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General aspect of red algal bloom and sampling procedures. (A) Floating algae at Garopaba Center Beach. (B) Cube used for sampling floating material in bloom at Garopaba Center Beach. Note the cube corners made from PVC tubing and the sides were filled with canvas screen with 0.5 mm porosity. (C) Appearance of algal material deposited on the sand of Vigia Beach. (D) PVC Square (30 × 30 cm) utilized to collect samples at the Vigia Beach (wrack and rocky shore zones).
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Blooms of macroalgae have grown over the planet in recent decades as a possible result of eutrophication of coastal waters. Visually, a bloom forming can be identified by dominant presence of an organism at the expense of others. In mid-January 2014, a forming bloom of red algae was detected on the beach of Garopaba, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. T...
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Context 1
... was initially detected in the city of Garopaba (total population of 18,000 inhabitants) loca- ted in the south of Santa Catarina State, Brazil (Fig. 1). Samples were taken in three different environments in- cluding Garopaba Center Beach and a nearby pocket be- ach called Vigia Beach. First, samples were taken from the floating bloom material ( Fig. 2A). Then, algal materials were sampled from the rocky shore near the bloom and from post-beach zone organisms compounding wracks. For the floating organisms, five points were selected ran- domly, covering an area of 500 m in linear ...
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... of the Garopaba Center Beach were per- formed on 29 January 2014. Floating materials were ob- tained with a 32,768 cm³ cube built with PVC pipes and surrounded by canvas of approximately 0.5 mm in poro- sity (Fig. 2B). The cube was positioned into the water, at various depth (0.5 m to 1.20 m). The open side was placed toward the final last wave. It was remained in this position for about 3 s. Then the cube was suspended, bringing the floating organisms from the bloom. The materials were inserted into plastic bags and frozen at -20°C. Algae were ...
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... the difficulty in acessing the Garopaba Center Beach rocky shores, we performed qualitative col- lections on the neighbouring rocky shore of Vigia Beach on January 28, 2014. For this purpose, six 900 cm 2 qua- drats were sampled in the wrack (Fig. 2C & D). Six qua- drats were also sampled from the rocky shore. The ma- gae blooms in at least three aspects. First, they have no direct chemical toxicity. Second, they have a broader range of ecological effects involved. Third, these forma- tions extend for a longer period of time ( Hay and Fenical 1988). They may remain in place for years to ...
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Beach ecosystems extend from dune to offshore areas along most coasts, and provide essential services that are not provided by any other ecosystem. Indeed, sandy systems contain unique biodiversity and supply nursery and foraging areas for numerous commercially important marine species, such as flatfish. However, these systems are threatened by inc...
Citations
... Most of this stranding organic allochthonous material is composed of macroalgae, marine multicellular autotrophic organisms represented by green (Chlorophyta), brown (Phaeophyceae), and red algae (Rhodophyta). However, recent events, known as green and golden tides, called attention to these organisms and process worldwide (Smetacek and Zingone 2013) as well in the Brazilian warm temperate coast (Martins et al. 2016), mainly due their intrinsic economic and ecological relevance (Arroyo and Bonsdorff 2016). Positive economic aspects are related, for example, to the beach cleaning that can contemplate an eventual use of the algal biomass as fertilizers (Vila Nova et al. 2014). ...
... The abundance and species composition of allochthonous material may vary according to the donor-habitat productivity, the site exposure rate, beach slope, wave height, type of substratum, swash environment, and buoyancy of the drifting species. These organisms floating on the surface, drifting on the bottom, or even buried on the beaches produce an important niche for an underestimated diversity of fishes (Gomes et al. 2018), invertebrates (Ruiz-Delgado et al. 2014, and macro-and microalgae (Martins et al. 2016) and represent an important component in the carbon dynamics and the beach food web. ...
... Despite the importance of macroalgae deposits, few studies characterized their composition. On the southern coast, in the southern limit of the Brazilian warm temperate province, the filamentous red algae Aglaothamnion uruguayense was the dominant species among the other 27 taxa that reached 8.35 tons (dry weight) in an estimated area of 52,770 m 2 (Martins et al. 2016). On the other hand, in the tropical region, the richness and abundance of drifting macroalgae are frequently higher. ...
