Use of sugar kelp aquaculture in Long Island Sound and the Bronx River Estuary for nutrient extraction
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: We previously demonstrated the suitability of seaweed aquaculture as a nutrient management tool, using the warm temperate rhodophyte Gracilaria tikvahiae McLachlan.The present follow-up study revealed an even higher nutrient bioextraction capacity in the cold-water species Saccharina latissima at 3 sites -the mouth of the Bronx River Estuary (Bronx, NY; BRE), western Long Island Sound (Fairfield, CT; WLIS) and central Long Island Sound (Branford, CT; CLIS), during winter and spring of the 2012-2013 growing season.These sites differ in temperature (BRE > CLIS > WIS), salinity (BRE < WLIS = CLIS) and nutrients (BRE >> WLIS = CLIS).We estimated that S. latissima could remove up to 180, 67 and 38 kg N ha -1 at BRE, WLIS and CLIS respectively, in a hypothetical kelp farm system with 1.5 m spacing between longlines.In the same hypothetical kelp farm system, the estimated carbon sequestration values are 1350 (BRE), 1800 (WLIS) and 1100 (CLIS) kg C ha -1 .The potential monetary values of N sequestration by the sugar kelp are up to $1600 (BRE), $760 (WLIS) and $430 (CLIS) ha -1 , if incorporated in the State of Connecticut Nitrogen Credit Trading Program and a carbon-pricing scheme.The potential economic values of C sequestration are $30-300 (BRE), $40-400 WLIS), and $24-240 (CLIS) ha -1 .These results suggest that seaweed aquaculture is a useful technique for nutrient bioextraction in urbanized coastal waters, such as LIS and BRE.Alternation of the warm-and cold-water species would maximize nutrient bioextraction and augment other ecosystem services, producing economic benefits for the region while helping to manage non-source eutrophication.
Source: Marine Ecology Progress Series
DOI: 10.3354/meps11331
Authors: JK Kim, GP Kraemer, C Yarish
Institutions: University of Connecticut, Purchase College
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Northwestern University, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, University of Connecticut, Purchase College, State University of New York, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Connecticut Sea Grant, University of Connecticut, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Awards: G4670507643, G8566271991, G8947211802
OpenAlex ID: W2346845963