Jaruwan Mayakun, Patama Bunruk and Rochanakorn Kongsaeng

pp. 419 - 423

Abstract

Halimeda macroloba Decaisne can utilize the CO₂
 used for carbon fixation in photosynthesis and use bicarbonate
as the main carbon source for calcification. Although Halimeda has been recognized as a carbon sink species, the calcium
accumulation of Halimeda species in Thai waters remain poorly understood. In this study, the highest density of H.
macroloba was 26 thalli/m²
 and Halimeda quickly produced 1-2 new segments/thallus/day or 20.1 mg dry weight/thallus/day.
Its calcium carbonate accumulation rate was 16.6 mg CaCO₃
/thallus/day, or 82.46 % per thallus. In Thailand, however, only
three scientific papers of growth rate and CaCO₃
 accumulation rate of H. macroloba have been found and collected. Of these
records, the mean density was 26-104 thalli/m2
. The growth rate of H. macroloba was around 1-2 mg dry weight/day and
the CaCO₃
 accumulation rate varied around 41-91%. Thus, Halimeda has a great potential to decrease the carbon dioxide
concentration in the ocean.

Keywords

• calcification
• CO₂
  
• carbon sink
• growth rate
• Halimeda macroloba