The main primary producers of sandy beaches are unicellular algae usually hidden by their microscopic size but sometimes reaching high density in patches visible to the naked eye. These patches are among the largest known natural planktonic biomass and result from the accumulation of diatoms in the surf zone. Green patches of euglenophytes and brown patches of benthic diatoms form most of the microphytobenthic component, which grows on moist, nutrient-rich intertidal sand. Although the instability of sandy-beach sediment does not favor macroalgae growth, many beaches receive considerable biomass of these primary producers, which may grow on nearby rocky shores and bottoms, or even on offshore areas and are transported to the beach by waves and currents. The complex physical, chemical, and biological interactions that take place on sandy beaches can also favor the flowering of other algae, including harmful ones. As registered for most ecological processes on sandy beaches, primary production is physically controlled and mainly influenced by morphodynamic characteristics. In this chapter, we review the knowledge about the biodiversity, biomass, and primary production of microalgae in Brazilian sandy beaches, as well as the impacts of coastal eutrophication in these environments.
... Studies involving high proliferation of macroalgae are scarce in South America (Lyons et al., 2014), including in Brazil (Lanari and Copertino, 2016;Martins et al., 2016), with highlight to one record in the northeastern region (Puppin-Gonçalves, 2020). In order to understand the role of macroalgae in coastal environments, we used the software Ecopath with Ecosim (Christensen and Pauly, 1992), which quantifies the energy flows in the food web . ...
Macroalgal bloom events have been frequent in recent years. Eutrophication and overexploitation fishing may favor blooms through nutrient availability and capturing top predators. We aim to investigate the drivers of the macroalgae blooms and their consequences on the food web of the two tropical coastal ecosystems: Porto do Mangue (with high macroalgae production) and Baía Formosa (control environment, without macroalgae), both exploited by artisanal fisheries in northeastern Brazil. The food webs are modeled using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) approach. Our results suggest that fishing did not favor macroalgae blooms but rather the high concentration of nutrients added to the semi-arid conditions. Furthermore, the macroalgae bloom showed low trophic impact, so much of their biomass is transferred into detritus. However, when it decomposes, this accumulation of matter alters the structure and functioning of the ecosystem, affecting its main fish resources: shrimp and piscivorous fish. Investigating blooms is key to management.
... Likewise, there are still many unanswered questions that merit attention and investigation, such as: (i) which conditions favor the development of benthic over planktonic algae; (ii) whether the hydrodynamics and beach granulometry influence the availability of ephemeral substrates; and (iii) whether these events are a historically typical condition of the region that has intensified over time, since this phenomenon has not been observed on other beaches in the region. Regarding this last point, it should be noted that other reports of the microalgal species mentioned above were only found for the Gulf of California (Galland and Pennebake, 2012) and that the process of macroalgae accumulation in southern Brazil is not common (Martins et al., 2016). However, an important factor to be considered is that the exaggerated growth of algae in aquatic environments is likely due to eutrophication (Schramm and Nienhuis, 1996;Ansari and Gill, 2014), and this could be the main reason for the increase in the Arribadas events. ...
The accumulation of drift organisms (Arribadas, constituted by benthic microalgae, macroalgae and bryozoans) on Central Beach in Balne´ario Camboriú (SC) has drawn attention since the early 2000s. However, historical surveys suggest an ancient phenomenon that has been increasing in intensity, promoted by urbanization and the eutrophication of the bay in recent years, leading to changes in the taxonomic composition. Previously, these Arribadas were comprised of two species of benthic microalgae (Amphitetras antediluviana and Biddulphia biddulphiana) and the bryozoan Arbocuspis ramosa. However, since 2019, a substantial increase in biomass has been observed on the beach and the dominance of the macroalgae Bryopsis plumosa strongly suggests an increase in the load of organic matter and nutrients in the bay. Recently (2022) the presence of a new invasive bryozoan species (Amathia alternata) was detected, highlighting the need to continue investigating the Arribadas to monitor the ecological evolution of this process.
