Environmental factors impact the early life stages of Sargassum ilicifolium in laboratory

Abstract

Global climate changes exert extreme effects on habitat-forming macroalgal species, including the extinction of algal populations in marine ecosystems. Algal conservation and management strategies applied during the crucial phases of early life stages require development. This study aims to investigate the effects of water temperature, irradiance, and salinity on the development of Sargassum ilicifolium germlings in a long-term laboratory system. The results showed that development varied under different environmental conditions. The growth (in terms of both length and relative growth rate) and survival of germlings were significantly affected by water temperature, irradiance, and salinity. Based on our findings, the optimum combination of environmental factors for the germlings was a temperature of 18 degrees C, irradiance of 100 mu mol photons m (-2) s (-1), and salinity of 35 psu. This study reveals the environmental limitations on germling development in the early life stages of S. ilicifolium and provides important information for the conservation and restoration of S. ilicifolium. Knowledge of the essential environmental conditions for this developmental stage can be used to ensure successful recruitment and establishment of populations of S. ilicifolium in the future.