Iodine (Kelp)

BACKGROUND: Edible algae contain bioactive compounds such as peptides, fucoidan, polyphenols, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that may benefit cardiovascular health, particularly in lowering blood pressure (BP) regulation. Certain species, including Nori and Kelp, are also rich in inorganic nitrate, known for its BP-lowering effects. However, the relationship between algae consumption and hypertension remains controversial. This study evaluated the effects of edible algae on BP in humans, considering factors such as algae type, format, dosage, intervention duration, health status, and baseline BP. METHODS: A systematic search of Medline-Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases was conducted through December 2024. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults (≥ 18 years), healthy or with a cardiometabolic condition, with interventions ≥ 4-weeks and BP outcomes were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted; heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using statistical tests and plots. Sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twenty-nine RCTs encompassing 1583 participants were included. Edible algae intake significantly reduced systolic BP (SBP: -2.05 mmHg; 95% CI: -3.80, -0.31; p = 0.022) and diastolic BP (DBP: -1.87 mmHg; 95% CI: -3.10, -0.64; p = 0.001). Heterogeneity was high for SBP (Q-value: 230; I2 = 75%; p < 0.001) and moderate for DBP (Q-value: 102; I2 = 68%; p < 0.001). Spirulina was the most effective algae, reducing SBP by -5.28 mmHg (p = 0.032) and DBP by -3.56 mmHg (p = 0.044). Dosage of algae > 3 g/day significantly lowered SBP (-3.71 mmHg; p = 0.004) and DBP (-3.05 mmHg; p = 0.022). Whole algae intake showed greater effects than extracts. Benefits were more pronounced in individuals with cardiometabolic risk. Meta-regression found no independent association between algae dosage and SBP change, but baseline SBP significantly predicted both SBP and DBP reductions. CONCLUSION: Consuming over 3 g/day of whole edible algae, especially Spirulina, for at least 12 weeks significantly lowers BP, pa

Conservation of marine biodiversity requires an understanding of the habitats needed to support and replenish species of interest. It also requires knowledge about the abundance and diversity of multispecies assemblages. Variation in the distribution and composition of kelp forests, one of the most productive marine coastal habitats globally, can have major influences on reef fishes-a group of ecologically and socioeconomically important species. In the face of widespread and escalating loss of kelp forests, quantification of these effects is urgently needed to assess and project cascading impacts on biodiversity. Here, we evaluate relationships between kelp forests and associated reef fish populations using a global meta-analysis of experimental kelp removals and comparative surveys of kelp and adjacent non-kelp habitats. These analyses show that kelp forests increase the abundance of reef fishes, though the significance of this effect varied depending on the structural complexity of kelp forests. In experimental studies, kelp forests have a significant positive effect on fish species richness, revealing that kelp act as true foundation species by supporting the diversity of associated multispecies assemblages. Importantly, regardless of kelp forest morphology and type of study (observational or experimental studies), kelp forests enhance the recruitment of early life history stages suggesting they are nursery habitats for many reef fish taxa. Lastly, kelp forests differentially affected species with different functional traits; small body size fishes from low trophic levels (e.g., herbivore and detritivores, micropredators, and mesopredators) and large body size fish from higher trophic level (e.g., piscivores, general carnivores) were both facilitated by kelp forests. Taken together, these results indicate that the loss of kelp forest, particularly those with more complex morphology, can reduce total abundance and diversity of fish, with possible cascading consequences for coastal ecosystem function. © 2025 The Ecological Society of America. Conservation benefits of a large marine protected area network that spans multiple ecosystems. Smith JG(1)(2), Lopaz

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely implemented tools for long-term ocean conservation and resource management. Assessments of MPA performance have largely focused on specific ecosystems individually and have rarely evaluated performance across multiple ecosystems either in an individual MPA or across an MPA network. We evaluated the conservation performance of 59 MPAs in California's large MPA network, which encompasses 4 primary ecosystems (surf zone, kelp forest, shallow reef, deep reef) and 4 bioregions, and identified MPA attributes that best explain performance. Using a meta-analytic framework, we evaluated the ability of MPAs to conserve fish biomass, richness, and diversity. At the scale of the network and for 3 of 4 regions, the biomass of species targeted by fishing was positively associated with the level of regulatory protection and was greater inside no-take MPAs, whereas species not targeted by fishing had similar biomass in MPAs and areas open to fishing. In contrast, species richness and diversity were not as strongly enhanced by MPA protection. The key features of conservation effectiveness included MPA age, preimplementation fisheries pressure, and habitat diversity. Important drivers of MPA effectiveness for single MPAs were consistent across MPAs in the network, spanning regions and ecosystems. With international targets aimed at protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, MPA design and assessment frameworks should consider conservation performance at multiple ecologically relevant scales, from individual MPAs to MPA networks. Publisher: Beneficios de la conservación para una extensa red de áreas marinas protegidas que abarca varios ecosistemas Resumen Las áreas marinas protegidas (AMP) son herramientas de uso amplio para la conservación a largo plazo de los océanos y la gestión de recursos. Las evaluaciones del rendimiento de las AMP se han centrado casi siempre en ecosistemas específicos de forma individual y rara vez han evaluado el rendimiento a través de varios ecosistemas, ya sea en una AMP individual o a través de una red de AMP. Evaluamos el rendimiento de la conservación de 59 AMP en la gran red de AMP de California, que aba

