The Inhibition of Sargassum muticum by Different Macroalgae

Abstract

Allelopathy in plants is a known phenomenon that describe chemical defense against other plants. Lately there are studies that describe this phenomenon in the marine environment but most of the study don't concentrate on the macroalgae-macroalgae relationship. In this study I tried to learn how different native algae influence on the Sargassum muticum's growth. I found out that under stress the Sargassum's growth can be inhibited by the Ulva californica and Fucus distichus , but not by Pyropia kanakaensis. I also tried to determine whether the snail Lacuna vincta eats the Sargassum itself or just the diatoms on the surface. My very preliminary results show that the Lacuna prefer to eat the diatoms.