This study, conducted from 2004 to 2007, investigated the cultivation of Eucheuma sp. seaweed in Panama’s Caribbean region, focusing on its growth dynamics and environmental influences. The Euchematoide algae, a crucial resource in biotechnological interventions to enhance commercial seaweed farming, also holds significant cultural and economic importance for coastal populations. These algae are particularly important to the Afro-Antillean and Guna cultures in the area. Our field experiments, correlating the logarithmic weight in grams of Eucheuma with its daily growth rate (DGR) and analyzing data across five seasonal cycles, have been enriched by insights from a collaborative project between the Gracilarias of Panama and the former Coastal Research Institute, GKSS, Germany (2004–2009). This collaboration explored the role of environmental parameters in the growth of marine algae near the Panama Canal entrance, providing valuable context and robust data that supported our analysis. Our research has demonstrated that the seasonal cycle of wave height divides the year into two distinct periods: a low swell season spanning from May to October and a high swell season from November to April. Statistical analysis of the natural logarithm of the weight in grams of Eucheuma sp. during 2004–2007 showed significant variability across years (P = 0.000), indicating distinct annual patterns. However, ANOVA tests on seasonal variations in logarithmic weight (P = 0.327) and DGR (P = 0.359) revealed no significant differences, suggesting a stable cultivation potential throughout seasonal cycles. This research underscores the feasibility and stability of predicting cultivation practices across seasonal cycles, which is crucial for sustainable seaweed farming amid changing environmental conditions. Such efforts support biodiversity and ecosystem health and mitigate climate change impacts in coastal communities, providing reassurance about the future of seaweed farming.

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Seasonal Dynamics of Eucheuma sp. Macroalgae: Temperature and Wave Effects on Growth Patterns at the Caribbean Entrance of the Panama Canal

  • Gloria Batista Vega,
  • Luis M. González Real,
  • José Manuel Batista

摘要

This study, conducted from 2004 to 2007, investigated the cultivation of Eucheuma sp. seaweed in Panama’s Caribbean region, focusing on its growth dynamics and environmental influences. The Euchematoide algae, a crucial resource in biotechnological interventions to enhance commercial seaweed farming, also holds significant cultural and economic importance for coastal populations. These algae are particularly important to the Afro-Antillean and Guna cultures in the area. Our field experiments, correlating the logarithmic weight in grams of Eucheuma with its daily growth rate (DGR) and analyzing data across five seasonal cycles, have been enriched by insights from a collaborative project between the Gracilarias of Panama and the former Coastal Research Institute, GKSS, Germany (2004–2009). This collaboration explored the role of environmental parameters in the growth of marine algae near the Panama Canal entrance, providing valuable context and robust data that supported our analysis. Our research has demonstrated that the seasonal cycle of wave height divides the year into two distinct periods: a low swell season spanning from May to October and a high swell season from November to April. Statistical analysis of the natural logarithm of the weight in grams of Eucheuma sp. during 2004–2007 showed significant variability across years (P = 0.000), indicating distinct annual patterns. However, ANOVA tests on seasonal variations in logarithmic weight (P = 0.327) and DGR (P = 0.359) revealed no significant differences, suggesting a stable cultivation potential throughout seasonal cycles. This research underscores the feasibility and stability of predicting cultivation practices across seasonal cycles, which is crucial for sustainable seaweed farming amid changing environmental conditions. Such efforts support biodiversity and ecosystem health and mitigate climate change impacts in coastal communities, providing reassurance about the future of seaweed farming.