Kelp forests and urchin barrens are two stable states in rocky reef ecosystems, each providing unique ecosystem functions like habitat for marine species and primary production. While studies frequently show that kelp forests support higher levels of some ecosystem functions than urchin barren habitats, no research has yet compared average differences. To address this gap, we first conducted a meta-analysis of studies that directly compared the ecosystem functions, services and general attributes provided by each habitat. We also compiled individual studies on ecosystem properties from both habitats and qualitatively assessed the benefits provided. The meta-analysis included 388 observations from 55 studies across 14 countries. We found that kelp forests consistently delivered higher levels of ecosystem properties such as biodiversity, species richness, abalone abundance and sea urchin roe quality. Urchin barrens supported higher urchin density and crustose coralline algae cover. The qualitative review further supported these findings, showing that kelp forests ranked higher in 11 out of 15 ecosystem properties. These findings can help guide decisions on managing rocky reef habitats and demonstrate the benefits of preserving or expanding kelp forests.

Erratum in Ann Bot. 2024 Mar 8;133(1):213-216. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcae013. BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Kelp forests are increasingly considered blue carbon habitats for ocean-based biological carbon dioxide removal, but knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of their carbon cycle. Of particular interest is the remineralization of detritus, which can remain photosynthetically active. Here, we study a widespread, thermotolerant kelp (Ecklonia radiata) to explore detrital photosynthesis as a mechanism underlying temperature and light as two key drivers of remineralization. METHODS: We used meta-analysis to constrain the thermal optimum (Topt) of E. radiata. Temperature and light were subsequently controlled over a 119-day ex situ decomposition experiment. Flow-through experimental tanks were kept in darkness at 15 °C or under a subcompensating maximal irradiance of 8 µmol photons m-2 s-1 at 15, 20 or 25 °C. Photosynthesis of laterals (analogues to leaves) was estimated using closed-chamber oxygen evolution in darkness and under a saturating irradiance of 420 µmol photons m-2 s-1. KEY RESULTS: T opt of E. radiata is 18 °C across performance variables (photosynthesis, growth, abundance, size, mass and fertility), life stages (gametophyte and sporophyte) and populations. Our models predict that a temperature of >15 °C reduces the potential for E. radiata detritus to be photosynthetically viable, hence detrital Topt ≤ 15 °C. Detritus is viable under subcompensating irradiance, where it performs better than in darkness. Comparison of net and gross photosynthesis indicates that elevated temperature primarily decreases detrital photosynthesis, whereas darkness primarily increases detrital respiration compared with optimal experimental conditions, in which detrital photosynthesis can persist for ≥119 days. CONCLUSIONS: T opt of kelp detritus is ≥3 °C colder than that of the intact plant. Given that E. radiata is one of the most temperature-tolerant kelps, this suggests that photosynthesis is generally more thermosensitive in the detrital phase, which partly explains the enhancing effect of temperature on remineralization. In contrast to darkness, even subcompensating irradianc

The role of marine primary producers in capturing atmospheric CO2 has received increased attention in the global mission to mitigate climate change. Yet, our understanding of carbon sequestration performed by macroalgae has been limited to a relatively small number of studies that have estimated the ultimate fate of macroalgal-derived carbon. This systematic review was conducted to provide a timely synthesis of the methods used to determine the fate of macroalgal carbon in this rapidly expanding research area. It also aimed to provide suggestions for more effective future research. We found that the most common methods to estimate the fate of macroalgal carbon can be categorized into groups based on those that quantify: (i) export of macroalgal carbon to other environments-known as horizontal transport; (ii) sequestration of macroalgal carbon into deep-sea sediments-known as vertical transport; (iii) burial of macroalgal carbon directly beneath a benthic community; (iv) the loss of macroalgal carbon as particulate carbon or dissolved carbon to the water column; (v) the loss of macroalgal carbon to primary consumers; and finally (vi) those studies that combined multiple methods in one location. Based on this review, several recommendations for future research were formulated, which require the combination of multiple methods in a whole system analysis approach. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Phycology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Phycological Society of America.

