Halimeda Tuna Research Articles

Seaweed Diversity at Batu Lawang Beach, Sengkol Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency

Seaweed is a marine and fisheries resource that is currently widely utilized by aquaculture communities and coastal fishermen, because in addition to being easy to maintain, it also provides economic benefits. Batu Lawang beach has the potential for natural grass resources that can be developed. This can be seen from the condition of the water quality in the waters. Some types of seaweed that are cultivated are Kappaphycus alvarezii and Eucheuma spinosum. Batu Lawang beach is an area that has a variety of macroalgae, as well as a fairly large coral reef area. Therefore, this research was carried out to find out the types of macroalgae in the Batu Lawang Beach area. The research was conducted in May-June 2024. This research location is located at Batu Lawang Beach, Gerupuk, Sengkol Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency. This research used purposive sampling method. The results of this study, seaweed that grow naturally are Acanthophora spicifera, Gracilaria verrucosa, Sargassum cristaefolium, Gracilaria coronopifolia, Valoniopsis pachynema, Ulva, K. alvarezii, Halimeda opuntia, Eucheuma spinosum, Dictyopteris dichotoma, Laurencia papillosa, Codium fragile, Padina sp., Turbinaria decurrens, Halimeda tuna, Gracilaria sp. The conclusion is the is 16 types of seaweed that grow wild, with each type containing different antioxidants and chlorophyll-a.

Antioxidant and Anti-Arthritic Activities of Green Seaweed Halimeda tuna Methanolic Extract

Seaweed contains various bioactive compounds rich in pharmacological potentials, such as antioxidants and anti-arthritic. This study aims to determine the antioxidant and anti-arthritic activities of the methanolic extract of Halimeda tuna. Halimeda tuna samples were extracted using the maceration method and methanol. The methanol extract was tested for antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)) and anti-arthritic activity using denatured bovine serum albumin (BSA). The methanol extract was also subjected to phytochemical and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Research results revealed that the extract yield was 0.50 ± 0.06%. Phytochemical analysis showed that H. tuna methanolic extract contained flavonoids, steroids, and alkaloids. GC-MS analysis showed that H. tuna methanolic extract contained steroids, fatty alcohols, and fatty acids. The antioxidant activity tests revealed an IC50 value of 299.98 ± 121.15 ppm and a FRAP value of 200.02 ± 8.50 M/g, categorized as a weak antioxidant. Anti-arthritic activity of H. tuna methanolic extract showed an IC50 value of 877.29 ± 209.84 ppm. The anti-arthritic activity of H. tuna methanolic extract was lower than sodium diclofenac as a standard drug. The extract of H. tuna has antioxidant and anti-arthritic activities; hence, further exploration is needed as an alternative potential in the pharmacological field.

Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of a Crude Polysaccharide Derived from Green Seaweed Halimeda tuna: Computational and Experimental Evidences.

In this study, we investigated for the first time the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of crude polysaccharide (PSHT) extracted from green marine algae Halimeda tuna. PSHT exhibited anti-oxidant activity in vitro through scavenging 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl free radical, reducing Fe3+/ferricyanide complex, and inhibiting nitric oxide. PSHT maintained the erythrocyte membrane integrity and prevented hemolysis. Our results also showed that PSHT exerted a significant anti-edematic effect in vivo by decreasing advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde levels and increasing the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat's paw model and erythrocytes. Interestingly, PSHT increased the viability of murine RAW264.7 macrophages and exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells by decreasing pro-inflammatory molecule levels, including nitric oxide, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Our findings indicate that PSHT could be used as a potential immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-hemolytic, and anti-oxidant agent. These results could be explained by the computational findings showing that polysaccharide building blocks bound both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-α with acceptable affinities.

Effects of ocean acidification on growth and photophysiology of two tropical reef macroalgae.

