material reaching the beaches.
Regarding seasonality, this study found a slight difference in the number of stranded algae species, with higher occurrences from March to August, followed by a decrease from August to November.
Many of the species found have nutraceutical potential [4,13,20,27,28,29,30,41,42] and could be considered as alternative sources for obtaining these raw materials due to their occurrence throughout the year. Some examples include Osmundaria obtusiloba, Zonaria tournefortii and Sargassum spp. This finding aligns with this study’s intent of contributing to developing an accessible biostimulant.
A chemical evaluation conducted by Ferreira et al. [25] on stranded macroalgae at Pacheco Beach, Ceará state, highlighted the nutritional potential of many species also found in this study, including Gracilaria cearensis, Hypnea pseudomusciformis and Ulva lactuca (as U. fasciata). These species can be used for the production of organic fertilizers, given their higher concentration of macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) than commercial fertilizers. In the case of micronutrients, the concentration in the algae and the commercial fertilizers did not differ. However, the iron levels, which can be toxic at high concentrations, were considerably higher in commercial fertilizers [25].
The primary objective of this paper was achieved by providing baseline information on identifying potential taxa of occurring stranded macroalgae from the coastline of Espírito Santo that are already effective in biostimulant production. The effectiveness of biostimulants has been reported by local fishermen, who have successfully used these extracts on their plantations, thus aligning with findings from other studies that support their application as biostimulants [25,27,28,29,42].
Ulaski et al. [36] conducted a study on glacial beaches, confirming that stranded algae can maintain their reproductive viability for days after being deposited on a beach. However, the authors noted that these algae are unlikely to play a significant role in sustaining living populations.
Our results suggest that removing this material to maintain algal populations has no ecological risk, as few species presented reproductive structures, and even fewer were reproductively active throughout the study period. This finding supports the notion that under stable conditions, marine macroalgae commonly remain in a vegetative state [43]. Furthermore, most reproductive elements (vegetative or sexual) in washed-up algae are likely released while drifting, even before they are deposited on a beach.
It is also important to note that the algae exhibiting reproductive structures throughout the year are typically found in intertidal zones, rocky shores and sandstone reefs [12,44,45]. These species are adapted to environments where stress factors are common and intense. Thus, producing reproductive structures may be more efficient in these taxa than in other more characteristic or infralittoral regions, such as Alsidium seaforthii or Dichotomaria marginata. The latter species was never observed with reproductive structures, while the former was recorded twice with reproductive structures during the study.

5. Conclusions

  • Beach-cast macroalgae occur throughout the year, with higher richness during the rainy season;
  • Temporal factors influence the occurrence and composition of stranded macroalgae, with the rainy season exhibiting greater richness;
  • The taxonomic composition of the stranded macroalgae did not differ significantly between the northern and southern coasts of Espírito Santo;
  • Stranded macroalgae along the coast of Espírito Santo do not appear to play a substantial role in the production and supply of propagules for their respective populations;
  • Most species with reproductive structures did not show significant spatial or temporal patterns.

Author Contributions

Material collection, I.A.G.M., I.L.F.d.S. and T.H.B.; taxonomic and reproductive analyses, I.A.G.M. and M.T.F.; manuscript preparation, I.A.G.M. and M.T.F.; manuscript review, I.A.G.M., I.L.F.d.S., M.T.F. and T.H.B.; organization of the larger project under which this study was inserted, I.L.F.d.S., M.T.F. and T.H.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the Brazilian agency CNPq (National Council of Scientific and Technological Development—Brazil) Process 311195/2021-0; The EJA (Jurong Aracruz Shipyard) (Public Call for Research and Extension Projects No. 22/2021—FACTO/EJA/IFES) and FAPES (Espírito Santo Research and Innovation Support Foundation) Notice Number 10/2021.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

Additional support was provided by collaborators from the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (IFES—Piúma) during the sampling and sample conditioning stages of the study. We acknowledge the Jurong Shipyard for funding the project, the Espírito Santo Research and Innovation Support Foundation (FAPES) and the Foundation for Support of Science and Technology Development (FACTO) for their support in implementing the activities. We also thank Fábio Nauer da Silva for his assistance with the statistical analyses. I.A.G.M. and M.T.F. thank the CNPq, respectively, for the Master’s Degree scholarship (Process 162031/2021-1) and the Research Productivity scholarship (Process 311195/2021-0).