There is growing acknowledgement that human-induced change can push ecosystems beyond tipping points, resulting in the dramatic and sudden loss of vital ecosystem services. Invasive non-native species (INNS) are spreading rapidly due to anthropogenic activities and climate change and can drive changes to ecosystem functioning by altering abiotic conditions and restructuring native communities. Shallow lake ecosystems are especially vulnerable to perturbation from INNS as they can exist in two alternative stable states: either clear water with an abundance of vegetation or turbid, unvegetated and dominated by phytoplankton. Through a global meta-analysis of studies observing the effects of INNS on recipient lake ecosystems, we found that certain INNS drive significant changes in the abundance of key taxa and conditions that govern the balance of alternative equilibria in shallow lakes. Invasive fish and crustaceans demonstrated effects likely to lead to early ecosystem collapse to a turbid state and delay ecosystem recovery. Invasive molluscs presented opposite effects, which may delay ecosystem collapse and encourage ecosystem recovery. Our results demonstrate that INNS could significantly alter the tipping points of ecosystem collapse and recovery, and that not all invasive species may initiate system collapse. Our results provide guidance for managers of invaded shallow lake ecosystems, which provide diverse services including sanitation, potable water supply, industrial cooling, aquaculture and recreational resources. Moreover, our approach could be applied to identify key potential drivers of change in other crucial ecosystems which demonstrate alternative equilibria, such as coral reefs and kelp forests. © 2021 The Authors. Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Contaminants may affect ecosystem functioning by reducing the fitness of organisms and these impacts may cascade through ecosystems, particularly if the sensitive organisms are also habitat-forming species. Understanding how sub-lethal effects of toxicants can affect the quality and functions of biogenic habitats is critical if we are to establish effective guidelines for protecting ecosystems. We carried out a global systematic review and meta-analysis critically evaluating contaminant effects on properties of habitat-formers linked to ecosystem functioning. We reviewed a total of 95 publications. However, 40% of publications initially captured by the literature search were identified as having flaws in experimental design and ~11% did not present results in an appropriate way and thus were excluded from the quantitative meta-analysis. We quantitatively reviewed 410 studies from 46 publications, of which 313 (~76%) were on plants and seaweeds, that is macro-algae, saltmarsh plants and seagrasses, 58 (~14%) studied corals and 39 (~10%) looked at toxicant impacts on bivalves, with 70% of those on mussels and the remaining studies on oysters. Response variables analysed were photosynthetic efficiency, amount of chlorophyll a (as a proxy for primary production) and growth of plants, seaweeds and corals as well as leaf area of plants. We also analysed filtration, growth and respiration rates of bivalves. Our meta-analysis found that chemical contaminants have a significant negative impact on most of the analysed functional variables, with the exception of the amount of chlorophyll a. Metals were the most widely harmful type of contaminant, significantly decreasing photosynthetic efficiency of kelps, leaf area of saltmarsh plants, growth of fucoids, corals and saltmarsh plants and the filtration rates of bivalves. Organic contaminants decreased the photosynthetic efficiency of seagrass, but had no significant effects on bivalve filtration. We did not find significant effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on any of the analysed functional variables or habitat-forming taxa, but this could be due to the low number of studies available. A meta-regression revealed t

BACKGROUND: Surveys have reported that as high as 80% of plastic surgery patients utilize integrative medicine approaches including natural products (NPs) and mind-body practices (MBPs). Little is known regarding the evidence of benefit of these integrative therapies specifically in a plastic surgery patient population. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of studies in MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE (inception through December 2016) evaluating integrative medicine among plastic surgery patients. Search terms included 76 separate NP and MBP interventions as listed in the 2013 American Board of Integrative Health Medicine Curriculum. Two independent reviewers extracted data from each study, including study type, population, intervention, outcomes, conclusions (beneficial, harmful, or neutral), year of publication, and journal type. Level of evidence was assessed according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Rating Levels of Evidence and Grading Recommendations. RESULTS: Of 29 studies analyzed, 13 studies (45%) evaluated NPs and 16 (55%) studied MBPs. Level II reproducible evidence supports use of arnica to decrease postoperative edema after rhinoplasty, onion extract to improve scar pigmentation, hypnosis to alleviate perioperative anxiety, and acupuncture to improve perioperative nausea. Level V evidence reports on the risk of bleeding in gingko and kelp use and the risk of infection in acupuncture use. After year 2000, 92% of NP studies versus 44% of MBP studies were published (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: High-level evidence studies demonstrate promising results for the use of both NPs and MBPs in the care of plastic surgery patients. Further study in this field is warranted.

Erratum in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Mar 4;111(9):3644. A fundamental goal of the study of ecology is to determine the drivers of habitat-forming vegetation, with much emphasis given to the relative importance to vegetation of "bottom-up" forces such as the role of nutrients and "top-down" forces such as the influence of herbivores and their predators. For coastal vegetation (e.g., kelp, seagrass, marsh, and mangroves) it has been well demonstrated that alterations to bottom-up forcing can cause major disturbances leading to loss of dominant vegetation. One such process is anthropogenic nutrient loading, which can lead to major changes in the abundance and species composition of primary producers, ultimately affecting important ecosystem services. In contrast, much less is known about the relative importance of apex predators on coastal vegetated ecosystems because most top predator populations have been depleted or lost completely. Here we provide evidence that an unusual four-level trophic cascade applies in one such system, whereby a top predator mitigates the bottom-up influences of nutrient loading. In a study of seagrass beds in an estuarine ecosystem exposed to extreme nutrient loading, we use a combination of a 50-y time series analysis, spatial comparisons, and mesocosm and field experiments to demonstrate that sea otters (Enhydra lutris) promote the growth and expansion of eelgrass (Zostera marina) through a trophic cascade, counteracting the negative effects of agriculturally induced nutrient loading. Our results add to a small but growing body of literature illustrating that significant interactions between bottom-up and top-down forces occur, in this case with consequences for the conservation of valued ecosystem services provided by seagrass.