Macroalgae can modify coral reef community structure and ecosystem function through a variety of mechanisms, including mediation of biogeochemistry through photosynthesis and the associated production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Ocean acidification has the potential to fuel macroalgal growth and photosynthesis and alter DOC production, but responses across taxa and regions are widely varied and difficult to predict. Focusing on algal taxa from two different functional groups on Caribbean coral reefs, we exposed fleshy (Dictyota spp.) and calcifying (Halimeda tuna) macroalgae to ambient and low seawater pH for 25 days in an outdoor experimental system in the Florida Keys. We quantified algal growth, calcification, photophysiology, and DOC production across pH treatments. We observed no significant differences in the growth or photophysiology of either species between treatments, except for lower chlorophyll b concentrations in Dictyota spp. in response to low pH. We were unable to quantify changes in DOC production. The tolerance of Dictyota and Halimeda to near-future seawater carbonate chemistry and stability of photophysiology, suggests that acidification alone is unlikely to change biogeochemical processes associated with algal photosynthesis in these species. Additional research is needed to fully understand how taxa from these functional groups sourced from a wide range of environmental conditions regulate photosynthesis (via carbon uptake strategies) and how this impacts their DOC production. Understanding these species-specific responses to future acidification will allow us to more accurately model and predict the indirect impacts of macroalgae on coral health and reef ecosystem processes.

Comparison of feeding preferences of herbivorous fishes and the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in Little Cayman.

On Caribbean coral reefs, losses of two key groups of grazers, herbivorous fishes and Diadema antillarum, coincided with dramatic increases in macroalgae, which have contributed to decreases in the resilience of these coral reefs and continued low coral cover. In some locations, herbivorous reef fishes and D. antillarum populations have begun to recover, and reductions in macroalgal cover and abundance have followed. Harder to determine, and perhaps more important, are the combined grazing effects of herbivorous fishes and D. antillarum on the structure of macroalgal communities. Surprisingly few studies have examined the feeding preferences of D. antillarum for different macroalgal species, and there have been even fewer comparative studies between these different herbivore types. Accordingly, a series of in-situ and ex-situ feeding assays involving herbivorous fishes and D. antillarum were used to examine feeding preferences. Ten macrophytes representing palatable and chemically and/or structurally defended species were used in these assays, including nine macroalgae, and one seagrass. All species were eaten by at least one of the herbivores tested, although consumption varied greatly. All herbivores consumed significant portions of two red algae species while avoiding Halimeda tuna, which has both chemical and structural defenses. Herbivorous fishes mostly avoided chemically defended species while D. antillarum consumed less of the structurally defended algae. These results suggest complementarity and redundancy in feeding by these different types of herbivores indicating the most effective macroalgal control and subsequent restoration of degraded coral reefs may depend on the recovery of both herbivorous fishes and D. antillarum.

Seaweed flora of the St. Martin’s Reef, Bangladesh

St. Martin’s Reef (SMR) about 14 km west of the St. Martin’s Island, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh was not known during last over 50 years of seaweed researches. Recent six collections made with the assistance of Bangladesh Navy revealed 8 seaweeds species which are Pterocladiella maribagoensis Boo and Geraldo, Hypnea spinella (C. Agardh) Kützing, Peyssonnelia polymorpha (Zonars.) Schmitz, Jania pumila Lamx., Jania ungulata f. brevior (Yendo) Dawson (Rhodophyta); Caulerpa racemosa var. clavifera (Turner) Bosse, Bryopsis plumosa (Huds.) C. Ag. and Halimeda tuna (Lin.) Lamx. (Chlorophyta). Of these six seaweeds such as Pterocladiella maribagoensis Boo et Geraldino, Hypnea spinella (C. Agardh) Kützing, Jania pumila Lamx., Jania ungulata f. brevior (Yendo) Dawson, Bryopsis plumosa (Huds.) C. Ag. and Halimeda tuna (Lin.) Lamx have been newly recorded and described from the SMR in Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh territory). Presence of Peyssonnelia polymorpha and Bryopsis plumosa in the collections and physical and chemical water environments recorded indicated it as a true newly forming reef. The present illustrated account is however may be considered as base-line information on seaweed flora of the new SMR in the North-east Bangladesh coast. A total of six seaweeds have been newly recorded making the total seaweeds to 215 mostly from the SMI and nearby SMR. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 30(1): 153-163, 2023 (June)

