Macroalgae and Mechanical Aquatic Harvesting Dr. Bruce A. Richards Chief Scientist Weedoo Shoreline Workboats, Inc. West Palm Beach, Florida May 11, 2016 Macroalgae or “seaweeds” are simple multicellular plants that attach to a substrate such as a sandy bottom or connected to rocks. Generally speaking macroalgae divides into three phylums: the green macroalgae (Chlorophyta), red macroalgae (Rhodophyta) and brown macroalgae (Ochrophyta). These structures resemble vascular plants but their biological structure differs from the more complex terrestrial plants. The body of macroalgae resembles a stalk or stem and is called the thallus or with kelp called the blade. Macroalgae lacks true roots, but does have structures called holdfasts that serve a similar purpose as a root system by attaching to a substrate. Problems: Macroalgae is a major problem especially in saltwater estuaries and canals. Overgrowth of macroalgae decreases the ability for swimming, fishing or boating. Macroalgae is used by invertebrates and fish for habitat in the absence of vascular plants like Zostera (often called eelgrass). Macroalgae can cause a host of problems including: increased boating repair & maintenance costs, declined plant diversity, poor circulation, lower dissolved oxygen, nutrient accumulation, odor from decaying macroalgal mats and eventually lower real estate values of homes around the waterbody. Brown, Red and Green Macroalgae
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Macroalgae and Mechanical Aquatic Harvesting Dr. Bruce A ......Macroalgae and Mechanical Aquatic Harvesting Dr. Bruce A. Richards Chief Scientist Weedoo Shoreline Workboats, Inc. West
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Macroalgae and Mechanical Aquatic Harvesting Dr. Bruce A. Richards
Chief Scientist Weedoo Shoreline Workboats, Inc.
West Palm Beach, Florida May 11, 2016
Macroalgae or “seaweeds” are simple multicellular plants that attach to a substrate such as a sandy bottom or connected to rocks. Generally speaking macroalgae divides into three phylums: the green macroalgae (Chlorophyta), red macroalgae (Rhodophyta) and brown macroalgae (Ochrophyta). These structures resemble vascular plants but their biological structure differs from the more complex terrestrial plants. The body of macroalgae resembles a stalk or stem and is called the thallus or with kelp called the blade. Macroalgae lacks true roots, but does have structures called holdfasts that serve a similar purpose as a root system by attaching to a substrate. Problems: Macroalgae is a major problem especially in saltwater estuaries and canals. Overgrowth of macroalgae decreases the ability for swimming, fishing or boating. Macroalgae is used by invertebrates and fish for habitat in the absence of vascular plants like Zostera (often called eelgrass). Macroalgae can cause a host of problems including: increased boating repair & maintenance costs, declined plant diversity, poor circulation, lower dissolved oxygen, nutrient accumulation, odor from decaying macroalgal mats and eventually lower real estate values of homes around the waterbody.
Brown, Red and Green Macroalgae
In saltwater chemical applications are not recommended because tidal flushing makes pesticide use inefficient. Watershed management helps reduce the new inputs of nitrogen or phosphorus, but unfortunately controlling the flow of nutrients is a moving target. Decreasing non-‐point runoff is possible, but successful watershed management is incredibly difficult, expensive, and will require decades of stringent nutrient control. Watershed management can do nothing for excess nutrients already present in a body of water. This does not mean we should abandon watershed management; rather we should be realistic with expectations for this management tool. Impaired estuaries, lakes, and ponds are required by the USEPA to comply with the Clean Water Act that sets Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of excess nitrogen and phosphorus; failure to comply is cause for TMDL penalty fines. Mechanical Aquatic Harvesting complies with TMDL reductions by removing plant material and their associated nutrient levels. Removing nutrients by removing unwanted invasive plants or algae is the most logical way to decrease repeated blooms of single-‐celled algae, macroalgae or invasive aquatic plants in freshwater. The most effective way to remove macroalgae is through aquatic harvesting. Once macroalgae is removed some entrepreneurs use various seaweeds for salads and other food products, medicine, cosmetics, animal feeds, fodder and other products. WeedooINC is the industry’s leading manufacturer of aquatic weed harvesters and weed cutters. We value our natural resources and thanks to people like you who seek out solutions to preserve nature, we will win the fight to clean aquatic vegetation from our waterways! Weedoo aquatic weed harvesters are rugged machines that are designed to tackle the toughest saltwater or lake weed removal projects in the most extreme and challenging aquatic weed conditions. Weedoo compact aquatic harvesters are easy to maneuver around docks with their zero turn capability.