How is Pelagic Sargassum-Associated Biodiversity Assessed? Insights from the Literature

Over the past decade unprecedented blooming of pelagic Sargassum has occurred across Equatorial Atlantic from West Africa to Caribbean. Although mats are considered beneficial in open ocean, providing valuable habitat for a diverse array endemic and associated species, they also inundate coastal areas cause plethora management challenges fisheries, tourism, nearshore ecosystems, public health socioeconomic welfare communities. In—water harvesting been suggested as desirable solution prevent shoreline inundation, but destruction biodiversity is concern with this approach not adequately examined. Furthermore, in—water methods within Tropical Caribbean have ad hoc highly variable no established sampling protocol. Here we review 30 published studies detailing collect information on Sargassum. Nets, hook line, video recordings, bare—hands plastic bags all used epiphytic, clinging free—swimming fauna Net was predominant method; however, absence standardized wide range net types sizes were used. Similarly, separation, identification preservation unstandardized. This highlights need standardization provides first set guidelines collection assessment Sargassum—associated biodiversity. Nevertheless, these approaches labor intensive require extensive replication time space produce reasonable community.