Cytotoxic Activity of Green Seaweed Halimeda tuna Methanolic Extract Against Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that attacks the lungs generated by carcinogenic free radicals such as cigarette smoke. Seaweed contains bioactive compounds that have the potential to reduce cancer-causing free radicals. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical content and cytotoxic activity of Halimeda tuna seaweed extract against lung cancer cells (A549). The H. tuna sample was macerated using methanol for 24 h. Cytotoxic test of H. tuna crude extract used the MTT test against A549. The crude extract was phytochemically tested and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the H. tuna crude extract had cytotoxic activity against A549 with an IC50 value of 2771 µg/mL. The phytochemical test showed that H. tuna crude extract contained flavonoids and steroids. showed the presence of fatty acid compounds including palmitic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid. Based on the results can be concluded that H. tuna extract had cytotoxic activity against A549 with low cytotoxicity to be used as a chemo-preventive agent.

Halimeda tuna (Bryopsidales, Ulvophyceae) calcification on the depth transect in the northern Adriatic Sea; carbonate production on the microscale of individual segments.

Halimeda tuna (J. Ellis & Solander) J.V. Lamouroux is the only Halimeda species found in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is an important habitat former. In the northern Adriatic, H. tuna is among the ten most abundant seaweeds in the upper-infralittoral belt in spring and autumn. The modular thalli consist of serially arranged calcified segments. Calcification is closely related to photosynthesis, which causes alkalinization of the inter-utricular space and triggers aragonite formation. Understanding of the complex patterns of segment shape plasticity in relation to CaCO3content at different depth levels is still incomplete. Geometric morphometrics was used to investigate H. tuna segment shape variation on the depth transect at Cape Madona Nature Monument in the northern Adriatic Sea. The position on the thallus and the CaCO3 content of each studied segment were recorded, allowing slight changes in mineral content to be detected at the microscale of the segments. Our results showed that shape, size, or asymmetry of H. tuna segments were not significantly affected by depth. On the other hand, plants that grew deeper were generally more calcified. The apical and subapical segments contributed to the increase in CaCO3 content at the deeper sites, whereas the basal segments did not. This indicates that reniform or oval segments positioned apically or subapically play a key role in calcification of H. tuna in Mediterranean ecosystems.

Green Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Natural Marine Extracts for Antifouling Activity

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized via a novel eco-friendly green chemistry approach using marine natural extracts of two red algae (Bostrychia tenella and Laurencia obtusa), a green alga (Halimeda tuna), and a brown alga (Sargassum filipendula) along with a marine sponge sample identified as Carteriospongia foliascens. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-Vis, X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to characterize the crystal structure, surface morphology, and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. Each of the as-synthesized marine extract based TiO2 nanoparticles was individually incorporated as an antifouling agent to form a newly fabricated marine paint formulation. The newly prepared formulations were applied on unprimed steel panels. A comparative study with a commercial antifouling paint (Sipes Transocean Coatings Optima) was carried out. After 108 days of the coated steel panels' immersion in the Eastern Harbour seawater of Alexandria-Egypt, the prepared paints using B. tenella and C. foliascens extracts demonstrated an excellent antifouling performance toward fouling organisms by inhibiting their settlement and controlling their adhesion onto the immersed panels. In contrast, heavy fouling with barnacles was observed on the surface of the coated panel with the commercial paint. The physicochemical parameters of the seawater surrounding the immersed coated panels were estimated to investigate the influence of the fabricated paint formulations. Interestingly, no effects of the immersed coated panels on the physicochemical characteristics of the surrounding seawater were observed. Based on the obtained results and a comparison with commercially available antifouling products, the marine extract based TiO2 nanoparticle preparations of B. tenella and C. foliascens are promising candidates for eco-friendly antifouling agents. Based on the obtained results and a comparison with commercially available antifouling products, the marine extract based TiO2 nanoparticle preparations of B. tenella and C. foliascens are promising candidates for eco-friendly antifouling agents, which could be attributed to the small crystallite sizes of 22.86 and 8.3 nm, respectively, in addition to the incorporation of carbon in the crystal structure of the nanoparticles.

In Vitro α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Green Seaweed Halimeda tuna Extract from the Coast of Lhok Bubon, Aceh.

