New IHCantabria study explores the impact of climate change on the vegetative propagation process of the allochthonous seaweed Asparagopsis armata
Their results, recently published in the journalFrontiers in Marine Science, provide valuable insights to guide marine conservation efforts in the face of climate change.
Understanding the vegetative propagation of allochthonous species is essential to predict future impacts of climate change and to adopt effective conservation and management strategies in a timely manner. This was the motivation for a study carried out by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of the University of Cantabria (Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria), in which the effects of temperature and light availability on the vegetative propagation processes of the allochthonous species were explored. Asparagopsis armata. Their results provide relevant information on the impact that climate change may have on the growth, development and reproduction of this species.
The findings of this study were recently published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Marine Science, in an article entitled: “Exploring the effects of temperature and light availability on the vegetative propagation processes of the non-native species. Asparagopsis armata”. Co-authors of this article are the following IHCantabria researchers: Samuel Sainz-Villegas and Begoña Sánchez Astráin (predoctoral researchers), Araceli Puente (head of the Coastal Ecosystems Group of IHCantabria) and José A. Juanes (Training Director of this institute).
The seaweed Asparagopsis armata, initially endemic to the Indo-Pacific region, has become an allochthonous species on Europe’s Atlantic coasts, posing a threat to marine biodiversity. The study reveals the impact of environmental variables on its vegetative propagation process, especially temperature and irradiance.
The results of the study developed by IHCantabria’s research staff show how temperature and irradiance tend to affect the survival and growth of the alga Asparagopsis armata. For example, high temperatures and low light availability generated negative effects on the survival rates of specialized structures in the propagation process.
“Our study provides valuable insights into the reproductive mechanisms of Asparagopsis armata, contributing to our understanding of how climate change may influence the invasive potential of this species. This knowledge is essential to develop proactive conservation measures,” says Samuel Sainz-Villegas, lead author of the paper published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
This research provides valuable insights to guide marine conservation efforts in the face of climate change. Therefore, understanding the reproductive patterns of invasive species, such as the seaweed Asparagopsis armata, is crucial to develop strategies to mitigate their impact on marine ecosystems.
The full content of the article published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science is available at the following website: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1343353.
