The ecological effect of large-scale coastal natural and cultivated seaweed litter decay processes: An overview and perspective

Hongtian Luo; Yufeng Yang; Songguang Xie

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118091

The ecological effect of large-scale coastal natural and cultivated seaweed litter decay processes: An overview and perspective

J Environ Manage. 2023 Sep 1:341:118091. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118091. Epub 2023 May 5.

Authors

Hongtian Luo¹, Yufeng Yang², Songguang Xie³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Institute of Hydrobiology, Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Jinan University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangzhou, 510632, China.
² Institute of Hydrobiology, Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Jinan University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangzhou, 510632, China. Electronic address: tyyf@jnu.edu.cn.
³ State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China. Electronic address: xiesg@hainanu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37150170
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118091

Abstract

Seaweeds are important components of marine ecosystems and can form a large biomass in a few months. The decomposition of seaweed litter provides energy and material for primary producers and consumers and is an important link between material circulation and energy flow in the ecosystem. However, during the growth process, part of the seaweed is deposited on the sediment surface in the form of litter. Under the joint action of the environment and organisms, elements enriched in seaweed can be released back into the environment in a short time, causing pollution problems. The cultivation yield of seaweed worldwide reached 34.7 million tons in 2019, but the litter produced during the growth and harvest process has become a vital bottleneck that restricts the further improvement of production and sustainable development of the seaweed cultivation industry. Seaweed outbreaks worldwide occur frequently, producing a mass of litter and resulting in environmental pollution on coasts and economic losses, which have negative effects on coastal ecosystems. The objective of this review is to discuss the decomposition process and ecological environmental effects of seaweed litter from the aspects of the research progress on seaweed litter; the impact of seaweed litter on the environment; and its interaction with organisms. Understanding the decomposition process and environmental impact of seaweed litter can provide theoretical support for coastal environmental protection, seaweed resource conservation and sustainable development of the seaweed cultivation industry worldwide. This review suggests that in the process of large-scale seaweed cultivation and seaweed outbreaks, ageing or falling litter should be cleared in a timely manner, mature seaweed should be harvested in stages, and dried seaweed produced after harvest and washed up on shore should be handled properly to ensure the benefits of environmental protection provided by seaweed growth and sustainable seaweed resource development.

Keywords: Decomposition process; Environmental protection; Litter decay; Seaweed; Sustainable development.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomass
Conservation of Natural Resources
Ecosystem*
Seaweed*
Vegetables