Seaweed belongs to marine biota and contains nutrients and secondary metabolites beneficial for health. This study aimed to determine the antidiabetic activity of extracts and fractions of green seaweed Halimeda tuna. The H. tuna sample was extracted with the maceration method using methanol and then partitioned using ethyl acetate and water to obtain ethyl acetate and water fractions. The methanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction, and water fraction of H. tuna were tested for their inhibitory activity against α-amilase and α-glucosidase. The methanol extract and the fractions with the highest inhibitory activity were phytochemically tested and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 = 0.88 ± 0.20 mg/mL) inhibited α-amylase relatively similar to acarbose (IC50 = 0.76 ± 0.04 mg/mL). The methanol extract (IC50 = 0.05 ± 0.01 mg/mL) and the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 = 0.01 ± 0.00 mg/mL) demonstrated stronger inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase than acarbose (IC50 = 0.27 ± 0.13 mg/mL). Phytochemical testing showed that the methanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction contained secondary metabolites: alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and phenol hydroquinone. The compounds in methanol extract predicted to have inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase were Docosanol, Neophytadiene, Stigmasta-7,22-dien-3-ol,acetate,(3.beta.,5.alpha.,22E), Octadecanoic acid,2-oxo-,methyl ester, and phytol, while those in the ethyl acetate fraction were n-Nonadecane, Phytol, Butyl ester, 14-.Beta.-H-pregna, Octadecenoic acid, and Oleic acid.

Geometric morphometrics shows a close relationship between the shape features, position on thalli, and CaCO3 content of segments in Halimeda tuna (Bryopsidales, Ulvophyceae)

Geometric morphometrics shows a close relationship between the shape features, position on thalli, and CaCO3 content of segments in Halimeda tuna (Bryopsidales, Ulvophyceae)

Halimeda tuna

This datasheet on Halimeda tuna covers Identity, Distribution.

Diversity and Distribution of Sabellida (Annelida) under Protection Regimes

Sabellida are widespread, diverse and abundant in marine benthic habitats. Their distribution patterns on hard-bottom substrates are poorly studied so far. Little is known about the factors influencing their distribution, including the protection regimes that are known to affect assemblage diversity. We analyzed hard-bottom Sabellida at 1.5 and 5 m depths at the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (MPA) (SE Italy) to describe diversity and distribution patterns, and to identify potential factors influencing their distribution. The Sabellida diversity varied significantly among stations and was higher at 5 m depth. No relation with the protection regime was found. Among environmental variables, only sedimentation appeared related, suggesting that local trophic features might have influenced the observed pattern. Among habitat formers, only the macroalga Halimeda tuna significantly explained part of the observed variation, probably due to its role as a basibiont for some Sabellida taxa. Other predictor variables of Sabellida distribution were the abundances of some invertebrate taxa, especially Syllidae and some filter feeders such as Sabellariida and Cirripedia, probably due to shared ecological requirements, rather than a direct effect on Sabellida distribution. The relation with the Syllidae remains obscure so far, albeit some kind of interaction (including predator/prey interactions) between these two taxa cannot be excluded. Sabellida should be taken into account when analyzing patterns of biodiversity of hard-bottom environments.

Seagrass blue carbon stocks and sequestration rates in the Colombian Caribbean.

Seagrass ecosystems rank amongst the most efficient natural carbon sinks on earth, sequestering CO2 through photosynthesis and storing organic carbon (Corg) underneath their soils for millennia and thereby, mitigating climate change. However, estimates of Corg stocks and accumulation rates in seagrass meadows (blue carbon) are restricted to few regions, and further information on spatial variability is required to derive robust global estimates. Here we studied soil Corg stocks and accumulation rates in seagrass meadows across the Colombian Caribbean. We estimated that Thalassia testudinum meadows store 241 ± 118 Mg Corg ha−1 (mean ± SD) in the top 1 m-thick soils, accumulated at rates of 122 ± 62 and 15 ± 7 g Corg m−2 year−1 over the last ~ 70 years and up to 2000 years, respectively. The tropical climate of the Caribbean Sea and associated sediment run-off, together with the relatively high primary production of T. testudinum, influencing biotic and abiotic drivers of Corg storage linked to seagrass and soil respiration rates, explains their relatively high Corg stocks and accumulation rates when compared to other meadows globally. Differences in soil Corg storage among Colombian Caribbean regions are largely linked to differences in the relative contribution of Corg sources to the soil Corg pool (seagrass, algae Halimeda tuna, mangrove and seston) and the content of soil particles < 0.016 mm binding Corg and enhancing its preservation. Despite the moderate areal extent of T. testudinum in the Colombian Caribbean (661 km2), it sequesters around 0.3 Tg CO2 year−1, which is equivalent to ~ 0.4% of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels in Colombia. This study adds data from a new region to a growing dataset on seagrass blue carbon and further explores differences in meadow Corg storage based on biotic and abiotic environmental factors, while providing the basis for the implementation of seagrass blue carbon strategies in Colombia.