Conflicts of Interest

Author Igor L. F. dos Santos was employed by the company AlgasBio. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; or in the writing of the manuscript.

References

  1. Menezes, M.; Bicudo, C.E.M.; Moura, C.W.N.; Alves, A.M.; Santos, A.A.; Pedrini, A.G.; Araújo, A.; Tucci, A.; Fajar, A.; Malone, C.; et al. Update of the Brazilian floristic list of Algae and Cyanobacteria. Rodriguésia 2015, 66, 1047–1062. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Flora e Funga do Brasil. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. 2022. Available online: http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/ (accessed on 20 January 2024).
  3. Bicudo, C.E.M.; Menezes, M. Introdução: As algas do Brasil. In Catálogo de Plantas e Fungos do Brasil; Forzza, R.C., Ed.; Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Andrea Jakobsson Estúdio: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2010; Volume 1, pp. 49–60. [Google Scholar]
  4. Cavalcanti, M.I.L.G.; Fujii, M.T. Macroalgas Arribadas da Costa Brasileira: Biodiversidade e Potencial de Aproveitamento, 1st ed.; Editora CRV: Curitiba, Brazil, 2021. [Google Scholar]
  5. Horta, P.A.; Amâncio, E.; Coimbra, C.S.; Oliveira, E.C. Considerações sobre a distribuição e origem da flora de macroalgas marinhas brasileiras. Hoehnea 2001, 28, 243–265. [Google Scholar]
  6. Abreu, S.F. Feições morfológicas e demográficas do litoral do Espírito Santo. Rev. Bras. De Geogr. 1943, 5, 215–234. [Google Scholar]
  7. Mabesoone, J.M.; Coutinho, P.N. Littoral and shallow marine geology of northern and northeastern Brazil. Trab. Ocean 1970, 12, 214. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Petri, S.; Fúlfaro, V.J. Geologia Do Brasil; Queiroz, T.A., Ed.; University of São Paulo: São Paulo, Brazil, 1983; 631p. [Google Scholar]
  9. Suguio, K.; Tessler, M.G. Planícies de cordões litorâneos quaternários do Brasil: Origem e nomenclatura. In Restingas, Origem, Estrutura, Processos; UFF: Niteroi, Brazil, 1984; 477p. [Google Scholar]
  10. Amado-Filho, G.M.; Pereira-Filho, G.H. Rhodolith beds in Brazil: A new potential habitat for marine bioprospection. Rev. Bras. De Farmacogn. 2012, 22, 782–788. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Guimarães, S.M.P.B. Uma análise da diversidade da flora marinha bentônica do estado do Espirito Santo, Brasil. Hoehnea 2003, 30, 11–19. [Google Scholar]
  12. Guimarães, S.M.P.B. A revised checklist of benthic marine Rhodophyta from the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Bol. Inst. Botânica 2006, 17, 143–194. [Google Scholar]
  13. Harb, T.B.; Chow, F. An overview of stranded seaweeds: Potential and opportunities for the valorization of underused waste biomass. Algal Res. 2022, 62, 102643. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Basilio, T.H.; Chow, F.; Harb, T.B.; Soares, L.P.; Araújo, P.G.; Machado, L.P.; Hohn, G.R.; Dos Santos, I.L.F.; Mattos, H.L.; Fujii, M.T. Algas Marinhas IN: Biodiversidade e Conservação Das Ilhas Costeiras do Litoral Sul Capixaba; Lura Editorial: São Paulo, Brazil, 2020; 252p. [Google Scholar]
