Some Aspects of the Growth of Gracilaria birdiae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) in an Estuary in Northeast Brazil |
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Authors: | Marinho-Soriano E Moreira WSC Carneiro MAA |
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Institution: | 1. Depto. de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Via Costeira, Praia de M?e Luiza s/n, Natal, 59014-100, RN, Brazil
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Abstract: | The agarophyte Gracilaria birdiae Plastino & Oliveira was cultivated under field conditions in an estuary over a 6-month period. Biomass production varied significantly (p<0.01) and ranged from 900.0 to 3537.0 g m−2 with a mean of 2124.4±1004.36 g m−2 over the cultivation period. The epiphyte-biomass varied from 64.7 to 313 g m−2, with maximum values observed in July. Relative growth rate (RGR) of G. birdiae varying from −0.59 to 4.67% day−1, with a maximum mean observed in July. Correlation analysis showed that RGR was positively correlated with epiphyte-biomass (R-Pearson=0.69; p< 0.01) and negatively correlated with salinity (R-Pearson=−0.41; p<0.05). These correlations were used in a mathematical regression model to estimate the growth of Gracilaria in an estuary. The regression model explained 61% of RGR variability demonstrating that growth rates of Gracilaria were directly related to the variables salinity and epiphytes. The model was developed to help to predict production at a cultivation site in order to evaluate its suitability for Gracilaria cultivation. |
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Keywords: | Environmental parameters Gracilaria Growth rate Seaweed cultivation |
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