Chemical components and biomass of Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyta) in North coast of Havana City, Cuba

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to determine majority chemical components (protein, carbohydrates, fiber, lipids, ash and protein:carbohydrate relation) and the biomass of Ulva fasciata Delile (Chlorophyta), in the coastal sector located between Quibú and Jaimanitas rivers in the north coast of Havana City. In this study was evaluated the seasonal and space variation of the components between May 1998 and July 1999 and the biomass was evaluated between february/1999 and january/2001. Three places were chosen for the experiments: two of them near the rivers mouth and the other in the central zone between the two rivers, where the influence was diminished. The results confirmed that Ulva fasciata changes its components and biomass in the different zones and months of the year. The results showed that in general the places near at the rivers mouth have more biomass and larger concentration of components than the places far from it. The majority chemical components oscillated: Quibú river: proteins: 7.81- 16.64 %, carbohydrates: 7.76-13.16 %, fiber: 0.46-5.05 % and ash 18.02-34.29 %. Jaimanitas river: proteins: 10.08-15.85 %, carbohydrates: 10.64-13.31 %, fiber: 0.75-8.87 % and ash 20.35-63.29 %; and central zone: proteins: 3.80-11.80 %; carbohydrates: 11.41-16.07 %, fiber: 0.39-4.50 % and ash: 25.59-33.12 %. Near Quibú river the biomass oscillated between 5.86 g.m-2 y 707.2 g.m-2; near Jaimanitas river between 0 g.m-2 - 454.02 g.m-2 and central zone : 0 g.m-2 y 266.56 g.m-2. The month of largest biomass quantity was March (53.44-707.20 g.m-2) and the one of least biomass quantity was September (0-19.73 g.m2).