Work

Extended Ex Situ Culture of Gongolaria barbata from the Romanian Black Sea Coast: Growing Marine Forests for the Future

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Gongolaria barbata has undergone a major decline along the Romanian Black Sea coast due to historical winter events of the 1970s and ongoing anthropogenic pressures and is currently listed as Critically Endangered in the Romanian List of Endangered Marine Species, highlighting the need for ex situ culture to support restoration and long-term preservation of this habitat-forming species. This study evaluates how different substrate types (travertine, shale and ceramic) influence early thallus development in G. barbata, and attachment and growth dynamics, and establishes an ex situ culture procedure tailored to Black Sea conditions. Germling-based culture was carried out under controlled conditions, with salinity maintained at 17.1 ± 0.5 PSU and seawater temperature at 19.0 ± 0.8 °C. After 216 days of ex situ culture, thalli reached comparable sizes across all substrates, with mean heights between 5 and 7 cm and maximum values ranging from 12 to over 20 cm. Thallus development progressed steadily across all substrates, each supporting comparable growth, a finding relevant for restoration, aquaculture, and large-scale cultivation. All tested hard substrates sustained early development, with travertine producing slightly more robust thalli and stronger holdfasts, highlighting its potential for future restoration initiatives along the Romanian Black Sea coast.

Source: Phycology

DOI: 10.3390/phycology6020067

Authors: Oana Alina Marin, Florin Timofte, Olivier De Clerck

Institutions: Institutul Naţional de Cercetare Dezvoltare Marină Grigore Antipa, Ghent University

Language: English

Topic: Marine and coastal plant biology

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207