Symbiotic Relationships Within the Sargassum Community

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Symbiotic RelationshipsWithin the Sargassum
Community

• Presentation Created By
• Rachel Ryan

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Symbiotic Relationships

• Ecological association between two or more
  species with biological consequences
• Four Types of Symbiosis
• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Mimicry

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Types of Symbiotic Relationships

• Mutualism
• All participating species benefit
• Commensalism
• One species benefits and the other (s) is
  unaffected
• Parasitism
• One species benefits and the other (s) is harmed
• Mimicry
• One species mimics the colors, patterns, or
  behaviors of another species to enhance survival

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Sargassum sp.

• Taxonomic Classification
• Phaeophyta (Division)
• Phaeophyceae (Class)
• Fucales (Order)
• Sargassaceae (Family)
• Species in Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic
• Sargassum natans
• Sargassum fluitans

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Sargassum sp.

• Physical Characteristics
• Golden to brownish
• 20 to 80 cm in diameter
• Complex branching of thallus
• Pneumatocysts
• Small vesicles filled with oxygen, nitrogen, and
  carbon dioxide
• Function as floats maintaining positive buoyancy
• Aggregate in mats
• Reproduction
• Vegetative fragmentation
• Ecosystem
• Source of Primary Productivity
• 60 of total primary production in upper meter of
  water column
• (Carpenter and Cox, 1974)

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Sargassum Mats

• 100 km in length
• Satellite imagery
• European Space Agencys MERIS sensor
• Spectral signature
• 620 nm
• Detection and tracking annual cycle of
  distribution

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Distribution of Sargassum

• Originate from Sargasso Sea
• North Atlantic Gyre
• 28 and 34 N latitude
• 65 W longitude
• Found within Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic
• Circulation by currents, gyres, eddies, and winds
• Loop Current
• Gulf Stream
• Dooley, 1972

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Distribution of Sargassum

• Seasonal Distribution
• Gulf of Mexico
• March through July
• Gower and King, 2008
• North Atlantic
• July through February
• Gower and King, 2008

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Biological Community of Sargassum

• Initial Colonization
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Hydroids
• Bryozoans
• Foundation of complex food web

• Secondary Colonization
• Invertebrates
• Crustaceans
• Annelids
• Cnidarians
• Molluscs
• Vertebrates
• Fish
• Birds
• Sea Turtles

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Symbiotic Relationships of Sargassum

• Mutualism
• Associated Species
• Sargassum
• Tridentata marginata (hydroid)
• Benefits
• Sargassum
• Secondary metabolite (tridentatols A to D) of
  hydroids
• Stachowicz and Lindquist, 1997
• Protection against damaging UV radiation
• Tridentata marginata
• Moveable substrate
• Maximize food availability

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Symbiotic Relationships of Sargassum

• Commensalism
• Associated Fish Species
• Filefish
• Jacks
• Triggerfish
• Flying Fish
• Scads
• Mackerels
• Triple Tail
• Pipefish
• Benefits
• Essential Fish Habitat (SAFMC, 2002)
• Nursery habitat
• Protection of larvae from predation
• Spawning substrate
• Food source

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Symbiotic Relationships of Sargassum

• Mimicry
• Associated species
• Histrio histrio, Sargassum fish
• Feed on shrimp and other fish (Dooley, 1972)
• Sargassum nudibranch
• Sargassum shrimp
• Sargassum anenome
• Sargassum crab
• Benefit
• Protection against predation camouflage
• Predatory advantage unsuspecting prey

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Symbiotic Relationships of Sargassum
Sargassum Shrimp
Sargassum Nudibranch
http//www.imagequest3d.com
http//www.imagequest3d.com
Sargassum Anenome
Sargassum Crab
http//www.imagequest3d.com
http//www.imagequest3d.com
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References

• Carpenter, E. J. and Cox, J. L. (1974).
  Production of pelagic Sargassum and a blue-green
  epiphyte in the western Sargasso Sea. Limnology
  and Oceanography, 19, 429-436.
• Dooley, J. K. (1972). Fishes associated with the
  pelagic sargassum complex, with a discussion of
  the sargassum community. Contributions in Marine
  Science, 16, 1-33.
• Gower, J. and King, S. (2008). Satellite images
  show the movement of floating Sargassum in the
  Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Nature
  Preceedings, hdl10101/npre.2008.1894.1.
• SAFMC. (2002) Fishery management plan for pelagic
  Sargassum habitat of the south Atlantic region.
  South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. 228p.
• Stachowicz, J. J. and Lindquist, N. (1997).
  Chemical defense among hydroids on pelagic
  Sargassum predator deterrence and absorption of
  solar UV radiation by secondary metabolites.
  Marine Ecology Progress Series, 155, 115-126.
• Photos acquired from http//www.imagequest3d.com