PRODUCTIVITY OF LAMINARIALES IN THE WORLD OCEAN

The kelp (Laminariales) is the basis of benthic littoral vegetation in the boreal and notal zones of the World Ocean. They form a vast under water region from the ebb-flow zone to a depth of several dozens m. Ju st the kelp is the main producer of organic matter in the shelf giving 1-3 kg C(org)/m2 (or even more) per vegetation. The dry algal matter contains 30-40% C(org) depending on the macrophyte species. The zone o f vegetative association of kelp produces up to 20 tons of green mass per hectare. In the mariculture this index may be as high as 100 ton/h ectare.