A concise review of the highly diverse genus Sargassum C. Agardh with wide industrial potential

Stiger-Pouvreau, Valérie and Mattio, Lydiane and De Ramon N'Yeurt, Antoine and Uwai, Shinya and Dominguez, Herminia and Flórez-Fernández, Noelia and Connan, Solène and Critchley, Alan T. (2023) A concise review of the highly diverse genus Sargassum C. Agardh with wide industrial potential. Journal of Applied Phycology, NA . NA. ISSN 0921-8971

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Abstract

Sargassum C. Agardh is a highly diverse genus within the brown algae, with 615currently recognized species, varie-ties and forms worldwide. This high level of species diversity led early taxonomists, using morphological-anatomical criteria only, to divide the genus into up to five sub-genera and several lower-ranking taxonomic units (e.g., sections, tribes). With the advent of molecular data, subsequent authors revised this complex and archaic classification, with the genus now comprising only two sub-genera: Sargassum and Bactrophycus. Whilst most Sargassum species are benthic, only two are known to be holopelagic and responsible for strandings along tropical Atlantic coasts. The rest of the genus is cosmopolitan, occurring from tropical to temperate regions. Sargassum has not yet been reported in polar regions. Where Sargassum is present, macroalgal populations can grow in large quantities, and the resulting biomass can be valuable to the local communities for a variety of uses. Here we review the genus Sargassum from a taxonomic, ecological and physiological perspectives, and explore the different ways of taking advantage of this extraordinary biomass, which while becoming an invasive pest in some countries, could represent opportunities for coastal populations worldwide.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fucales, Phaeophyceae, Taxonomy, Ecology, Invasive species, Chemical composition, Economical uses, Algae, Seaweed
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QK Botany S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling T Technology > TP Chemical technology
Divisions:	Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD)
Depositing User:	Antoine N'Yeurt
Date Deposited:	25 May 2023 23:03
Last Modified:	25 May 2023 23:03
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/14008

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