CULTURE ASSAYS IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE RED ALGA HYPNEA MUSCIFORMIS IN SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN

Abstract

In order to provide information about seaweed culture in Colombia, culture essays of the red seaweed Hypnea musciformis were implemented in the natural habitat of the species. The study was carried out between February and June 2006 in the coastal area of Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean. Culture essays were developed using polypropylene hanging bags suspended on a line at sea surface, taking into consideration: site (Taganga and Puerto Luz), season (long dry and short rainy transition) and culture time (seven and fifteen days). The total mean daily growth rate (DGR) was 2.66 %. No significant differences were found between essays; however, the best results were obtained in Taganga during the dry season from seven-day yields. A carrageenan content of 44-48 % dry weight was obtained from the cultures. Although these results suggest that H. musciformis can be a viable natural resource for cultivation in the Santa Marta area, this species produced low biomass with the culture method used. More investigations are necessary to assess the feasibility of commercial scale culturing of H. musciformis in the region, taking into account other sites, annual essays and spore cultures.