Sargassum Research
Our Sargassum research project focuses on studying the large influxes of this floating brown algae that inundate our beaches every summer. The project aims to better understand Sargassum influx in the USVI through:
1) quantifying the volume of Sargassum arriving at some of the bays through drone surveys
2) assessing the impact of Sargassum inundation on nearshore habitats, particularly coral reefs,
3) studying points at which Sargassum mats shift from critical habitat to nuisance seaweed by looking at associated faunal communities.
Globally, there are over 300 species of Sargassum, a brown macroalgae found in ocean waters worldwide. It provides essential habitat for countless marine species, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals, many of which are listed as threatened or endangered. There are two species of Sargassum that are entirely pelagic, spending all their time floating at the surface. They typically form into small clumps, aggregated long windrows, or large mats that can cover miles of ocean. In the Caribbean Atlantic, three morphotypes of the two pelagic Sargassum sp. that are most prevalent are Sargassum fluitans III, S. natans I, and S. natans VIII.
Since 2011, Sargassum inundations have become a yearly occurrence across the Caribbean, Gulf, and Atlantic. This swath of algae has come to be called the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. These yearly influxes have devastating impacts on the environment, tourism, economy, and even human health. When Sargassum washes ashore, it rots quickly, giving off noxious-smelling gases and worsening water quality. Decaying algae have detrimental impacts on coral reefs and seagrass habitats.