... In recent years, macroalgal blooms are becoming a global concern, several events have occurred in different areas of the world's coasts and oceans with an increase in frequency and magnitude, causing alarm to fishery and tourism industries as well as resource managers , Lyons et al. 2014, Ye et al. 2011. Massive ephemeral increases of macroalgae are known for green (Ye et al. 2011), red (Martins et al. 2016) and brown (Collado-Vides et al. 2018) algal divisions; some are from introduced species (Ruesink and Collado-Vides 2006), others are native (Ye et al. 2011), or from large displacements of pelagic species (van Tussenbroek et al. 2017). Because macroalgal blooms are characterized by large amounts of biomass, the increases in nutrient availability from continental fertilizers, industrial and residential wastes, discharged at local scale and accumulated in the oceans, as well as climate change, are suggested as major causes that facilitate these massive growths (Wang et al. 2019, Ye et al. 2011. ...
The pelagic Sargassum bloom might be responding to nutrient enrichment of ocean waters; and the massive amount of biomass might be an opportunity to commercialize this resource. Safe use needs to be tested due to the metals' biosorption ability of Sargassum. Here we present nutrient and trace metal tissue content of pelagic Sargassum collected in South Florida. Samples of S. fluitans, and S. natans collected from three localities in the Biscayne area were cleaned, dried for 48 h at 68 o C, and ground. Analysis were conducted at analytical facilitates at FIU. Mean N tissue content was 1.08 + 0.23 and mean P was 0.0348 ± 0.0122. No deficit of nutrient content compared to global mean values for macrophytes were detected. The C:N ratio of 43.15 + 7.43, and the C:P ratio of 3175 ± 1039 show a high content of C relative to N and P. The N:P ratio of 66+24.35 show a limitation of P content relative to N. The stoichiometric C:N:P ratio of 3175 ±1039: 66±24.35:1 of the South Florida samples compared to the global average of 1,106:38:1 demonstrate a large content of C and N. We suggest that an increase on C availability together with N should be explored as potential causes triggering this macroalgal mega bloom. A high variability in metal concentrations was found, it is noteworthy that arsenic was found in high concentrations in all samples ranging from 73 up to 120 ppm. The characteristic presence of alginates in brown algae, particularly in Sargassum, increases the affinity of species of this genus for trace metals. Variability might reflect individual physiological conditions as well as metals' availability along the trajectory of these pelagic species along the Atlantic. We suggest requesting estimations of tissue metal concentrations before approving Sargassum for human or animal consumption.
... In these blooms, the great masses of algae that have accumulated in an area of the sea exhaust inorganic nutrients in the water column allowing bacteria move in and decompose the senescing organic material. The consequences are reduced dissolved oxygen in the ocean, dead zones, fish kills, and a broad range of adverse ecological impacts [321][322][323] (Figure 9). ...
Background: Pollution – unwanted waste released to air, water, and land by human activity – is the largest environmental cause of disease in the world today. It is responsible for an estimated nine million premature deaths per year, enormous economic losses, erosion of human capital, and degradation of ecosystems. Ocean pollution is an important, but insufficiently recognized and inadequately controlled component of global pollution. It poses serious threats to human health and well-being. The nature and magnitude of these impacts are only beginning to be understood. Goals: (1) Broadly examine the known and potential impacts of ocean pollution on human health. (2) Inform policy makers, government leaders, international organizations, civil society, and the global public of these threats. (3) Propose priorities for interventions to control and prevent pollution of the seas and safeguard human health.
Methods: Topic-focused reviews that examine the effects of ocean pollution on human health, identify gaps in knowledge, project future trends, and offer evidence-based guidance for effective intervention.
Environmental Findings: Pollution of the oceans is widespread, worsening, and in most countries poorly controlled. It is a complex mixture of toxic metals, plastics, manufactured chemicals, petroleum, urban and industrial wastes, pesticides, fertilizers, pharmaceutical chemicals, agricultural runoff, and sewage. More than 80% arises from land-based sources. It reaches the oceans through rivers, runoff, atmospheric deposition and direct discharges. It is often heaviest near the coasts and most highly concentrated along the coasts of low- and middle-income countries. Plastic is a rapidly increasing and highly visible component of ocean pollution, and an estimated 10 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the seas each year. Mercury is the metal pollutant of greatest concern in the oceans; it is released from two main sources – coal combustion and small-scale gold mining. Global spread of industrialized agriculture with increasing use of chemical fertilizer leads to extension of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) to previously unaffected regions. Chemical pollutants are ubiquitous and contaminate seas and marine organisms from the high Arctic to the abyssal depths.
