Adaptabilidade de populações de kelp às condições locais: oportunidade para a seleção de estirpes para a aquacultura e conservação

The proposed operation addresses important societal challenges, namely how we may conserve and sustainably use the marine resources, and how can we use these resources to improve food security and safety, highlighting the role of seaweed in securing healthy nutrition. Development of seaweed-based value chains, in particular, has been highlighted in several European initiatives, such as The European Green Deal, and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Also, the 2022 edition of the EU blue bioeconomy report, which focuses on algae and seaweeds, recognizing the algae sector as the most notable of the EU blue bioeconomy. The goal of this proposal is twofold - we aim to support the development of seaweed aquaculture methods for commercial purposes, and use the acquired knowledge on seaweed cultivation to restore marine ecosystems, in conservation actions. To accomplish this goal, we will characterize the genetic diversity of local kelp populations and assess their adaptation to local conditions while identifying strains that perform best according to criteria for conservation or commercial aquaculture improvement. Seaweed strain selection and improvement is presently one of the main topics in cultivation methods development, in order to provide the seaweed producers with strains with high and consistent yield. For conservation purposes, climate change and human action mitigation, ask for identifying strains that are resistant to those stress. Thus, the objectives of this research plan are to answer the following questions: - how well are kelp populations adapted to local environmental conditions? - are phenotypic traits more related to genetic diversity or to environmental plasticity? - can conservation and commercial aquaculture be improved by using selected local strains that are more adapted to local conditions or are more resilient to changing conditions?