Spatial variations in the stable isotope composition of the benthic algae, Halimeda tuna, and implications for paleothermometry

On Conch Reef, Florida Keys, USA we examined the effects of reef hydrography and topography on the patterns of stable isotope values (δ18O and δ13C) in the benthic green alga, Halimeda tuna. During the summer, benthic temperatures show high-frequency fluctuations (2 to 8 °C) associated with internal waves that advected cool, nutrient-rich water across the reef. The interaction between local water flow and reef morphology resulted in a highly heterogenous physical environment even within isobaths that likely influenced the growth regime of H. tuna. Variability in H. tuna isotopic values even among closely located individuals suggest biological responses to the observed environmental heterogeneity. Although isotopic composition of reef carbonate material can be used to reconstruct past temperatures (T(°C) = 14.2–3.6 (δ18OHalimeda − δ18Oseawater); r2 = 0.92), comparing the temperatures measured across the reef with that predicted by an isotopic thermometer suggests complex interactions between the environment and Halimeda carbonate formation at temporal and spatial scales not normally considered in mixed sediment samples. The divergence in estimated range between measured and predicted temperatures demonstrates the existence of species- and location-specific isotopic relationships with physical and environmental factors that should be considered in contemporary as well as ancient reef settings.

Morphometric Analysis of Surface Utricles in Halimeda tuna (Bryopsidales, Ulvophyceae) Reveals Variation in Their Size and Symmetry within Individual Segments

Calcifying marine green algae of genus Halimeda have siphonous thalli composed of repeated segments. Their outer surface is formed by laterally appressed peripheral utricles which often form a honeycomb structure, typically with varying degrees of asymmetry in the individual polygons. This study is focused on a morphometric analysis of the size and symmetry of these polygons in Mediterranean H. tuna. Asymmetry of surface utricles is studied using a continuous symmetry measure quantifying the deviation of polygons from perfect symmetry. In addition, the segment shapes are also captured by geometric morphometrics and compared to the utricle parameters. The area of surface utricles is proved to be strongly related to their position on segments, where utricles near the segment bases are considerably smaller than those located near the apical and lateral margins. Interestingly, this gradient is most pronounced in relatively large reniform segments. The polygons are most symmetric in the central parts of segments, with asymmetry uniformly increasing towards the segment margins. Mean utricle asymmetry is found to be unrelated to segment shapes. Systematic differences in utricle size across different positions might be related to morphogenetic patterns of segment development, and may also indicate possible small-scale variations in CaCO3 content within segments.

Community dynamics and ecological shifts on Mediterranean vermetid reefs

Mediterranean coastal ecosystems experience many local and global stressors and require long-term monitoring to detect and follow trends in community structure. Between 2009 and 2017, we seasonally and annually monitored the spatiotemporal community dynamics at 11 sites on the rocky shores of the southeastern Mediterranean, focusing on the understudied intertidal vermetid reef ecosystem. Marked seasonal trends were found in biodiversity, with the highest diversity in winter and spring. Canopy-forming brown algae, dominating the northwestern Mediterranean intertidal reefs, were generally scarce on the reef platform and almost only found in tidepools. Interannual shifts in community structure were driven mostly by sharp fluctuations in a few dominant native and alien species and the regional mass mortality of an Indo-Pacific mussel in summer 2016. Compared to an older macroalgae dataset, dating back to 1973–1995, we found that some warm-affinity (summer) taxa became more dominant and cold-affinity (winter) species less dominant, while one once conspicuous species, Halimeda tuna, completely disappeared. The observed community shifts are probably driven mostly by stressors related to climate change. We encourage forming a network of long-term, multi-site ecological monitoring programs in the Mediterranean to improve our understanding of ecosystem change and to enable making better predictions at the basin scale.