Ecosystem Findings: Ocean pollution has multiple negative impacts on marine ecosystems, and these impacts are exacerbated by global climate change. Petroleum-based pollutants reduce photosynthesis in marine microorganisms that generate oxygen. Increasing absorption of carbon dioxide into the seas causes ocean acidification, which destroys coral reefs, impairs shellfish development, dissolves calcium-containing microorganisms at the base of the marine food web, and increases the toxicity of some pollutants. Plastic pollution threatens marine mammals, fish, and seabirds and accumulates in large mid-ocean gyres. It breaks down into microplastic and nanoplastic particles containing multiple manufactured chemicals that can enter the tissues of marine organisms, including species consumed by humans. Industrial releases, runoff, and sewage increase frequency and severity of HABs, bacterial pollution, and anti-microbial resistance. Pollution and sea surface warming are triggering poleward migration of dangerous pathogens such as the Vibrio species. Industrial discharges, pharmaceutical wastes, pesticides, and sewage contribute to global declines in fish stocks.
Human Health Findings: Methylmercury and PCBs are the ocean pollutants whose human health effects are best understood. Exposures of infants in utero to these pollutants through maternal consumption of contaminated seafood can damage developing brains, reduce IQ and increase children’s risks for autism, ADHD and learning disorders. Adult exposures to methylmercury increase risks for cardiovascular disease and dementia. Manufactured chemicals – phthalates, bisphenol A, flame retardants, and perfluorinated chemicals, many of them released into the seas from plastic waste – can disrupt endocrine signaling, reduce male fertility, damage the nervous system, and increase risk of cancer. HABs produce potent toxins that accumulate in fish and shellfish. When ingested, these toxins can cause severe neurological impairment and rapid death. HAB toxins can also become airborne and cause respiratory disease. Pathogenic marine bacteria cause gastrointestinal diseases and deep wound infections. With climate change and increasing pollution, risk is high that Vibrio infections, including cholera, will increase in frequency and extend to new areas. All of the health impacts of ocean pollution fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations in the Global South – environmental injustice on a planetary scale.
Conclusions: Ocean pollution is a global problem. It arises from multiple sources and crosses national boundaries. It is the consequence of reckless, shortsighted, and unsustainable exploitation of the earth’s resources. It endangers marine ecosystems. It impedes the production of atmospheric oxygen. Its threats to human health are great and growing, but still incompletely understood. Its economic costs are only beginning to be counted. Ocean pollution can be prevented. Like all forms of pollution, ocean pollution can be controlled by deploying data-driven strategies based on law, policy, technology, and enforcement that target priority pollution sources. Many countries have used these tools to control air and water pollution and are now applying them to ocean pollution. Successes achieved to date demonstrate that broader control is feasible. Heavily polluted harbors have been cleaned, estuaries rejuvenated, and coral reefs restored. Prevention of ocean pollution creates many benefits. It boosts economies, increases tourism, helps restore fisheries, and improves human health and well-being. It advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These benefits will last for centuries.
Recommendations: World leaders who recognize the gravity of ocean pollution, acknowledge its growing dangers, engage civil society and the global public, and take bold, evidence-based action to stop pollution at source will be critical to preventing ocean pollution and safeguarding human health. Prevention of pollution from land-based sources is key. Eliminating coal combustion and banning all uses of mercury will reduce mercury pollution. Bans on single-use plastic and better management of plastic waste reduce plastic pollution. Bans on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have reduced pollution by PCBs and DDT. Control of industrial discharges, treatment of sewage, and reduced applications of fertilizers have mitigated coastal pollution and are reducing frequency of HABs. National, regional and international marine pollution control programs that are adequately funded and backed by strong enforcement have been shown to be effective. Robust monitoring is essential to track progress. Further interventions that hold great promise include wide-scale transition to renewable fuels; transition to a circular economy that creates little waste and focuses on equity rather than on endless growth; embracing the principles of green chemistry; and building scientific capacity in all countries. Designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will safeguard critical ecosystems, protect vulnerable fish stocks, and enhance human health and well-being. Creation of MPAs is an important manifestation of national and international commitment to protecting the health of the seas.
