Saccharina latissima (Linnaeus) C.E.Lane, C.Mayes, Druehl & G.W.Saunders

Saccharina latissima

Classification 26

Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Laminariaceae
Source URL: http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=r6d5d2aa06ae289b8

Description 27

 A large brown kelp, which has a long undivided frond, without midrib and with a short stipe. The frond of Saccharina latissima has a distinctive frilly undulating margin. It lives for 2 to 4 years and grows quickly from winter to April.Also known as sugar kelp and sea-belt. The name sugar kelp refers to a whitish, sweet-tasting powder which forms on the dried frond.

Taxon biology 28

Just like oarweed, sea belt also looks like long leathery ribbons. However, the fronds are lancet-shaped with wavy edges. Roots that cling to stones and shells give the seaweed a sturdy base under water. When wet, the leaves feel slippery due to a kind of mucus. When dried up, a white powdery 'sugar' forms on its fronds, giving sea belt its nickname sugar kelp. In fact, this seaweed is used as a natural sugar substitute.

Distribution 29

Widespread all around the shores of the British Isles from the Shetlands to the Channel Islands. Europe: Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, Netherlands, Helgoland, Baltic Sea, Norway, Sweden, Faroes, Jan Mayen and Bjornoya, Spitzbergen and Iceland. Greenland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connetricut and Long Island, Pacific coast of North America fron Alaska to California.

Habitat 30

 Saccharina latissima is usually found from the sublittoral fringe down to a depth of 30 m. More rarely it occurs in rock pools. The species usually occurs in sheltered conditions and may attach to unstable substrata such as boulders and cobbles.

Habitat 31

Depth range based on 324 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 44 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 26
  Temperature range (°C): 3.247 - 12.348
  Nitrate (umol/L): 3.445 - 7.121
  Salinity (PPS): 34.649 - 35.363
  Oxygen (ml/l): 6.069 - 7.478
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.335 - 0.482
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.315 - 3.727

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 26

Temperature range (°C): 3.247 - 12.348

Nitrate (umol/L): 3.445 - 7.121

Salinity (PPS): 34.649 - 35.363

Oxygen (ml/l): 6.069 - 7.478

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.335 - 0.482

Silicate (umol/l): 2.315 - 3.727
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this note. Your feedback is most welcome.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Cwmhiraeth, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saccharina_latissima_2.jpg
  2. (c) Byrnes Lab, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/byrneslab/9025321006/
  3. (c) Wendy Feltham, all rights reserved, uploaded by Wendy Feltham
  4. (c) sea-kangaroo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by sea-kangaroo
  5. (c) Marie Studer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marie Studer
  6. (c) tdwyer00, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
  7. (c) Paul Norwood, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Norwood
  8. (c) Bernard Picton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/algae/lamsac.jpg
  9. (c) CEMAR Research Group, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/66193
  10. (c) Biopix, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Laminaria%20saccharina%2017458.jpg
  11. (c) Biopix, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Laminaria%20saccharina%2017457.jpg
  12. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/215812
  13. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/215813
  14. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/215825
  15. (c) Baralloco, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alga_Toco_Saccharina_latissima.jpg
  16. (c) Gabriele Kothe-Heinrich, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laminaria_saccharina_Helgoland.JPG
  17. Janus (Jan) Kops, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laminaria_saccharina_%E2%80%94_Flora_Batava_%E2%80%94_Volume_v8.jpg
  18. Pierre-Louis Crouan (1798-1871) & Hippolyte-Marie Crouan (1802-1871), no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saccharina_latissima_1_Crouan.jpg
  19. Pierre-Louis Crouan (1798-1871) & Hippolyte-Marie Crouan (1802-1871), no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saccharina_latissima_2_Crouan.jpg
  20. Agathe Le Gourcuff, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saccharina_latissima_Agathe_Le_Gourcuff.jpg
  21. David Csepp, NOAA/NMFS/AKFSC/Auke Bay Lab, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saccharina_latissima_NOAA.jpg
  22. (c) Griensteidl, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tang_D%C3%BCne1.jpg
  23. (c) Griensteidl, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tang_D%C3%BCne2.jpg
  24. (c) Griensteidl, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tang_D%C3%BCne3.jpg
  25. (c) Cwmhiraeth, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_brown_seaweeds.jpg
  26. (c) Joseph deVeer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  27. Adapted by Joseph deVeer from a work by (c)  The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/10658509
  28. Adapted by Joseph deVeer from a work by (c) Copyright Ecomare, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22757862
  29. Adapted by Joseph deVeer from a work by (c) National Museums Northern Ireland and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/5972667
  30. Adapted by Joseph deVeer from a work by (c)  The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/10658510
  31. Adapted by Joseph deVeer from a work by Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/17379485

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