To investigate whether supplementation with iodine-reduced kelp (Laminaria japonica) powder decreases body fat composition in overweight Japanese subjects, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted in 50 Japanese subjects with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 and <30 kg/m2. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume thirty tablets/d (10 tablets orally, 3 times/d) containing either iodine-reduced kelp powder (test, 6 g kelp powder corresponding to 3 g alginate/d) or kelp-free powder (placebo) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, blood lipids, and serum thyroid hormone levels were obtained before and after the trial. Body fat percentage was significantly decreased in male subjects from the test group compared with the placebo group. The same tendency was observed for body weight (p = 0.065) and BMI (p = 0.072) in male subjects. No significant changes in anthropometric measurements or visceral fat area were observed in female subjects. Serum thyroid hormone concentrations did not increase after 1.03 mg/d of iodine supplementation through kelp intake. The intake of iodine-reduced kelp powder led to significant and safe reductions in body fat percentage in overweight male subjects. The consumption of kelp high in alginate may contribute to preventing obesity without influencing thyroid function in Japanese subjects with a relatively high intake of iodine from seaweed.

OBJECTIVE: Globalisation has extended to the kitchen and the Asian cuisine has gained international popularity with sushi and seaweed now being widespread. We explored the possible acute adverse effects of an iodine load from a single sushi-and-seaweed meal as seaweed iodine may induce thyroid dysfunction. METHODS: Nine euthyroid participants were randomized into three groups: Halibut maki roll with either (A) newly harvested Greenlandic seaweed salad, (B) no seaweed salad on the side, or (C) Japanese seaweed salad purchased at a local store. We collected spot urine and blood samples daily for a week for measurement of iodine and creatinine in urine, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and estimated-free T4 (fT4) in serum. RESULTS: All participants ingested the full meal and the drop-out was nil. No adverse effects were reported. Pre-meal urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was 75 µg/g. UIE rose (p < 0.001) by 385%, 59% and 43% for groups A, B, and C, peaked in the 6-h spot urine sample at 393, 120, and 109 µg/g, and was down to pre-meal values by day 2. Serum TSH rose (p = 0.012) 150% on day 2 and was down to pre-meal values by day 3. Serum fT4 remained at the same level. No adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: A sushi meal increased urinary iodine excretion by 40 µg/g, or 400 µg/g if a newly harvested seaweed salad was added. An ensuing rise in serum TSH was brief, and a single sushi meal with seaweed salad did not cause any adverse events.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of ingestion of two different doses of supplemental kelp on the thyroid function of healthy euthyroid subjects. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind prospective clinical trial involving 36 healthy euthyroid subjects, who were randomly assigned to receive placebo (4 alfalfa capsules per day), low-dose kelp (2 kelp capsules and 2 alfalfa capsules per day), or high-dose kelp (4 kelp capsules per day) for 4 weeks. Thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH), free thyroxine, and total triiodothyronine were assessed at weeks 0, 4, and 6. Response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation, urinary iodine excretion, and basal metabolic rate were determined at weeks 0 and 4. RESULTS: TSH concentrations did not differ significantly between week 0 and week 4 in the placebo group (P = 0.16) but increased significantly in both the low-dose kelp (P = 0.04) and high-dose kelp (P = 0.002) groups. Free thyroxine concentrations decreased slightly but significantly after 4 weeks of placebo but were unchanged in the low-dose and the high-dose kelp groups. In contrast, total triiodothyronine levels did not differ significantly after 4 weeks of placebo or low-dose kelp therapy but were significantly decreased after high-dose kelp therapy (P = 0.04). Similarly, the thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test showed no significant change in poststimulation TSH after 4 weeks in the placebo or low-dose kelp groups but revealed a significantly increased response after high-dose kelp therapy (P = 0.0002). The 24-hour urinary iodine excretion showed dose-dependent increases in the two kelp study groups. Basal metabolic rate did not change significantly in any study group during the 4-week study period. All thyroid laboratory values returned to baseline 2 weeks after cessation of kelp supplementation, except for TSH in the high-dose kelp group, which was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Short-term dietary supplementation with kelp significantly increases both basal and poststimulation TSH. These findings corroborate previous studies on the effects of supplemental iodide given to euthyroid subjects for a similar period. Further studies are needed

Iodine-enriched (IE) eggs are produced by chickens fed a diet containing kelp. These eggs, which contain an average of 711 micrograms iodine/egg, have been reported to reduce plasma cholesterol in humans and laboratory animals. A modified form of these eggs is under consideration for marketing in the United States. 104 hyperlipidaemic subjects were placed on a low-fat diet for 12 wk. Between wk 4 and 12, approximately half of the subjects were randomized to a dietary control group (n = 53) or a group who ingested one IE egg/day in addition to this diet (n = 51). Some subjects in both groups continued in the study for an additional 4-8 wk. No significant adverse clinical effects were observed or reported, with the exception of one subject who reported an allergic-like reaction soon after beginning egg ingestion. All clinical chemistry values remained within normal limits, and comparisons between the egg group and controls were not significant. Three subjects (two in the egg group and one in the control group) had elevated thyroid stimulating hormone levels during the experimental period. All thyroid function tests remained within normal limits in the remaining subjects. Thus, ingestion of one IE egg of the type used in our study appears to be relatively safe and devoid of clinically significant, short-term adverse effects in healthy individuals.

