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 | Algal taxonomist, Dr. Antoine De Ramon N’Yeurt (3rd from right) with the workshop participants. |
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A workshop aimed at training marine biologists in the identification of common tropical marine algae (seaweeds) occurring in the Pacific Islands region was held recently at the Institute of Applied Sciences (IAS) based at the University of the South Pacific in Suva.
The three-day workshop, which ran from 14-16 August 2012, was organised by Mr Klaus Feussner and Dr Katy Soapi from IAS.
It was attended by staff members from IAS, the School of Marine Studies and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta in the United States.
Identifying seaweeds is a skill useful when undertaking surveys and scientific research for natural products, as well as doing biodiversity assessments or environmental impact assessment.
Seaweeds are important primary producers and the base of the food chain, providing food to many other marine species. At least seven different species of seaweeds are consumed in Fiji and Rotuma, the most common ones being the genera Caulerpa, Gracilaria, Hypnea and Meristotheca.
During the workshop, participants were shown some of these seaweed species and trained how to identify them including many more that are commonly found on coral reefs around the Pacific region.
The training instructor, Dr Antoine De Ramon N’Yeurt, an expert on algal taxonomy in the Pacific region, discussed the importance of seaweeds as indicators of the health of marine ecosystems where a predominance of seaweeds is an indicator of poor reef health in the tropics.
He explained on the other major disturbances that lead to algal dominance such as increase in nutrients, over fishing of herbivores, tropical cyclones and warmer climate.
“Seaweed dominance can also act as indicators of climate change, their sensitivity to seawater temperature and migration southwards as the climate becomes warmer, are early warning signs of global warming,” he added.
Participants also had an opportunity to get some hands-on experience in identifying algae samples collected from the Nasese foreshore in Suva and samples from the Solomon Islands collected from a field expedition in March earlier this year.
One of the participants, Professor Mark Hay thanked the instructor and organisers for arranging the workshop, adding that, he enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Professor Hay and his team are working with IAS to find new drugs from marine algae and a red alga from Fiji has shown very strong antimalarial potency.
The workshop concluded with Dr N’Yeurt thanking the participants for their enthusiasm and keen interest in learning about algae and their identification, followed by presentations of certificates to the participants.
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