Correct species identification is fundamental for the assessment and understanding of biodiversity – especially when considering the fast and drastic changes of our ecosystems due to e.g. the prevailing climate change.
Our study presents a first molecular monitoring to assess species diversity and distribution of the ubiquitous and morphologically variable green algal genus Ulva along the full Atlantic-Baltic Sea region.
We collected over 1 000 Ulva individuals at > 10 000 km of coastline and genetically barcoded them for molecular species identification and thereby supported a large-scale biodiversity monitoring of one of the most frequently occurring algae in the region.
Distribution of Ulva spp. in the Atlantic-Baltic Sea transect (Taken from Steinhagen et al. 2023)
By this we contribute a completely revised picture of the status quo of the molecular biodiversity of Ulva spp. within the Atlantic-Baltic Sea transect and define distribution patterns and range margins for the different species discovered.
Typical seaweed habitat in the investigated region of the Atlantic-Baltic Sea transect highlighting Ulva fenestrata
In our study we can unravel the existence of multiple invasive and unidentified species in the investigated area. With the observations made in the present study we provide a solid basis for e.g. the development of managing efforts, invasive species tracking, as well as for strain selection of the emerging seaweed aquaculture industry.
Sophie Steinhagen - Seaweed Research 
Correct species identification is fundamental for the assessment and understanding of biodiversity – especially when considering the fast and drastic changes of our ecosystems due to e.g. the prevailing climate change.
Our study presents a first molecular monitoring to assess species diversity and distribution of the ubiquitous and morphologically variable green algal genus Ulva along the full Atlantic-Baltic Sea region.
We collected over 1 000 Ulva individuals at > 10 000 km of coastline and genetically barcoded them for molecular species identification and thereby supported a large-scale biodiversity monitoring of one of the most frequently occurring algae in the region.
By this we contribute a completely revised picture of the status quo of the molecular biodiversity of Ulva spp. within the Atlantic-Baltic Sea transect and define distribution patterns and range margins for the different species discovered.
In our study we can unravel the existence of multiple invasive and unidentified species in the investigated area. With the observations made in the present study we provide a solid basis for e.g. the development of managing efforts, invasive species tracking, as well as for strain selection of the emerging seaweed aquaculture industry.
You can read our article “Molecular identification of the ubiquitous green algae Ulva reveals high biodiversity, crypticity, and invasive species in the Atlantic-Baltic Sea region” now with open access in the journal Algal Research.
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