Biofouling in Brazilian commercial cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P. C. Silva

摘要: Biofouling filamentous red algae have been responsible for disease and costly loss of productivity in Asian Kappaphycus farms. Despite this, there is little information on the composition biofouling organisms, their origin influence commercial seaweed production. The aim this study was to identify quantify organisms at three alvarezii farms southeastern Brazil cultivation using floating rafts system between May 2008 August 2009. Environmental factors had a greater community than temporal factors. Not all found seedlings are same as those adjacent rocky shores. Foliose were dominant biofoulers site with lower water movement easier manage. higher hydrodynamics dominated by calcareous which reduced K. production causing sink, decreasing solar irradiance; together movement, hampered cleaning structures. Endobionts not found. Seedlings fixed sampling sites shores, indicating that introduced species escaped wild.