Abstract

The increasing presence of Sargassum macroalgae in the Caribbean, particularly within the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), has sparked concerns due to its potential negative ecological and economic impacts that result when it accumulates in coastal waters. Floating Sargassum plays a pivotal role as habitat for many motile macrofauna. Understanding the abundance and diversity of these mobile marine organisms within Sargassum is crucial for developing mitigation strategies that balance reducing the negative coastal impacts of Sargassum accumulation with the conservation of critical habitat for endangered and commercially important species. The primary goal of this research initiative is to explore the wide range of motile macrofauna associated with Sargassum in the waters around the USVI. The project will address five central hypotheses that examine the effects of patch volume, water depth/distance from shore, recent wind/wave activity, water quality, and species morphology on the abundance and diversity of motile macrofauna within Sargassum. The results of this study will help advance the understanding of the role ofboth nearshore and offshore Sargassum ecosystems as essential habitats. These insights will aid in the development of effective strategies to address potential challenges posed by the proliferation of Sargassum inundations in the coastal waters of the USVI