Iodine-enriched (IE) eggs are produced by chickens fed a diet containing kelp. These eggs have been reported to reduce plasma cholesterol in humans and experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the ingestion of one IE egg/day on the plasma lipoprotein cholesterol in borderline and hyperlipidemic individuals ingesting a low-fat diet. One hundred three subjects with entry cholesterol levels greater than 5.17 mmol/L were placed on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Between weeks 4 and 12, approximately half of the subjects were randomly assigned to either a diet control group (n = 53), or a group who ingested one IE egg/day in addition to this diet (n = 50). Subjects in both the egg group and the diet control group had a significant reduction in total plasma cholesterol (TC) at the end of the study compared with study entry; addition of the egg in the diet did not abolish the TC reduction in the egg group. However, paired comparisons of total and lipoprotein cholesterol levels at the end of the egg intervention period with the end of the initial dietary period demonstrated that the egg group had a significantly greater increase than the diet control group in TC (egg group: 7.2 +/- 1.5% increase; diet controls: 1.5 +/- 0.9% increase; p less than 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (egg group: 9.2 +/- 1.7% increase; diet controls: 3.9 +/- 1.5% increase; p less than 0.01). This effect was most pronounced in subjects with higher initial cholesterol levels and subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol and triglyceride). Results suggest that these particular groups of subjects are most susceptible to cholesterol changes associated with ingestion of IE eggs.

Changes in marine animal communities shape ecological processes and ecosystem functioning. Monitoring temporal community dynamics is increasingly important under global change, yet remains challenging because community fluctuations can arise from multiple natural processes and are difficult to assess. Passive acoustic monitoring of signals produced by marine fauna offers a non-invasive means of tracking community dynamics, providing continuous, high-resolution data that capture temporal patterns often missed by traditional methods. Despite their potential as proxies for macrofaunal assemblages and associated dynamics, the responses of acoustic communities to environmental variability in marine ecosystems remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to characterize fish acoustic communities in a tidal European kelp forest and identify the environmental drivers shaping their temporal variability. Continuous acoustic recordings were combined with environmental measurements and underwater visual surveys to address these objectives. Generalized linear models revealed that diel and tidal cycles were the dominant drivers of acoustic activity, diversity, and community composition during the summer study period. Other environmental variables had weaker effects, reflecting the fauna's adaptation to marked short-term fluctuations in this dynamic ecosystem. Acoustic activity and richness increased at low water height, contrasting with higher visually observed fish abundance at high water height. This discrepancy suggests that sound production reflects behavioural interactions rather than fish abundance alone. The greater number of sound types (26) relative to observed species (19) indicates either behavioural sound diversity within species or the presence of undocumented soniferous taxa. Calmer sea conditions also promoted higher vocal activity and acoustic richness. This study provides an unprecedented description of kelp forest acoustic communities in Europe, demonstrating the value of ecoacoustics to complement visual surveys for capturing natural variability and establishing essential baseline information for detecting long-term ecological shifts in these climate-sensiti

Fire smoke pollution is an emerging health risk factor, yet prior studies have focused mostly on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and neglected the health impacts from other pollutants, most notably ozone (O3). Here, we quantify changes in ground-level O3 concentrations during smoke episodes across the contiguous US using surface air quality measurements, satellite data, and machine learning models. After correcting for meteorological variability, smoke contribution to daily ground-level O3 can reach up to 6.9 parts per billion (16% increase relative to nonsmoke days) at certain US monitoring locations, averaged over all smoke days from 2006 to 2023. Smoke O3 patterns are poorly correlated with smoke PM2.5 patterns, demonstrating that their health impacts do not necessarily coincide in space and time. We estimate that smoke O3 can lead to 2045 annual excess deaths (95% confidence interval: 1325 to 2755) averaged across 2006 to 2023 using established exposure-response functions of all-source O3 exposure. The increasing mortality due to smoke O3 partially offset the observed declining trend in nonsmoke O3 mortality. Over the study period, estimated deaths from smoke O3 were equivalent to 15.8% of smoke PM2.5 mortality, and this proportion reached 61.5% in 2023.

