Kappaphycus alvarezii and Caulerpa lentillifera are economical important seaweeds cultivated in Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam, respectively. The complementary light and nitrogen requirements of the seaweeds introduce the opportunity for a mono-trophic seaweed polyculture. Three different set-ups were tested, namely the integration of K. alvarezii in sea grape ponds, the integration of sea grape plastic cages on longlines and the polyculture of both species in net cages. The relative growth rates (RGRs) of K. alvarezii were highest on longlines, compared to net cages in mono- and polyculture (4.4 ± 0.8 % day−1 vs 2.1 ± 0.6, 0.6 ± 0.5 % day−1), whereas fragments died off due to warm temperatures and absence of water movement in ponds. Strong recurring water movements at the experimental site caused high losses of K. alvarezii fragments (39 % of initial) and impaired growth of delicate C. lentillifera causing negative RGRs in all treatments (plastic cages without gauze: −9.8 ± 0.6 % day−1, net cages: −6.4 ± 0.9 % day−1), but with least loss in plastic cages with gauze wrapping (-1.3 ± 0.8 % day−1). Fv´ /Fm´ values of both species showed typical midday depression and C. lentilliferas´ Fv/Fm were influenced especially by gauze wrapping. Here, we show that the K. alvarezii cultivation on longlines with C. lentillifera integrated below in inexpensive, self-made, customizable plastic cages with additional gauze protection is the most promising set-up from a physiological and economic point of view for Van Phong Bay and beyond. However, further research is needed before implementation of the system.
Stuthmann L.E., Brix da Costa B., Cordes A.J., Du H.T., Kunzmann A. and Springer K. (2025) Mono-trophic seaweed polyculture of sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) and Kappaphycus alvarezii: A case study from Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam. Aquaculture Reports 45: 103224. 10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.103224
@article{Stuthmann2025,
Title = {Mono-trophic seaweed polyculture of sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) and Kappaphycus alvarezii: A case study from Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam},
Author = {Stuthmann, Lara Elisabeth and Brix da Costa, Beatrice and Cordes, Aaron Johannes and Du, Hoang Trung and Kunzmann, Andreas and Springer, Karin},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Aquaculture Reports},
Year = {2025},
Pages = {103224},
Volume = {45},
Doi = {10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.103224},
Abstract = {Kappaphycus alvarezii and Caulerpa lentillifera are economical important seaweeds cultivated in Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam, respectively. The complementary light and nitrogen requirements of the seaweeds introduce the opportunity for a mono-trophic seaweed polyculture. Three different set-ups were tested, namely the integration of K. alvarezii in sea grape ponds, the integration of sea grape plastic cages on longlines and the polyculture of both species in net cages. The relative growth rates (RGRs) of K. alvarezii were highest on longlines, compared to net cages in mono- and polyculture (4.4 ± 0.8 % day−1 vs 2.1 ± 0.6, 0.6 ± 0.5 % day−1), whereas fragments died off due to warm temperatures and absence of water movement in ponds. Strong recurring water movements at the experimental site caused high losses of K. alvarezii fragments (39 % of initial) and impaired growth of delicate C. lentillifera causing negative RGRs in all treatments (plastic cages without gauze: −9.8 ± 0.6 % day−1, net cages: −6.4 ± 0.9 % day−1), but with least loss in plastic cages with gauze wrapping (-1.3 ± 0.8 % day−1). Fv´ /Fm´ values of both species showed typical midday depression and C. lentilliferas´ Fv/Fm were influenced especially by gauze wrapping. Here, we show that the K. alvarezii cultivation on longlines with C. lentillifera integrated below in inexpensive, self-made, customizable plastic cages with additional gauze protection is the most promising set-up from a physiological and economic point of view for Van Phong Bay and beyond. However, further research is needed before implementation of the system.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Stuthmann, Lara Elisabeth
AU - Brix da Costa, Beatrice
AU - Cordes, Aaron Johannes
AU - Du, Hoang Trung
AU - Kunzmann, Andreas
AU - Springer, Karin
TI - Mono-trophic seaweed polyculture of sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) and Kappaphycus alvarezii: A case study from Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam
T2 - Aquaculture Reports
PY - 2025
SP - 103224
VL - 45
DO - 10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.103224
AB - Kappaphycus alvarezii and Caulerpa lentillifera are economical important seaweeds cultivated in Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam, respectively. The complementary light and nitrogen requirements of the seaweeds introduce the opportunity for a mono-trophic seaweed polyculture. Three different set-ups were tested, namely the integration of K. alvarezii in sea grape ponds, the integration of sea grape plastic cages on longlines and the polyculture of both species in net cages. The relative growth rates (RGRs) of K. alvarezii were highest on longlines, compared to net cages in mono- and polyculture (4.4 ± 0.8 % day−1 vs 2.1 ± 0.6, 0.6 ± 0.5 % day−1), whereas fragments died off due to warm temperatures and absence of water movement in ponds. Strong recurring water movements at the experimental site caused high losses of K. alvarezii fragments (39 % of initial) and impaired growth of delicate C. lentillifera causing negative RGRs in all treatments (plastic cages without gauze: −9.8 ± 0.6 % day−1, net cages: −6.4 ± 0.9 % day−1), but with least loss in plastic cages with gauze wrapping (-1.3 ± 0.8 % day−1). Fv´ /Fm´ values of both species showed typical midday depression and C. lentilliferas´ Fv/Fm were influenced especially by gauze wrapping. Here, we show that the K. alvarezii cultivation on longlines with C. lentillifera integrated below in inexpensive, self-made, customizable plastic cages with additional gauze protection is the most promising set-up from a physiological and economic point of view for Van Phong Bay and beyond. However, further research is needed before implementation of the system.
ER -
