School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK.
Ann Bot. 2024 Mar 8;133(1):1-16. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcad185.
Marine macroalgae ('seaweeds') are a diverse and globally distributed group of photosynthetic organisms that together generate considerable primary productivity, provide an array of different habitats for other organisms, and contribute many important ecosystem functions and services. As a result of continued anthropogenic stress on marine systems, many macroalgal species and habitats face an uncertain future, risking their vital contribution to global productivity and ecosystem service provision.
After briefly considering the remarkable taxonomy and ecological distribution of marine macroalgae, we review how the threats posed by a combination of anthropogenically induced stressors affect seaweed species and communities. From there we highlight five critical avenues for further research to explore (long-term monitoring, use of functional traits, focus on early ontogeny, biotic interactions and impact of marine litter on coastal vegetation).
Although there are considerable parallels with terrestrial vascular plant responses to the many threats posed by anthropogenic stressors, we note that the impacts of some (e.g. habitat loss) are much less keenly felt in the oceans than on land. Nevertheless, and in common with terrestrial plant communities, the impact of climate change will inevitably be the most pernicious threat to the future persistence of seaweed species, communities and service provision. While understanding macroalgal responses to simultaneous environmental stressors is inevitably a complex exercise, our attempt to highlight synergies with terrestrial systems, and provide five future research priorities to elucidate some of the important trends and mechanisms of response, may yet offer some small contribution to this goal.
海洋大型藻类（“海藻”）是一组多样化且分布广泛的光合生物，它们共同产生可观的初级生产力，为其他生物提供了一系列不同的栖息地，并为许多重要的生态系统功能和服务做出贡献。由于海洋系统持续受到人为压力的影响，许多大型藻类物种和栖息地的未来前景不确定，它们为全球生产力和生态系统服务提供的重要贡献面临风险。
在简要考虑海洋大型藻类惊人的分类和生态分布之后，我们回顾了人为诱导的压力源组合对海藻物种和群落造成的威胁。由此，我们强调了进一步研究的五个关键途径（长期监测、功能性状的利用、关注早期个体发育、生物相互作用以及海洋垃圾对沿海植被的影响）。
尽管与陆地维管植物对人为压力源造成的许多威胁的反应有相当大的相似之处，但我们注意到，一些影响（例如生境丧失）在海洋中的影响远不及陆地那么明显。然而，与陆地植物群落一样，气候变化的影响将不可避免地成为未来海藻物种、群落和服务提供的最具危害性的威胁。尽管理解大型藻类对同时存在的环境压力源的反应不可避免地是一项复杂的工作，但我们试图强调与陆地系统的协同作用，并提出未来的五个研究重点，以阐明一些重要的趋势和反应机制，这可能会为实现这一目标做出一些小小的贡献。
