Ecophysiological studies of three South African Ulva species from integrated seaweed

Shuuluka, Diina

Ecophysiological studies of three South African Ulva species from integrated seaweed

Doctoral Thesis

2011

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

In South Africa, Ulva cultivation is of paramount importance to the marine aquaculture industry. Three local Ulva species (Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, Ulva rigida C. Agardh and Ulva capensis Areschoug) were selected for this research. The first two are currently cultivated on abalone farms for abalone feed and for use as bio-filters, and Ulva capensis was included because it is morphologically and biogeographically distinct from Ulva rigida in nature, despite the inability of molecular methods to separate them. Ulva rigida was collected at I & J farm and from nature at Kommetjie on the southwest of the Cape Peninsula, and U. lactuca was exclusively collected from I & J farm because it could not be found at sites where it had previously been recorded. Ulva capensis was exclusively collected from Kommetjie as this morphological species has not been recorded on abalone farms. The research also aimed to compare U. capensis with U. rigida on a variety of different measures, as molecular studies have suggested that they may represent a single polymorphic species.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 210-273).

Keywords

Marine Biology

Reference:

Collections

PhD / Doctoral

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