  15. Wang, M.; Hu, C.; Barnes, B.B.; Mitchum, G.; Lapointe, B.; Montoya, J.P. The great Atlantic Sargassum belt. Science 2019, 365, 83–87. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Széchy, M.T.; Guedes, P.M.; Baeta-Neves, M.H.; Oliveira, E.N. Verification of Sargassum natans (Linnaeus) Gaillon (Heterokontophyta: Phaeophyceae) from the Sargasso Sea off the coast of Brazil, western Atlantic Ocean. Check List 2012, 8, 638–641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Arita, J.T.; Iporac, L.A.; Bally, N.K.; Fujii, M.T.; Collado-Vides, L. Integrative literature analysis of Holopelagic Sargassum (sargasso) in the Western Atlantic (2011–2022): Status, trends, and gaps. Phycology 2023, 3, 447–458. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Sissini, M.N.; de Barros Barreto, M.B.; Széchy, M.T.; de Lucena, M.B.; Oliveira, M.C.; Gower, J.; Liu, G.; de Oliveira Bastos, E.; Milstein, D.; Gusmão, F.; et al. The floating Sargassum (Phaeophyceae) of the South Atlantic Ocean—Likely scenarios. Phycologia 2017, 56, 321–328. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Cavalcanti, M.I.L.G.; Fujii, M.T. Stranded seaweeds from Itaqui Beach, coast of the State of Piauí, Northeast of Brazil. Pesqui. Botânica 2021, 75, 381–414. [Google Scholar]
  20. Harb, T.B.; Pereira, M.S.; Cavalcanti, M.I.L.G.; Fujii, M.T.; Chow, F. Antioxidant activity and related chemical composition of extracts from Brazilian stranded marine algae: Opportunities of turning a waste into a resource. J. Appl. Phycol. Dordr. 2021, 33, 1–13. [Google Scholar]
  21. Câmara-Neto, C. Contribuição ao conhecimento qualitativo e quantitativo das “arribadas” da Redinha. Bol. Inst. Biol. Mar. 1971, 5, 3–30. [Google Scholar]
  22. Praciano, P.R.S. Composição e Estimativa das Algas Depositadas em Praias do ESTADO do CEARÁ, no Período de Julho de 1976 a Junho de 1977; Monografia de Bacharelado em Engenharia de Pesca; Universidade Federal do Ceará: Fortaleza, Brazil, 1977; 14p. [Google Scholar]
  23. Câmara-Neto, C.; Araújo, R.A.; Melo Filho, N.R.; Soares, M.L.; Costa, P.N. Composição e estimativa da biomassa das algas arribadas, em praias do Rio Grande do Norte. SUDENE Estud. Pesca 1981, 9, 85–95. [Google Scholar]
  24. Guedes, E.A.C.; Moura, A.N. Estudos da biomassa e composição mineral de algas arribadas em praias do litoral norte de Alagoas. Bol. Estud. Ciências Mar. 1996, 9, 19–30. [Google Scholar]
  25. Ferreira, G.S.; Brito, P.O.B.; Aderaldo, F.I.C.; Carneiro, P.B.M.; Rocha, A.M.; Gondim, F.A. Algas arribadas da Praia do Pacheco, Ceará, Brasil. Rev. Verde Agroecol. E Desenvolv. Sustentável 2020, 15, 208–214. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Cavalcanti, M.I.L.G.; Sánchez, P.M.G.; Fujii, M.T. Comparison of the diversity and biomass of beach-cast seaweeds from NE and Se Brazil. Eur. J. Phycol. 2022, 57, 367–376. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Ali, O.; Ramsubhag, A.; Jayaraman, J. Biostimulant properties of seaweed extracts in plants: Implications towards sustainable crop production. Plants 2021, 10, 531. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Santos, J.P.; Torres, P.; Amorim, A.M.; da Silva BN, T.; dos Santos DY, A.C.; Chow, F. Biostimulant potential of Brazilian macroalgae: Seasonal variations and effects on early growth and germination of lettuce. Braz. J. Bot. 2023, 46, 767–774. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Araújo, N.H. Avaliação de Produção de Compostos a Partir de Algas Marinhas Arribadas Como Alternativa Para a Adubação de Hortaliças. Dissertação de Mestrado, UFPB, Programa de Desenvolvimento em Meio Ambiente–PRODEMA, Paraíba, Brasil, 2016. [Google Scholar]
