Utilization of the 'Sargassum' Habitat by Marine Invertebrates and Vertebrates -A Review

摘要

Numerous species of brown algae (Class Cyclosporeae: Order Fucales: FamilyFucaceae) of the genus Sargassum occur throughout the world's tropical and temperate oceans. The pelagic complex in the western North Atlantic is comprised primarily of Sargassum natans and S. fluitans. Both species are hyponeustonic and fully adapted to a pelagic existence (Parr, 1939). Known commonly as gulf-weed, sea holly, or sargassum, they are characterized by a brushy, highly branched thallus (stem) with numerous leaf-like blades and berry-like pneumatocysts (floats). The contribution of sargassum to total primary production in the western North Atlantic is variable and dependent on the region examined and on accumulated biomass. Pelagic sargassum supports a diverse community of marine