Crustaceans associated with Ecklonia radiata holdfast have long been used as the indicators of environmental change and habitat suitability. Despite this important ecological role, no work has been done to document the spatial variation patterns of crustaceans in the Wild Coast of South Africa. This study examined the site and habitat effects on holdfast-associated crustacean community composition and documented physical factors underlying observed patterns. Eighty-four kelp holdfasts produced a total of 1379 individuals among 32 distinct species. Significant positive correlations between total abundance and species richness were prominent in rock pools compared to gullies in most sites. There was a significant interaction effect of site and habitat on species richness. Dwesa gullies had a significantly higher number of species compared to their adjacent rock pools and Xhorha gullies. The total abundance and Shannon diversity differed within Dwesa (gullies vs. rock pools). The composition of crustaceans per holdfast differed significantly between habitats and across sites. Seven clusters were identified, each defined by distinct species. Most gullies were primarily inhabited by barnacles Amphibalanus venustus, while isopod Cymodocella pustulata dominated the rock pools. Rock pool species were mainly associated with high temperatures and enhanced sodium levels, while the gully species were positively associated with microhabitat characteristics and nitrate. Our findings show that Dwesa gullies had pronounced effects on crustacean biodiversity metrics. Crustaceans in the gullies were mainly driven by nitrate, holdfast, and sediment weight, while rock pool dwellers were characterized by enhanced temperature and sodium. © 2026 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by British Ecological Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Dataset described in Glob Chang Biol. 2026 Apr;32(4):e70848. doi: 10.1111/gcb.70848. Although there is abundant evidence of climate change impacts on distributions, population growth, and the phenology of individual species, our understanding of how climate change alters species interactions is more limited. Interactions between ectothermic predators and prey are likely to be especially sensitive to temperature due to these organisms' temperature-dependent metabolism, performance, and behavior. We used three decades of data from kelp forests in California to examine the effect of temperature on interactions between the predatory sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, and one of its prey species, the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, an ecosystem engineer. In the absence of sunflower stars, higher temperatures increased sea urchin population growth rates. However, the negative effects of sunflower stars on sea urchin population growth rates strengthened with higher temperatures. When sunflower stars were above a threshold density, their negative effect on sea urchins at warmer temperatures outweighed the direct positive effect of temperature, leading to decreasing urchin population growth rates with increasing temperature. These results suggest that recovery of sunflower stars, which were extirpated across much of the west coast of North America between 2013 and 2014, could reduce urchin populations and contribute to the resilience of kelp forests to increasing temperatures. More broadly, these results highlight how species interactions can mediate the direct effects of warming on populations. © 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Kelp forests play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, providing habitat, food, and shelter for a variety of marine organisms. However, these ecosystems are facing significant threats, prompting the need for effective restoration strategies. One promising method is the use of "Green Gravel", where kelp spores are cultivated on small stones for subsequent deployment in the ocean. The success of this method strongly depends on the kelp attaching firmly to the ground before the kelp-stone systems get displaced to unsuitable locations by hydrodynamic forcing. Here we systematically quantified the hydrodynamic and bed conditions leading to initiation of motion of kelp-stone systems in the laboratory. For full control on kelp dimensions, surrogates were used. Critical shear stress negatively correlated with kelp size, and bed roughness had a stronger influence on the initiation of motion than stone dimensions or bed slope. We introduce the Shields parameter with a stability correction, highlighting its strong correlation with kelp frontal area and stone diameter, and providing a powerful unifying metric for predicting the onset of movement under diverse conditions. Additionally, subtle movement of the kelp-stone systems prior to displacement was observed, potentially preventing attachment even at hydrodynamic conditions below the thresholds for initiation of motion. Understanding the mechanistic processes leading to motion of kelp-stone systems helps to improve restoration methods and thus contributes to the broader objectives of marine habitat conservation. Copyright: © 2026 Paul et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

The global challenge of feeding a growing population while minimizing environmental impacts necessitates novel food production systems. Plant cellular agriculture offers a sustainable alternative for producing food ingredients; however, its commercial viability is hindered by the high costs and regulatory hurdles associated with conventional reagent-grade culture media. In this study, we developed a novel, cost-effective, and food-grade basal culture medium, FG-N6CI, for rice cellular agriculture. By replacing reagent-grade basal-medium components of the N6CI medium with food-grade alternatives, specifically by substituting chemical reagents with yeast extract, kelp powder, manganese yeast, and a boron supplement, we formulated a food-grade basal nutrient composition while retaining reagent-grade phytohormones. Rice (Oryza sativa L. 'Taichung 65') callus cultured on FG-N6CI medium exhibited significantly higher fresh weight (7.1 g) than the conventional N6CI medium (5.8 g) after 35 days (p < 0.05). Gene expression analysis showed no significant differences between the expression of OsHDA710 and OsTIR1, suggesting that FG-N6CI supports normal cellular proliferation and signaling similar to the standard medium. Economically, the cost of FG-N6CI medium was reduced by approximately 72% compared with that of the commercial reagent-grade mixture (219 JPY/L vs. 795 JPY/L). These results demonstrate that FG-N6CI is an economically competitive basal medium for scaling-up plant cellular agriculture.

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweed such as sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) that has bioactive properties including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. This current study investigated the modulation of the intestinal immune profile of pre-smolts Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by dietary fucoidan. To do this, a 5-week experiment, consisting of triplicate tanks with 40 fish per tank, was conducted using either a commercial-like diet (control) or a diet containing 0.2% fucoidan. Afterwards, shotgun proteomics, enrichment analysis, and the detection of specific biomarkers (by immunohistochemistry or ELISA) were performed. Key results in distal intestine (DI) revealed that fish fed fucoidan increased the presence of CD8+ cells, as well as proteins linked to degradation of branched-chain amino acids, tight junctions, NOD-like receptors, TGF-beta and PPAR signalling. Furthermore, immunological pathways (e.g., complement, antigen processing and presentation, T cell receptor signalling, leukocyte migration, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation) were enriched in fucoidan group along with higher number of chromosome-associated proteins (e.g., histone H2A, nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 4), chaperones (e.g., HSP60, HSP90A, HSPB1) and lectins (e.g., mannose-binding proteins). Also, DI from the fucoidan group showed the enrichment of CD markers including CD29, CD61, CD63 or CD243, which have been reported during cell trafficking (including CD8+ cells). This analysis proposes the potential involvement of CD8+ cells along with other leukocytes in the remodeling of intestinal immunity of fish under nutritional programming. Overall, the current findings showed that fucoidan can modulate innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, making it an interesting candidate for functional aquafeeds.

