"Nutrient uptake by intertidal seaweeds, is it complementary?"
Alexandra Ullrich, PhD Student

In common with humans, where there are picky or selective eaters and those that love to eat everything, different seaweed species prefer different forms of nutrients. If their nutrient preferences are complementary, a greater number of seaweed species may be able to take up more of the available nutrients than a less diverse assemblage. This study will investigate if the nutrient uptake of mixed cultures of common intertidal seaweed species (including species of Ulva , like the frilly green species seen in this photograph) is greater than equivalent monocultures. This is important to understand ecologically, to understand the importance of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning and also has application in aquaculture to more effectively remove nutrients from the waste waters.