Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V57
Höfundar / Authors: T.d. Areeba Abrar (1), Haseeb Randhawa (2), Karl Gunnarsson (3)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: T.d. 1. Haskoli Islands, 2. Marine and freshwater research institute.
Kynnir / Presenter: Areeba Abrar
Macroalgae are some of the most significant contributors to the overall biomass productivity in marine ecosystems. As primary producers, they constitute a vital base for intricate trophic structures within marine ecosystems. Their substantial economic value is underscored by the annual harvesting of several hundred thousand tonnes, which serves not only for human consumption but also for a range of biotechnological applications. Seaweed mainly grow attached to rocky substrate or as endophytes on other algae or benthic animals. The presence of algal endophytes, i.e. small algae living in the inner tissue of other seaweeds, is common among the seaweed and in most cases, they do not seem to have any effects on the host plants. However, in a few cases they have been found to affect the growth and performance of the host plants causing morphological deformations in the host and reduced growth. However, despite the potential ecological, biological, and physiological influences, the interaction of seaweeds with algal endophytes remains largely unexplored, underlining opportunities that could revolutionize the aquaculture and biotechnology industries. This project will highlight the key aspects relating to endophytic algae of the recently discovered specie of marine macroalgae Schizymenia valentinae (Gunnarsson et al. 2020; Oksana et al. 2022), focusing on the phenotypic characteristics and biodiversity of the endophytes, their seasonal appearance and possible impact.