Brown seaweed is a naturally occurring composite that integrates alginate and cellulose within a hierarchical, hydrated architecture analogous to engineered hydrogel systems. This study hypothesizes that leveraging the native structure-function relationships of brown seaweed enables the development of functional hydrogel biomaterials while minimizing synthetic and chemical processing. Strategies are investigated to exploit the intrinsic biological structure and composition of brown seaweed blades across multiple formats, including native and purified blade structures, as well as fibrillated blades reassembled into hydrogels and foam structures via 3D printing and freeze-drying. The resulting biomaterials are characterized in terms of structure, hydrogel stability, and liquid absorption capacity in different media. The effects of purification are compared with those of native materials. In addition, porosity, mechanical, rheological, and cytocompatibility properties of the fibrillated and reassembled structures are evaluated. By preserving the natural architecture and avoiding extensive fractionation, this approach demonstrates the potential to create resource-efficient biomaterials with high liquid absorption (∼3600%), high porosity (∼93%), and shape-memory behavior after compression. Cytocompatibility reaches ∼73% viability at 50% extract but decreases to ∼59% at full concentration, indicating a concentration-dependent biological response, underscoring the need to balance minimal processing with biological performance for biomedical applications. © 2026 The Author(s). Macromolecular Bioscience published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.

Emerging evidence has linked high dietary fructose intake with adverse health outcomes, yet its role in colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) remains underexplored. Here, we demonstrate that high fructose consumption aggravates intestinal inflammation and significantly promotes tumorigenesis in an AOM/DSS-induced CAC model via activation of the EREG-EGFR signaling axis. We first developed the Food∩TCM database, which encompasses 112 medicine and food homologous TCM, along with their chemical compositions. Using the network-based pharmacological intelligence platform, we identified Laminaria japonica (kelp) and its bioactive components-fucoidan and dieckol-as promising dietary interventions. Dieckol was found to target the RNA/DNA-binding protein CNBP, which has traditionally been regarded as a positive regulator of pro-inflammatory gene expression, but here was shown to enhance its nuclear localization under inflammatory conditions and thereby repress Ereg transcription. Notably, fructose promoted O-GlcNAcylation-mediated stabilization and secretion of EREG in inflammatory fibroblasts, contributing to tumor progression. Together, these findings reveal the tumor-promoting effects of dietary fructose in CAC and highlight CNBP as a key regulator restraining Ereg expression. Our findings underscore the significance of integrating food-based strategies into chronic disease prevention, and support the development of Laminaria japonica-derived compounds as safe, long-term dietary agents for managing colitis-associated colorectal cancer. © The author(s).

Gut microbiota imbalances can lead to the development of various inflammatory diseases in the body. The development of drugs aimed at maintaining intestinal health is a key area of biotechnology. Algae-based prebiotics are one such drug. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the fecal microbiota of Mus musculus with and without a prebiotic supplement. We studied the effects of enzymatically processed Laminaria digitata and Fucus vesiculosus seaweeds on the gut microbiome of mice with induced inflammation using DNBSEQ-G50 sequencing. The results showed that these prebiotic supplements can reduce the impact of inflammation on the intestine. An increase in the relative abundance of Anaerostipes rhamnosivorans, Dysosmobacter welbionis, Akkermansia muciniphila, Flavonifractor plautii, and a decrease in Longicatena caecimuris relative to the LPS group were observed. Furthermore, enzymatically processed algae were found to increase the relative abundance of gut bacterial metabolic pathways responsible for glucose breakdown. Thus, both enzymatically processed and unprocessed algae-based prebiotic supplements restored gut microbiome composition and gut morphology in LPS-exposed mice, as confirmed by microbiome analysis and histological examination.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Fermented soybean-based products are known to influence gut microbial composition; however, the long-term effects of multicomponent soybean fermented preparations on gut microbiota and colonic mucosal features remain insufficiently characterized. This study examined the effects of a commercially available soybean fermented preparation (SFP), containing additional fermented plant and marine derived components, on gut microbial community structure and colonic histological features in BALB/c mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice received oral SFP (1000 mg/kg) for 30 and 60 days. Gut microbial communities were analyzed using full-length rRNA operon sequencing. Colonic mucosal architecture and goblet cell density were evaluated via histological analysis (H&E). RESULTS: SFP supplementation induced significant β-diversity separation at both 30 and 60 days (p < 0.05), indicating consistent restructuring of the gut microbial community. While alpha diversity (Observed OTUs) remained stable at 30 days, Shannon and Simpson indices were significantly reduced at 60 days (p = 0.001), indicating reduced community evenness driven by increased dominance of specific taxa, including Duncaniella. At the genus level, SFP administration was associated with increased relative abundances of Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Duncaniella, accompanied by reductions in several genera previously linked to dysbiosis. Histological analysis demonstrated a significant increase in goblet cell density (p < 0.01) in SFP-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term SFP supplementation was associated with sustained alterations in gut microbial composition and measurable histological changes in the colonic mucosa. While these findings indicate that SFP intake influences microbial structure and goblet cell abundance, further studies are required to determine the functional and physiological implications of these changes, particularly in relation to epithelial barrier function and host health.