... In these blooms, the great masses of algae that have accumulated in an area of the sea exhaust inorganic nutrients in the water column allowing bacteria move in and decompose the senescing organic material. The consequences are reduced dissolved oxygen in the ocean, dead zones, fish kills, and a broad range of adverse ecological impacts [321][322][323] (Figure 9). ...
Background: Pollution – unwanted waste released to air, water, and land by human activity – is the largest environmental cause of disease in the world today. It is responsible for an estimated nine million premature deaths per year, enormous economic losses, erosion of human capital, and degradation of ecosystems. Ocean pollution is an important, but insufficiently recognized and inadequately controlled component of global pollution. It poses serious threats to human health and well-being. The nature and magnitude of these impacts are only beginning to be understood. Goals: (1) Broadly examine the known and potential impacts of ocean pollution on human health. (2) Inform policy makers, government leaders, international organizations, civil society, and the global public of these threats. (3) Propose priorities for interventions to control and prevent pollution of the seas and safeguard human health.
Methods: Topic-focused reviews that examine the effects of ocean pollution on human health, identify gaps in knowledge, project future trends, and offer evidence-based guidance for effective intervention.
Environmental Findings: Pollution of the oceans is widespread, worsening, and in most countries poorly controlled. It is a complex mixture of toxic metals, plastics, manufactured chemicals, petroleum, urban and industrial wastes, pesticides, fertilizers, pharmaceutical chemicals, agricultural runoff, and sewage. More than 80% arises from land-based sources. It reaches the oceans through rivers, runoff, atmospheric deposition and direct discharges. It is often heaviest near the coasts and most highly concentrated along the coasts of low- and middle-income countries. Plastic is a rapidly increasing and highly visible component of ocean pollution, and an estimated 10 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the seas each year. Mercury is the metal pollutant of greatest concern in the oceans; it is released from two main sources – coal combustion and small-scale gold mining. Global spread of industrialized agriculture with increasing use of chemical fertilizer leads to extension of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) to previously unaffected regions. Chemical pollutants are ubiquitous and contaminate seas and marine organisms from the high Arctic to the abyssal depths.
Ecosystem Findings: Ocean pollution has multiple negative impacts on marine ecosystems, and these impacts are exacerbated by global climate change. Petroleum-based pollutants reduce photosynthesis in marine microorganisms that generate oxygen. Increasing absorption of carbon dioxide into the seas causes ocean acidification, which destroys coral reefs, impairs shellfish development, dissolves calcium-containing microorganisms at the base of the marine food web, and increases the toxicity of some pollutants. Plastic pollution threatens marine mammals, fish, and seabirds and accumulates in large mid-ocean gyres. It breaks down into microplastic and nanoplastic particles containing multiple manufactured chemicals that can enter the tissues of marine organisms, including species consumed by humans. Industrial releases, runoff, and sewage increase frequency and severity of HABs, bacterial pollution, and anti-microbial resistance. Pollution and sea surface warming are triggering poleward migration of dangerous pathogens such as the Vibrio species. Industrial discharges, pharmaceutical wastes, pesticides, and sewage contribute to global declines in fish stocks.
Human Health Findings: Methylmercury and PCBs are the ocean pollutants whose human health effects are best understood. Exposures of infants in utero to these pollutants through maternal consumption of contaminated seafood can damage developing brains, reduce IQ and increase children’s risks for autism, ADHD and learning disorders. Adult exposures to methylmercury increase risks for cardiovascular disease and dementia. Manufactured chemicals – phthalates, bisphenol A, flame retardants, and perfluorinated chemicals, many of them released into the seas from plastic waste – can disrupt endocrine signaling, reduce male fertility, damage the nervous system, and increase risk of cancer. HABs produce potent toxins that accumulate in fish and shellfish. When ingested, these toxins can cause severe neurological impairment and rapid death. HAB toxins can also become airborne and cause respiratory disease. Pathogenic marine bacteria cause gastrointestinal diseases and deep wound infections. With climate change and increasing pollution, risk is high that Vibrio infections, including cholera, will increase in frequency and extend to new areas. All of the health impacts of ocean pollution fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations in the Global South – environmental injustice on a planetary scale.
Conclusions: Ocean pollution is a global problem. It arises from multiple sources and crosses national boundaries. It is the consequence of reckless, shortsighted, and unsustainable exploitation of the earth’s resources. It endangers marine ecosystems. It impedes the production of atmospheric oxygen. Its threats to human health are great and growing, but still incompletely understood. Its economic costs are only beginning to be counted. Ocean pollution can be prevented. Like all forms of pollution, ocean pollution can be controlled by deploying data-driven strategies based on law, policy, technology, and enforcement that target priority pollution sources. Many countries have used these tools to control air and water pollution and are now applying them to ocean pollution. Successes achieved to date demonstrate that broader control is feasible. Heavily polluted harbors have been cleaned, estuaries rejuvenated, and coral reefs restored. Prevention of ocean pollution creates many benefits. It boosts economies, increases tourism, helps restore fisheries, and improves human health and well-being. It advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These benefits will last for centuries.
Recommendations: World leaders who recognize the gravity of ocean pollution, acknowledge its growing dangers, engage civil society and the global public, and take bold, evidence-based action to stop pollution at source will be critical to preventing ocean pollution and safeguarding human health. Prevention of pollution from land-based sources is key. Eliminating coal combustion and banning all uses of mercury will reduce mercury pollution. Bans on single-use plastic and better management of plastic waste reduce plastic pollution. Bans on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have reduced pollution by PCBs and DDT. Control of industrial discharges, treatment of sewage, and reduced applications of fertilizers have mitigated coastal pollution and are reducing frequency of HABs. National, regional and international marine pollution control programs that are adequately funded and backed by strong enforcement have been shown to be effective. Robust monitoring is essential to track progress. Further interventions that hold great promise include wide-scale transition to renewable fuels; transition to a circular economy that creates little waste and focuses on equity rather than on endless growth; embracing the principles of green chemistry; and building scientific capacity in all countries. Designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will safeguard critical ecosystems, protect vulnerable fish stocks, and enhance human health and well-being. Creation of MPAs is an important manifestation of national and international commitment to protecting the health of the seas.
... In these blooms, the great masses of algae that have accumulated in an area of the sea exhaust inorganic nutrients in the water column allowing bacteria move in and decompose the senescing organic material. The consequences are reduced dissolved oxygen in the ocean, dead zones, fish kills, and a broad range of adverse ecological impacts [321][322][323] (Figure 9). ...
Pollution – unwanted waste released to air, water, and land by human activity – is the largest environmental cause of disease in the world today. It is responsible for an estimated nine million premature deaths per year, enormous economic losses, erosion of human capital, and degradation of ecosystems.Ocean pollution is an important, but insufficiently recognized and inadequately controlled component of global pollution. It poses serious threats to human health and well-being. The nature and magnitude of these impacts are only beginning to be understood.
The review paper (1) Broadly examine the known and potential impacts of ocean pollution on human health. (2) Inform policy makers, government leaders, international organizations, civil society, and the global public of these threats. (3) Propose priorities for interventions to control and prevent pollution of the seas and safeguard human health.
... Similarly, in January-February 2014 extremely high ocean temperatures on the Atlantic coast of Brazil stimulated the largest algal bloom in the country's history. The bloom was composed of several species with the red alga Aglaothamnion uruguayense (Martins et al. 2016 in the Persian Gulf, an algal bloom of the dinoflagellate Margalefidinium (Cochlodinium) polycricoides, probably brought by ballast waters, caused high mortality among benthic animals and fish (Richlen et al. 2010) and substantially decreased the biomass of biofouling communities (Dobretsov 2015). These examples suggest that algal bloom conditions are becoming the norm for most populated coastal regions and their impact on benthic and fouling community ecosystems will intensify in the warming oceans. ...
Climate change (CC) is driving modification of the chemical and physical properties of estuaries and oceans with profound consequences for species and ecosystems. Numerous studies investigate CC effects from species to ecosystem levels, but little is known of the impacts on biofilm communities and on bioactive molecules such as cues, adhesives and enzymes. CC is induced by anthropogenic activity increasing greenhouse emissions leading to rises in air and water temperatures, ocean acidification, sea level rise and changes in ocean gyres and rainfall patterns. These environmental changes are resulting in alterations within marine communities and changes in species ranges and composition. This review provides insights and synthesis of knowledge about the effect of elevated temperature and ocean acidification on microfouling communities and bioactive molecules. The existing studies suggest that CC will impact production of bioactive compounds as well as the growth and composition of biofouling communities. Undoubtedly, with CC fouling management will became an even greater challenge.
... Similarly, in January-February 2014 extremely high ocean temperatures on the Atlantic coast of Brazil stimulated the largest algal bloom in the country's history. The bloom was composed of several species with the red alga Aglaothamnion uruguayense (Martins et al. 2016 in the Persian Gulf, an algal bloom of the dinoflagellate Margalefidinium (Cochlodinium) polycricoides, probably brought by ballast waters, caused high mortality among benthic animals and fish (Richlen et al. 2010) and substantially decreased the biomass of biofouling communities (Dobretsov 2015). These examples suggest that algal bloom conditions are becoming the norm for most populated coastal regions and their impact on benthic and fouling community ecosystems will intensify in the warming oceans. ...
Climate change (CC) is driving modification in the chemical and physical properties of estuaries and oceans with profound consequences for species and ecosystems. Numerous studies investigate CC effects from species to ecosystem levels, however little is known of impacts on biofilm communities and bioactive molecules, like cues, glues, and enzymes. CC is induced by anthropogenic activity increasing greenhouse emissions leading to rises in air and water temperatures, ocean acidification, sea level rise and changes in ocean gyres and rainfall patterns. These environmental changes are resulting in alterations in marine communities and changes in species ranges and composition. This review provides insights and synthesis of knowledge about the effect of elevated temperature and ocean acidification on microfouling communities and bioactive molecules. The existing studies suggest that CC will impact production of bioactive compounds, growth and composition of biofouling communities. Undoubtedly, with CC fouling management will became an even greater challenge.
... The relative changes in the South Equatorial Current, based on satellite observations and data from PIRATAS buoys of previous years, as well in the surface winds, could permit the accumulation of Sargasso Sea algae to drift to new areas. Eventually, the combination of all above hypotheses results in the Sargassum phenomenon that is changing many key environments in Africa and South and Central America (Lyons et al. 2014; Martins et al. 2016). A second explanation is that these algal rafts were or are being produced along the West African coast. ...
This study represents the efforts of a network of researchers to characterise the large, floating Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) biomass that had reached the Brazilian coast in 2014 and 2015. Material collected during these events was identified as Sargassum natans and S. fluitans using morphological characteristics; ITS2 sequences showed low divergence (0%–3%) with sequences of nine other Sargassum species. Several epiphytic macroalgae, invertebrates and fishes were associated with the floating Sargassum. Satellite images did not support the hypothesis of slicks moving south from the Sargasso Sea in the northern Atlantic Ocean. This strengthens the hypothesis that there is a matrix of pelagic Sargassum in the central Atlantic Ocean and that biomass accumulation should be considered a result of the combination of physicochemical seawater conditions and biological interactions. The biomass accumulation of the stranded Sargassum was estimated during four events, peaking in 98 kg m À2 wet weight on a beach on the Amazonian coast. The landing of huge Sargassum biomass represents a potential source of environmental stress, as it can lead to an increase in oxygen demand and eventually synthesise and release chemical compounds with allelopathic properties. On the other hand, these floating islands are a fundamental element of the biogeography and macroecology of tropical environments in the Atlantic Ocean, providing connectivity south/north and east/west among marine biodiversity from Atlantic reef environments. Studies concerning Sargassum effects on local communities are necessary for the proper management of this phenomenon.
