Sargassum Microbiome and Biodiversity Data from Wild and Cultivated Aggregations

8.6 MB of genomic data investigates prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities in holopelagic Sargassum mats. The dataset, authored by Katharina Paetz and last updated in May 2026, compares biodiversity between a Sargassum aquafarm off St. Vincent and an unimpacted adjacent bay. It identifies key species like the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Rivularia spp. and epiphytes such as E. bellula.

Use Cases

• Compare microbial community composition between wild Sargassum mats and surrounding open ocean waters based on genomic data.
• Assess the environmental impact of Sargassum aquafarming by analyzing biodiversity changes between farmed and adjacent natural bays.
• Study the role of specific organisms, such as Rivularia spp., in nitrogen provision within oligotrophic marine environments.
• Investigate epiphytic eukaryote diversity, including cnidarians and bryozoans, associated with pelagic Sargassum aggregations.

Strengths

• Data generated using state-of-the-art genomic methods, as described.
• Direct comparison provided between an aquafarm site and an unimpacted control bay.
• License is CC-BY-4.0, permitting broad reuse with attribution.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The 8.6 MB file size suggests a relatively small dataset, potentially limiting scope.

Provenance

Source

figshare, author Katharina Paetz.

Collection Method

Genomic investigation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, likely involving DNA sequencing.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-19 04:20:56; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Includes a Sargassum aquafarm off St. Vincent and an adjacent bay in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB).