Fucus vesiculosus

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Fucus vesiculosus
Bladder wrack in Samstad harbor 1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Gyrista
Subphylum: Ochrophytina
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Fucales
Family: Fucaceae
Genus: Fucus
Species:
F. vesiculosus
Binomial name
Fucus vesiculosus
L.
Bladder wrack is named for its conspicuous vesicles. Fucus vesiculosus closeup.jpg
Bladder wrack is named for its conspicuous vesicles.

Fucus vesiculosus, known by the common names bladderwrack, black tang, rockweed, sea grapes, bladder fucus, sea oak, cut weed, dyers fucus, red fucus and rock wrack, is a seaweed found on the coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was the original source of iodine, discovered in 1811, and was used extensively to treat goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland related to iodine deficiency. [1]

Contents

Description

The fronds of F. vesiculosus grow to 150 cm (59 in) long and 2.5 cm (1.0 in) wide and have a prominent midrib throughout. It is attached by a basal disc-shaped holdfast. It has almost spherical air bladders, which are usually paired one on either side of the mid-rib but may be absent in young plants. The margin is smooth and the frond is dichotomously branched. It is sometimes confused with Fucus spiralis with which it hybridises and is similar to Fucus serratus. [2] [3]

Distribution

Fucus vesiculosus is a common large alga on the shores of the British Isles. [4] It has been recorded from the Atlantic shores of Europe, Northern Russia, the Baltic Sea, Greenland, Azores, Canary Islands, Morocco and Madeira. [5] [6] It is also found on the Atlantic coast of North America from Ellesmere Island, Hudson Bay to North Carolina. [7]

Ecology

The species is especially common on sheltered shores from the middle littoral to lower intertidal levels. [7] It is rare on exposed shores, where any specimens may be short, stunted and without the air vesicles. [8] F. vesiculosus supports few colonial organisms but provides a canopy and shelter for the tube worm Spirorbis spirorbis , herbivorous isopods such as Idotea and surface-grazing snails such as Littorina obtusata . [2] Phlorotannins in Fucus vesiculosus act as chemical defenses against the marine herbivorous snail Littorina littorea , [9] while galactolipids act as herbivore deterrents against the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata . [10] Methyl jasmonate may induce the phlorotannins production. [11] Fucophlorethol A is a type of phlorotannin found in F. vesiculosus. [12]

Biology

Plants of F. vesiculosus are dioecious. Gametes are generally released into the seawater under calm conditions, and the eggs are fertilized externally to produce a zygote. [2] Eggs are fertilized shortly after being released from the receptacle. A study on the coast of Maine showed that there was 100% fertilization at both exposed and sheltered sites. [2] Continuously submerged populations in the Baltic Sea are very responsive to turbulent conditions. High fertilization success is achieved because the gametes are released only when water velocities are low. [13]

Individuals of F. vesiculosus from the North Sea colonized the Baltic Sea less than 8,000 years ago. The event is paralleled by a switch from what seems to be obligate sexual recruitment to facultative asexual recruitment. [14] Asexual reproduction in Baltic Sea populations is accomplished by the production of adventitious branches that come loose and reattach to the bottom by the formation of rhizoids. Adventitious branches are present in thalli of F. vesiculosus in other areas too but asexual formation of new thalli has never been reported outside the Baltic Sea. [14] [15]

Consumption

Fucus vesiculosus is sold as a nutritional supplement. Primary chemical constituents include mucilage, algin, mannitol, fucitol, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, volatile oils, iodine, bromine, potassium and other minerals.[ citation needed ]

Adverse effects

Consumption of F. vesiculosus can cause platelet inhibition, which may potentiate the anticoagulant activity of warfarin (Coumadin). [16] It should be avoided before surgery. [16]

Some people may suffer an allergic reaction to the iodine in F. vesiculosus. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Ascophyllum</i> Species of seaweed

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<i>Alaria esculenta</i> Edible seaweed

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<i>Laminaria</i> Genus of algae

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common periwinkle</span> Species of mollusc

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<i>Fucus serratus</i> Species of Phaeophyceae

Fucus serratus is a seaweed of the north Atlantic Ocean, known as toothed wrack, serrated wrack, or saw rack.

<i>Fucus spiralis</i> Species of Phaeophyceae

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrack (seaweed)</span> Index of plants with the same common name

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<i>Ligia oceanica</i> Species of woodlouse

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<i>Arbacia punctulata</i> Species of sea urchin

The Atlantic purple sea urchin is a species of sea urchins from the family Arbaciidae, native to the Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Littorina obtusata</i> Species of gastropod

Littorina obtusata, common name the flat periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phlorotannin</span> Class of chemical compounds

Phlorotannins are a type of tannins found in brown algae such as kelps and rockweeds or sargassacean species, and in a lower amount also in some red algae. Contrary to hydrolysable or condensed tannins, these compounds are oligomers of phloroglucinol (polyphloroglucinols). As they are called tannins, they have the ability to precipitate proteins. It has been noticed that some phlorotannins have the ability to oxidize and form covalent bonds with some proteins. In contrast, under similar experimental conditions three types of terrestrial tannins apparently did not form covalent complexes with proteins.

<i>Fucus distichus</i> Species of alga

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<i>Fucus gardneri</i> Species of Phaeophyceae

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<i>Fucus radicans</i> Species of seaweed

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<i>Fucus ceranoides</i> Species of seaweed

Fucus ceranoides is a species of brown algae found in the littoral zone of the sea shore.

<i>Cystoseira foeniculacea</i> Species of alga

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Susan Brawley is an American marine ecologist at the University of Maine known for her research on algae, especially algal reproduction. She was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012.

References

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