[Coral-List] Sargassum fluitans proliferation in the Lesser Antilles
Arlo H. Hemphill
arlo at arlohemphill.com
Wed Aug 10 16:18:06 EDT 2011
Dear Jean-Philippe and All,
Atlantic Pelagic Sargassum is generally dominated by two holopelagic
species, both Sargassum fluitans and S. natans. The two are easily
distinguished by looking for a pin-like stipe at the base of the air
bladders on S. natans. Six other species of Sargassum may also
potentially be present in pelagic mats, but those species are not
holopelagic. The habitat, while it remains offshore, is extremely
important as a juvenile fish nursery and also for juvenile sea
turtles. Thus it's appearance offshore during hatching season may
perhaps be a bit of a blessing for the turtles, although I do
understand it can be a major mess when it washes ashore. I am curious
as to whether there is an actual increase in pelagic biomass as
opposed to a change in prevailing winds or currents? Sargassum often
forms sizeable mats in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Sargasso Sea,
and it quite commonly washes up on beaches of Florida and Bermuda as
you are describing. Does anyone have any data on what might be
happening offshore - ie. biomass increase vs change in oceanographic
conditions? We've had a strange weather year with the storms and
heat, so my inclination would be to look at physical oceanography first.
Best,
Arlo
************************************************
Arlo H. Hemphill
Marina, California
202.746.3484 (m)
E-mail: arlo at arlohemphill.com
Skype: arlohemp
Twitter: arlohemphill
Conservation * Exploration * Communications
www.arlohemphill.com
Date: Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:30:47 -0400
From: OMMM Association <ommm at wanadoo.fr>
Subject: [Coral-List] Sargassum fluitans proliferation in the Lesser
Antilles
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <4E4160B7.5070700 at wanadoo.fr>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Dear all
Since May, 2011, a huge amount of pelagic sargassum piles up along the
coast of Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles, and might
affect probably all the islands in the area.
Tons of algae enter the bays and cover the beaches. This accumulation of
floating sargassum can also extends at the surface of the water for tens
of meters in semi closed area, causing environmental problems to very
coastal communities.
We have not seen any comments since this began in May. The algae still
accumulates and cause management problems for local authorities. This is
also the marine turtles' nesting period, what has an incidence on local
decision to remove the algae accumulated on the beaches. Those algae
decomposed and toxic gaz might be produced, as H2S, which is quite low
from the measures that have been done at the moment (0-3 ppm).
Is there any information we could share on the origin of this
proliferation of pelagic sargassum in the area?
Who else in the Lesser Antilles or elsewhere face the same problem?
We do airplane survey and fly over the coastal area to detect piles of
sargassum away offshore looking at possible trajectories.
We are interested in any satellite images that could detect those
saragssum.
Thanks
Jean-Philippe Mar?chal
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