  30. Mandalka, A.; Cavalcanti, M.I.; Harb, T.B.; Fujii, M.T.; Eisner, P.; Schweiggert-Weisz, U.; Chow, F. Nutritional composition of stranded marine algae from the Brazilian coast: Added value for algal biomass considered as waste. Foods 2022, 11, 1201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  31. Kirkman, H.; Kendrick, G.A. Ecological significance and commercial harvesting of drifting and stranded macroalgae and seagrasses in Australia: A review. J. Appl. Phycol. 1997, 9, 311–326. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Jimenez-Escrig, A.; Sanchez-Muniz, F.J. Dietary fibre from edible seaweeds: Chemical structure, physicochemical properties and effects on cholesterol metabolism. Nutr. Res. 2000, 20, 585–598. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Gressler, V.; Yokoya, N.S.; Fujii, M.T.; Colepicolo, P.; Mancini Filho, J.; Torres, R.P.; Pinto, E. Lipid, fatty acid, protein, amino acid and ash contents in four Brazilian red algae species. Food Chem. 2010, 120, 585–590. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Gressler, V.; Fujii, M.T.; Martins, A.P.; Colepicolo, P.; Mancini-Filho, J.; Pinto, E. Biochemical composition of two red seaweed species grown on the Brazilian coast. J. Sci. Food Agric. 2011, 91, 1687–1692. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. McKenzie, P.F.; Bellgrove, A. Dispersal of Hormosira banksii (Phaeophyceae) via detached fragments: Reproductive viability and longevity. J. Phycol. 2008, 44, 1108–1115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Ulaski, B.P.; Otis, E.O.; Konar, B. How landscape variables influence the relative abundance, composition, and reproductive viability of macroalgal wrack in a high latitude glacial estuary. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2023, 280, 108169. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Feldmann, J. Recherches sur la végétation marine de la Méditerranée. La Côte des Albères. Rev. Algol. 1937, 10, 1–339. [Google Scholar]
  38. Cheney, D.P. R and C/P-new and improved ratio for comparing seaweed floras. J. Phycol. 1977, 13, 12. [Google Scholar]
  39. Boltovskoy, D.; Valentin, J.L. Overview of the history of biological oceanography in the southwestern Atlantic, with emphasis on plankton. In Plankton Ecology of the Southwestern Atlantic: From the Subtropical to the Subantarctic Realm; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2018; pp. 3–34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Basilio, T.H. Unidades Ambientais e a Pesca Artesanal em Piúma, Espí-Rito Santo, Brasil, 1st ed.; Laura Editorial: São Paulo, Brazil, 2016. [Google Scholar]
  41. Bernardi, J. Variação da Atividade Antioxidante em Macroalgas Recifais de Pernambuco. Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Recife, Brazil, 2018; 140p. [Google Scholar]
  42. Pereira, L.M. Biodiversidade de Algas Marinhas Arribadas na Praia de Candeias-PE e Avaliação do Potencial Como Substrato Para Cultivo de Hortaliças Microverdes. Dissertação de Mestrado, Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais, da Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística, São Paulo, Brazil, 2023; 59p. [Google Scholar]
  43. Braga, M.R.A.; Fujii, M.T.; Yokoya, N.S.; Eston, V.R.; Plastino, E.M.; Cordeiro-Marino, M. Macroalgal Reproductive Patterns in Mangroves of Ilha do Cardoso, SP, Brazil. In Anais do 2th Simpósio de Ecossistemas da Costa Sul e Sudeste Brasileira–Estrutura, Função e Manejo; ACIESP n. 71-1; ACIESP–Academia de Ciências do Estado de São Paulo: São Paulo, Brazil, 1990; pp. 314–326. [Google Scholar]
