Ecophysiological studies of three South African Ulva species from integrated seaweed

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.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Shuuluka, Diina

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bolton, John J

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10903

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10903