A global rise in kelp aquaculture has resulted in an increased demand for high quality and quantity kelp seedstock, yet many bottlenecks remain to sustainable scale-up solutions. One such bottleneck is increasing biomass quickly and efficiently in the nursery phase of the kelp cultivation cycle. The microscopic gametophyte is leveraged during this phase, using red light to stimulate vegetative growth and delay onset of gametophyte fertility until deployment. However, red light may make the gametophyte less photosynthetically efficient and thus slow growth. A solution may be growing gametophytes in blue light, which can increase production, while changing the nutrient composition of the media to repress fertility. Here we test the efficacy of light source (blue and red), two common media types (PES and f/2) and iron supplementation on the growth, fertility and photosynthetic parameters of Alaria esculenta gametophytes, a commercial kelp species. We found the highest biomass was achieved under blue light with iron-free f/2. Similarly, pigment concentration was higher in blue light and iron-free f/2, while gametophytes were found to have more shade-adapted pigment characteristics under red light. Red light strongly supressed formation of sporophytes and while withholding iron did not supress fertility in blue light, it did result in less malformed sporophytes. Based on this research, we recommend growing A. esculenta gametophytes in iron-free f/2. Failure of iron-free media to supress fertility in blue light may be due to iron retention of gametophytes or trace levels of iron in seawater, which warrants further research. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10811-025-03665-z. © The Author(s) 2025.

The prominent bioactivities of fucoidan have attracted increasing attention from food scientists. Recent studies have highlighted the potential structural damages triggered by gastrointestinal digestion, which reduces the bioactive performance of fucoidan. Here, we aimed to preserve the bioactivities of fucoidan in a digestive environment by incorporating fucoidan at the interface of an oil/water emulsion. The effects of the digestive progression on fucoidan structures and bioactivities were traced by the dynamic changes in reducing sugar content and radical scavenging activities of digesta collected from different simulated digestion timepoints. Notably, there was a 71 % increase in the DPPH radical scavenging rate after fucoidan (0.25 %; w/w) was incorporated into an emulsion. Besides, the formulated emulsion showed remarkable storage stability at 4 °C with no cream layer formation for seven days. Although the acidified emulsion showed a 15.63 % creaming index, there was still a significant reduction in reducing sugar content after 2-h small intestinal digestion from 2.76 mg/mL for fucoidan digesta in a free form to 2.63 mg/mL for interfacial fucoidan digesta. Here, we highlighted that the fucoidan-stabilized emulsion retained superior antioxidant potential throughout the simulated gastrointestinal tract, which is possibly due to improved structural integrity. These data provide comprehensive information on the enhancement in physiochemical properties and bioactivities of fucoidan after transferring from a continuous phase to an interface, which suggests the potential application of fucoidan in functional fortified beverages and presents a novel supplementation approach to enhance its bioavailability in the health products.

This study took Xiangshan Bay as an example to illustrate the variation characteristics of the physicochemical environments (temperature, salinity, light, nutrients, and currents) during one kelp cultivation cycle. The study was conducted from November 2020 to May 2021 through tracking down observations. Furthermore, the environmental factors were evaluated using suitability functions of kelp growth, aiming to provide references for promoting kelp cultivation in South China. We discussed the self-limiting effect of nutrients in the culture zone. The results showed that the average temperature, salinity, and light intensity during the cruises in Xiangshan Bay kelp farm were characterized by seasonal variations. Temperature was found to be the most critical environmental factor in determining the kelp cultivation window and hence the yield in Xiangshan Bay. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations initially decreased and then increased, while the dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations remained decreasing along with the kelp cultivation. The surface tide currents were dramatically attenuated by the suspended kelp cultivation, while the quasi-steady circulations which played a key role in nutrient supplementation for kelp cultivation were not weakened by the kelp cultivation. Among the cruises, the suitability indices' ranges for temperature, salinity, light, and nutrients were 0.02-0.94, 0.96-0.99, 0.97-1, 0.96-0.97 (DIN), and 0.92-0.95 (DIP), respectively. The results of the suitability functions demonstrated that the salinity and light conditions in Xiangshan Bay were very suitable for kelp cultivation and would not cause significant cultivation risks. Although the cultivated kelp could greatly absorb nutrients, the suitability index of nutrients remained adequate even during the late stage of cultivation, indicating the present kelp cultivation scale has not reached the carrying capacity of Xiangshan Bay and there is still much potential for development. To this end, further selective breeding of the thermal tolerance variety has become the key to improving the kelp cultivation performance in Xiangshan Bay. Meanwhile, the self-limiting

The lipid-lowering activity of fucoidan has been widely reported, but the exploration of its mechanisms is relatively limited, and studies on its direct targets are even scarcer. Additionally, it is unclear whether different administration methods affect the lipid-lowering activity of fucoidan. In current study, we used fucoidan derived from Saccharina japonica (SJF) to investigate its targets. The results showed that not only did SJF directly inhibit the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1)-mediated cholesterol transport, but it also reduced the solubility of cholesterol in mixed micelles, thereby interfering with the cholesterol uptake. Furthermore, SJF not only directly inhibited the activity of pancreatic triglyceride lipase (PTL), but also interfered with the overall catalytic process facilitated by colipase, thereby reducing the absorption of triglycerides. Moreover, comparative studies on the lipid-lowering activity of SJF administered via different methods demonstrated that dietary supplementation with SJF provided better lipid-lowering effects compared with gavage administration. Our research not only elucidates the targets and mechanisms of SJF but also provides theoretical basis for the selection of administration methods for fucoidan in lipid-lowering therapy.