  44. de Paula, É.J. O Gênero Sargassum, C. Ag. (Phaeophyta-Fucales) no Litoral do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Bolm. Botânica 1988, 10, 65–118. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Nunes, J.M.C.; de Paula, É.J. Composição e distribuição das Phaeophyta nos recifes da região metropolitana de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Iheringia. Ser. Bot. 2002, 57, 113–130. [Google Scholar]
Phycology 04 00024 g001
Figure 1. Location of the beach-cast seaweed collection sites in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, highlighting the municipalities in the northern and southern regions of the state where the study was conducted. The state’s capital Vitória is marked as reference.
Figure 1. Location of the beach-cast seaweed collection sites in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, highlighting the municipalities in the northern and southern regions of the state where the study was conducted. The state’s capital Vitória is marked as reference.
Phycology 04 00024 g001
Phycology 04 00024 g002
Figure 2. Frequency of occurrence (percentage) of macroalgae species in the stranded material studied. (A) The ten most frequent Rhodophyta species. (B) Frequency of Phaeophyceae species. (C) Frequency of Ulvophyceae species.
Figure 2. Frequency of occurrence (percentage) of macroalgae species in the stranded material studied. (A) The ten most frequent Rhodophyta species. (B) Frequency of Phaeophyceae species. (C) Frequency of Ulvophyceae species.
Phycology 04 00024 g002
Phycology 04 00024 g003
Figure 3. Total frequency of occurrence (percentage) of the ten most recurring species found in the stranded material studied.
Figure 3. Total frequency of occurrence (percentage) of the ten most recurring species found in the stranded material studied.
Phycology 04 00024 g003
Phycology 04 00024 g004
Figure 4. Geographic distribution of stranded macroalgae along the north and south regions of Espírito Santo coastline from March to November 2022. (A) Rhodophyta, (B) Phaeophyceae, (C) Ulvophyceae.
Figure 4. Geographic distribution of stranded macroalgae along the north and south regions of Espírito Santo coastline from March to November 2022. (A) Rhodophyta, (B) Phaeophyceae, (C) Ulvophyceae.
Phycology 04 00024 g004
Phycology 04 00024 g005
Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of stranded macroalgae, categorized by algal group, throughout the dry and rainy seasons from March to November 2022. (A) Rhodophyta, (B) Phaeophyceae, (C) Ulvophyceae.
Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of stranded macroalgae, categorized by algal group, throughout the dry and rainy seasons from March to November 2022. (A) Rhodophyta, (B) Phaeophyceae, (C) Ulvophyceae.
Phycology 04 00024 g005
Phycology 04 00024 g006
Figure 6. Number of stranded macroalgae taxa at each study site, categorized by taxonomic groups.
Figure 6. Number of stranded macroalgae taxa at each study site, categorized by taxonomic groups.
Phycology 04 00024 g006
Phycology 04 00024 g007
Figure 7. Number of stranded algae taxa throughout the year in the state of Espírito Santo, categorized by taxonomic groups.
Figure 7. Number of stranded algae taxa throughout the year in the state of Espírito Santo, categorized by taxonomic groups.
Phycology 04 00024 g007
Phycology 04 00024 g008
