Abstract

MOLINA-VARGAS, Jairo Napoleón  and  ALVAREZ-LEON, Ricardo. Preliminary results of an experimental crop of Gracilaria verrucosa (Hudson) Papenfuss (= G. caudata J. Agardh) (Rhodophyta: Gracilariaceae) on the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Rev. acad. colomb. cienc. exact. fis. nat. [online]. 2014, vol.38, n.146, pp.79-87. ISSN 0370-3908.

We present the results of the study carried out in Fray Domingo Bay, Punta de Piedra Beach (10° 52' N and 75° 08' W approximately), Department of Atlántico, on the Colombian Caribbean coast, from June 30 to November 1, 2004. An experimental crop of the red algae Gracilaria verrucosa was developed using a handmade structure whose main rope with plastic perforated sleeves served as support for the algae. This structure was placed at a depth of 1.40 m and fixed to the bottom to maintain it floating. The structure was inspected every 15 days to observe the development of new branches and the apical growth in the filaments. The growth of the algae was irregular, as the feathers of those originally fixed grew evenly while in others growth was observed only in the end sections of the sleeves. The fresh weight of the main rope with sleeves and algae was 2.5 kg. The longest filaments were 22 cm long. Fronds growth average was of 15 cm. Cultivated algae grew without invasive attacks, but we did observe abundant epiphytes on the main and secondary ropes of the structure, which belonged to the Rhodophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Clorophyceae classes in order of abundance. Hypnea musciformis was the most abundant species and showed the best growth rate. The associated fauna consisted mainly of juvenile crustaceans: crabs, shrimps and lobsters.

Keywords : Ficoculture; red macroalgae; Gracilaria verrucosa; Caribbean; Colombia.

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