DEVELOPING A SEAWEED SPECIES-SELECTION

INDEX FOR SUCCESSFUL CULTURE

IN A SEAWEED-BASED INTEGRATED
AQUACULTURE SYSTEM
Yun Hee Kang and Ik Kyo Chung*
Marine Research Institute, Pusan National University
*Division of Earth Environment System, Pusan National University
ikchung@pusan.ac.kr

Ik Kyo Chung
Pusan National University, Korea

Feed

Sunlight
Plankton

Nutrients
Fed organisms

fish / shrimp

shellfish
fish
brine shrimp
zooplankton
Macroalgivores

dissolved

fish
shrimp

Crop 1:

microalgae
bacteria
protozoa

Planktivores

Macrophytes
seaweed
aquatic plants
sludge

Crop 2:
Extractive
plants

Neori and Yarish (2005)

abalone
sea urchin
fish
Omnivores
fish
sea cucumber

Crop 3:
Extractive
animals

Background & Object

The ability of seaweed to rapidly take up nutrients

for growth
Grow very well in high nutrient concentration
(especially NH4+) as fish farm effluents
Use of seaweeds as biofilters
Species-selection model to select optimal species for
integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA)
This model is modified the model of Short et al.
(2002)

To develop a seaweed species-selection index

for successful culture in IMTA systems

Parameters for this model

Economic value of seaweed

Cultivation and application of IMTA
Functional group
Ammonium uptake rate
Physiological characteristics
literature-based information, reference data, and physiological
seaweed experiments

Species-selection process

Step I


Preliminary seaweed-integrated aquaculture


suitability index (PSASI)
Step II


Seaweed physiological experiments


Seaweed-integrated aquaculture suitability index (SASI)
Step III


Calculating the seaweed-integrated aquaculture


suitability index score

Step I : Identification of potential

seaweed species and PSASI I rating
Maximal score: 16
Parameter

PSASI rating

Reference

PSASI I
Economic value

1 for good
2 for excellent

Cultivation

1 for field species

FAO (2004)
Oh et al. (1990)
FAO (2004)

2 for candidate species

Seaweed-based
integrated aquaculture

1 for not applied IMTA

Troell et al. (2003)

Functional group

1 for filamentous or
thick blades and
branches

Littler and Arnold

(1982)

2 for thin tubular or

sheet like

Littler et al. (1983)

2 for applied IMTA

Step II: Physiological characteristics

Seaweed cultivation :
Green algae : Enteromorpha sp., Ulva pertusa
Red algae : Grateloupia elliptica, Gracilaria incurvata,

Gracilariopsis chorda, Porphyra yezoensis

Brown algae : Undaria pinnatifida, Ecklonia cava, Laminaria
japonica, Costaria costata

PSASI II experiment : ammonium uptake by seaweeds

SASI experiments :

Parameters:

NH4+ removal efficiency, tissue N content,

photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll a content for
water temperature treatment
Conditions:
NH4+concentration 150mM (finfish effluent) / Light
12:12h; L:D Temperature 10, 17 and 25C (seasonality) /
Photosynthetic activity (using Diving-PAM) - maximal
rETR and F/Fm

Step II : Identification of potential

seaweed species and PSASI II rating.
Maximal score: 6
Parameter

PSASI rating

Reference

1 for < 100 mmol g-1 DW h-1

Hanisak (1983)

2 for > 100 mmol g-1 DW h-1

Kraemer et al.
(2004)

PSASI II
NH4+ uptake rate
Vmax

3 for > 200 mmol g-1 DW h-1

Km

1 for < 150 mM

2 for > 150 mM

Lobban & Harrison

(1994)

Step II : The SASI score was calculated

by multiplying the SASI ratings
Maximal score: 288
Parameter

SASI rating

PSASI I

1 for PSASI = 0 2
2 for PSASI = 4 8
3 for PSASI = 16

PSASI II

1 for PSASI II 2
2 for 2 < PSASI II < 6
3 for PSASI II 6

Removal efficiency

0 for < 30%

1 for 30 75%
2 for > 75 %

Reference

Step II : The SASI score was calculated by multiplying

the SASI ratings (PSASI I PSASI II SASI data)
Maximal score: 288
Parameter

N content

SASI rating
1 for < mean 2SD or no data
2 for > mean 2SD

Reference
Hernndez et al.
(2002)

Photosynthetic Activity
rETRmax

0 for < mean 2SD

1 for 2SD ~ mean ~ +2SD
2 for mean + 2SD

F/Fm

1 for < mean 2SD

2 for > mean 2SD

Chlorophyll a

1 for < mean SD

Costanzo et al.

2 for mean SD

(2000)

Results

PSASI I data and ratings:

PSASI II data and ratings:

Rates of ammonium uptake for seaweed

SASI data and ratings:

Seaweed species characteristics suitable for application to

IMTA

Effects of water temperature on physiological parameters

of seaweeds

Optimal species for IMTA are those with SASI

16; those with a SASI < 16 would be reject.

10 oC : Porphyra > Ulva > Enteromorpha > Undaria > Gracilaria

17 oC : Ulva > Enteromorpha = Gracilaria > Porphyra > Undaria =
Laminaria
25 oC : Ulva > Enteromorpha

Conclusions

The water temperature in the system must be

maintained at 10 oC to cultivate Porphyra.
Enteromorpha and Ulva are suitable to IMTA
above 17 oC .
A species-selection model is considered to be a
useful means of selecting species applicable to
IMTA.

To reduce the cost and effort necessary for

sustainable aquaculture

This model provides scientists and practitioners

with a tool for the success of IMTA.


Acknowledgements
MOMAF & MTLM

Ik Kyo Chung
Pusan National University, Korea

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction

Using Seaweeds
KOREA

Solar
CO2
energy
CO22

CO22
CO22

CO22
CO2
CO2 Water &CO22
-1
-1
COCO
COOther
22
> 10 ton
22
2COha yr
CO Nutrients
22

22

Coastal CO2 Removal Belt

Seaweed
CDM Belt

Marine
Farm

SEAWEED
Sink

Algal Paper
Biofuel

Carbon capture
Marine Bio Industry

Ecosystem Services

Kelp
Forest

Foods/

Household Products





Food thickening
agents in ice creams,
salad dressings
Algin ingredients in
some breads, beers,
puddings and more
Seaweed paper
Seaweed extracts in
some herbs and
vitamins

Personal Care Products




Algin ingredients in makeup, soap,

toothpaste, and shampoo
Seaweeds extracts in facial
masques, massage gels, and bath
products

Medicines


Bio-fuel & Paper



Seaweed ingredients in medicines

used to treat tuberculosis,
arthritis, colds, influenza and other
infections
Seaweed-derived agar, a
substance used in the culture of
bacteria and other
microorganisms
Seaweed-derived agarose in
chromatography to purify proteins,
DNA, and other substances