Figure 8. Number of stranded macroalgae that presented reproductive structures during the dry and rainy seasons of the study, categorized by taxonomic groups.
Figure 8. Number of stranded macroalgae that presented reproductive structures during the dry and rainy seasons of the study, categorized by taxonomic groups.
Phycology 04 00024 g008
Table 1. List of beach-cast macroalgae identified on the coast of Espírito Santo, encompassing the dry and rainy seasons. The table includes data from three beaches in the northern region and two in the southern region of Vitória, as well as the reproductive structures observed in these species. BS = Barra do Sahy; EG = Enseada das Garças; IM = Imigrantes; IT = Itaoca; PC = Central. Reproductive status: T = tetrasporangial; C = cystocarpic; ND = not defined. x = Present.
Table 1. List of beach-cast macroalgae identified on the coast of Espírito Santo, encompassing the dry and rainy seasons. The table includes data from three beaches in the northern region and two in the southern region of Vitória, as well as the reproductive structures observed in these species. BS = Barra do Sahy; EG = Enseada das Garças; IM = Imigrantes; IT = Itaoca; PC = Central. Reproductive status: T = tetrasporangial; C = cystocarpic; ND = not defined. x = Present.
TaxaNorth CoastSouth CoastReproductive
Status		Season
BSEGIMITPCDryRainy
Rhodophyta
Acantophora muscoides (Linnaeus) Bory x x
Acantophora spicifera (M.Vahl) Børgesen x x
Agardhiella ramosissima (Harvey) Kylin xx x
Aglaothamnion felipponei
(Howe) Aponte, Ballantine and J.N.Norris		xx x xx
Alsidium oliveiranum S.M.Guimarães and M.T.Fujiix x
Alsidium seaforthii (Turner) J.AgardhxxxxxTxx
Amphiroa sp.xx x
Arthrocladia variabilis (Harvey) Weber Bossexx x
Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan x x
Bostrychia montagnei Harvey x x
Botryocladia occidentalis (Børgesen) Kylin xxx xx
Bryocladia sp. x x xx
Calliblepharis jolyi E.C.Oliveira xxT, C x
Centroceras gasparrinii (Meneghini) Kützing x x
Ceramium brasiliense A.B.Joly x xx xx
Ceratodictyon planicaule M.J.Wynnexxx x
Ceratodictyon scoparium (Montagne and Millardet) R.E.Norrisxxxxx xx
Champia sp. x x
Chondracanthus teedei (Mertens ex Roth) Kützing xx x xx
Corallina officinalis Linnaeusxxxx xx
Corallina panizzoi Schnetter and U.Richterxx x
Corynomorpha clavata (Harvey) J.Agardhx x
Cryptonemia bengryi W.R.Taylor x x
Cryptonemia seminervis (C.Agardh) J.Agardhxxxxx xx
Dichotomaria marginata (J.Ellis and Solander) Lamarckxxxxx xx
Dipterosiphonia dendritica (C.Agardh) F.Schmitz x x xx
Geldium lineare Iha and Freshwaterxx xx xx
Gelidiella sp. x x xx
Gracilaria cearensis (A.B.Joly and Pinheiro) A.B.Joly and Pinheiro x x
Gracilaria cuneata J.E.Areschoug x C x
Gracilaria domingensis (Kützing) Sonder ex DickiexxxxxCxx
Haliptilon sp. x x
Halopithys schotti (W.R.Taylor) L.E.Phillips and De Clerck xx x
Haloplegma duperreyi Montagnex xx xx
Halymenia brasiliana S.M.P.B.Guimarães and M.T.Fujii x x
Halymenia integra M.Howe and W.R.Taylorx xxxCxx
Heterodasya mucronata (Harvey) M.J.Wynne x x
Heterosiphonia crispella (C.Agardh) M.J.Wynne xx x
Hypnea pseudomusciformis Nauer, Cassano and M.C.Oliveiraxxxxx xx
Jania capillaceae Harvey x x
Jania crassa J.V.Lamourouxxxxxx xx
Laurencia dendroidea J.Agardhxxx x xx
Ochtodes secundiramea (Montagne) M.HowexxxxxTxx
Osmundaria obtusiloba (C.Agardh) R.E.NorrisxxxxxTxx
Palisada furcata (Cordeiro-Marino and M.T.Fujii) Cassano and M.T.Fujii xx x
Palisada perforata (Bory) K.W.Namxx xx xx
