Seaweed Competition: Ulva Sp. has the Potential to Produce the Betaine Lipid Diacylglyceryl-O-4'-(N,N,N,-Trimethyl) Homoserine (DGTS) in Order to Replace Phosphatidylcholine (PC) Under Phosphate-Limiting Conditions in the P-Limited Dutch Wadden Sea and Outcompete an Aggressive Non-Indigenous Gracilaria vermiculophylla Red Drift Algae Out of this Unique Unesco World Heritage Coastal Area

Indigenous seaweed Ulva sp. may outcompete the invasive Gracilaria vermiculophylla in phosphate-limited Wadden Sea ecosystems by synthesizing diacylglyceryl-O-4'-(N,N,N,-trimethyl) homoserine (DGTS), a betaine lipid that replaces phosphatidylcholine (PC). This adaptive strategy could help preserve biodiversity in the UNESCO-listed coastal area, where invasive algae threaten native species. The study analyzed lipid profiles under low-phosphate conditions to assess Ulva's competitive advantage over G. vermiculophylla, suggesting DGTS production as a key mechanism for survival and dominance in nutrient-poor environments.

Ginneken, V. v. (2017). Seaweed Competition: Ulva Sp. has the Potential to Produce the Betaine Lipid Diacylglyceryl-O-4′-(N,N,N,-Trimethyl) Homoserine (DGTS) in Order to Replace Phosphatidylcholine (PC) Under Phosphate-Limiting Conditions in the P-Limited Dutch Wadden Sea and Outcompete an Aggressive Non-Indigenous Gracilaria vermiculophylla Red Drift Algae Out of this Unique Unesco World Heritage Coastal Area. Oceanography & Fisheries Open Access Journal, 2(5). https://doi.org/10.19080/ofoaj.2017.02.555596