Differential thermal tolerance between algae and corals may trigger the proliferation of algae in coral reefs.

Marine heatwaves can lead to rapid changes in entire communities, including in the case of shallow coral reefs the potential overgrowth of algae. Here we tested experimentally the differential thermal tolerance between algae and coral species from the Red Sea through the measurement of thermal performance curves and the assessment of thermal limits. Differences across functional groups (algae vs. corals) were apparent for two key thermal performance metrics. First, two reef-associated algae species (Halimeda tuna and Turbinaria ornata) had higher lethal thermal limits than two coral species (Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata) conferring those species of algae with a clear advantage during heatwaves by surpassing the thermal threshold of coral survival. Second, the coral species had generally greater deactivation energies for net and gross primary production rates compared to the algae species, indicating greater thermal sensitivity in corals once the optimum temperature is exceeded. Our field surveys in the Red Sea reefs before and after the marine heatwave of 2015 show a change in benthic cover mainly in the southern reefs, where there was a decrease in coral cover and a concomitant increase in algae abundance, mainly turf algae. Our laboratory and field observations indicate that a proliferation of algae might be expected on Red Sea coral reefs with future ocean warming.

Phylogeography of the mediterranean green seaweed Halimeda tuna (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta).

Populations of many Mediterranean marine species show a strong phylogeographic structure, but the knowledge available for native seaweeds is limited. We investigated the genetic diversity of the green alga Halimeda tuna based on two plastid markers (tufA gene and a newly developed amplicon spanning five ribosomal protein genes and intergenic spacers, the rpl2-rpl14 region). The tufA sequences showed that Mediterranean H. tuna represents a single, well-defined species. The rpl2-rpl14 results highlighted a genetic separation between western and eastern Mediterranean populations; specimens collected from widely scattered locations in the Adriatic/Ionian region shared a haplotype unique to this region, and formed a group separated from all western Mediterranean regions. Specimens from Sardinia also formed a unique haplotype. Within the western Mediterranean basin, a gradual shift in the frequency of haplotypes was apparent along a West-East gradient. Our results represent the first clear evidence of an East-West genetic cleavage in a native Mediterranean macroalga and offer an interesting perspective for further research into fine-scale seaweed population structure in the NW Mediterranean Sea.

Impact assessment of fish cages on coralligenous reefs through the use of the STAR sampling procedure

The study aimed at contributing to the development of methods to assessing the effects of human disturbance on coralligenous reefs. The effects of the presence of a fish farm on coralligenous reefs were evaluated using the STAR (STAndaRdized coralligenous evaluation procedure) sampling procedure. An asymmetrical sampling design was used to compare the aquaculture site with two reference sites in areas unaffected by human pressure. The response of different ecological indices (ESCA, Ecological Status of Coralligenous Assemblages; ISLA, Integrated Sensitivity Level of coralligenous Assemblages; COARSE, COralligenous Assessment by Reef Scape Estimate) and descriptors (α-diversity, β-diversity and Sensitivity Level) of this kind of disturbance was compared. Results indicate that coralligenous reefs are vulnerable to aquaculture fish cages, and differences in the structure of coralligenous assemblages between the disturbed and the reference sites were mostly due to the decrease in β-diversity. On the contrary, no significant differences in the number of taxa/groups were highlighted. Encrusting Corallinales, erect Rhodophyta, Dictyotales, Fucales and Halimeda tuna were more abundant in reference sites than in disturbed site, while Peyssonnelia spp. and algal turfs had the opposite trend. Conversely, no significant differences between conditions were found in the abundance of sessile invertebrates. The study supports the suitability of the STAR approach to be employed in impact evaluation assessments, such as in monitoring programs. The present study is a first attempt to combine three different ecological indices (ESCA, ISLA and COARSE) within a unified approach, in order to assess the status of coralligenous reefs subjected to a moderate human-induced disturbance. The inconsistent response of the different indices highlights the advantage of applying different indices and descriptors to evaluate the variable human pressures on natural systems.