Plocamium brasiliense (Greville) M.Howe and W.R.TaylorxxxxxTxx
Scinaia halliae (Setchell) Huismanxx x xx
Soliera filiformis (Kützing) P.W.Gabrielsonxx x xx
Spyridia clavata Kützing xT x
Spyridia filamentosa (Wulfen) Harveyxx xx xx
Thuretia bornetii Vickersxx x xx
Tricleocarpa cylindrica (J.Ellis and Solander) Huisman and Borowitzkaxxxxx xx
Tricleocarpa fragilis Huisman and R.A.Townsendxxxxx xx
Ulvophyceae
Anadyomene stellata (Wulfen) C.Agardhxxxxx xx
Bryopsis sp.xx x xx
Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C.Agardhxx xx
Caulerpa mexicana Sonder ex Kützingxx xx
Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J.V.Lamourouxxx xx
Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskål) J.Agardhxxx xx
Caulerpa sertularioides (S.G.Gmelin) M.Howe x x
Chaetomorpha linum (O.F.Müller) Kützingxxxx xx
Cladophora dalmatica Kützingxxx xx
Codium decorticatum (Woodward) M.Howe x xx
Codium isthmocladium Vickers xxxx xx
Halimeda gracilis J.Agardhxxxxx xx
Halimeda jolyana Ximenes, Bandeira-Pedrosa, Cassano, Oliveira-Carvalho, Verbruggen and S.M.B.Pereiraxx x xx
Udotea flabellum (J.Ellis and Solander) M.Howe x x
Ulva lactuca Linnaeusxxxxx xx
Willeella ordinata Børgesenxxx xx
Phaeophyceae
Colpomenia sinuosa (Mertens ex Roth) Derbès and Solierxx x xx
Dictyopteris delicatula J.V.Lamourouxxxxxx xx
Dictyopteris jolyana E.C.Oliveira and R.P.Furtado xxNDxx
Dictyota ciliolata Sonder ex KützingxxxxxNDxx
Lobophora variegata (J.V.Lamouroux) Womersley ex E.C.OliveiraxxxxxNDxx
Padina gymnospora (Kützing) SonderxxxxxNDxx
Sargassum stenophyllum C.MartiusxxxxxNDxx
Sargassum vulgare C.AgardhxxxxxNDxx
Spatoglossum schroederi (C.Agardh) KützingxxxxxNDxx
Stypopodium sp. x x
Zonaria tournefortii (J.V.Lamouroux) MontagnexxxxxNDxx
Table 2. Feldmann and Cheney indices characterizing the phytogeography of the study area.
Table 2. Feldmann and Cheney indices characterizing the phytogeography of the study area.
Locality/MunicipalityFeldmann IndexCheney Index
(R/P)(R + U)/P
Barra do Sahy/Aracruz3.14.2
Enseada das Garças/Fundão3.55
Imigrantes/Aracruz2.84
Itaoca/Itapemirim3.33.8
Central Beach/Piúma3.64.5
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Martins, I.A.G.; Basílio, T.H.; dos Santos, I.L.F.; Fujii, M.T. Biodiversity and Reproductive Status of Beach-Cast Seaweeds from Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil: Sustainable Use and Conservation. Phycology 2024, 4, 427-442. https://doi.org/10.3390/phycology4030024

AMA Style

Martins IAG, Basílio TH, dos Santos ILF, Fujii MT. Biodiversity and Reproductive Status of Beach-Cast Seaweeds from Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil: Sustainable Use and Conservation. Phycology. 2024; 4(3):427-442. https://doi.org/10.3390/phycology4030024

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martins, Iago A. G., Thiago H. Basílio, Igor L. F. dos Santos, and Mutue T. Fujii. 2024. "Biodiversity and Reproductive Status of Beach-Cast Seaweeds from Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil: Sustainable Use and Conservation" Phycology 4, no. 3: 427-442. https://doi.org/10.3390/phycology4030024

APA Style

Martins, I. A. G., Basílio, T. H., dos Santos, I. L. F., & Fujii, M. T. (2024). Biodiversity and Reproductive Status of Beach-Cast Seaweeds from Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil: Sustainable Use and Conservation. Phycology, 4(3), 427-442. https://doi.org/10.3390/phycology4030024

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop