Evaluating Oceanic Farming of Seaweeds as Sources of Organics and Energy.

摘要

The report discusses the results of studying populations of transplanted Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) attached to grid structures moored in depths of 155to 600feet. The grids hold the transplants about 40feet beneath the surface. Plants usually displayed slow growth rates due to low nutrient levels in the surrounding water. Plant tissue nitrogen was low. Reduced growth rates apparently permitted bryozoan encrustations to colonize nearly all exposed blade surfaces. Grazing by fishes was negligible but microherbivores did damage some older blades. Dispersals of urea in a natural kelp bed and in other experiments apparently stimulated kelp growth rates. The suitability of water collected from depths of 500to 3000feet has been tested to support kelp growth in laboratory cultures was tested. Gametophytes do well. There were problems with sporophytes which may have been caused by the laboratory environment. Modeling studies have progressed from considerations of individual kelp fronds to simulations of entire kelp beds.