Composite materials promoting catchment and attachment of seaweed holdfasts

Abstract

To provide improved cultivation systems and the like.SOLUTION: Some aspects of the disclosure relate to composite materials and cultivation systems with particular utility for use in aquaculture, for example cultivating various species of seaweed. The systems comprise at least one highly tortuous and often micro-fibrous material and at least one material having low tortuosity. These systems may be configured in a variety of shapes and associated with a number of different structures. Some of these composite materials and cultivation systems may be used in both direct and indirect seeding of macroalgae plants such as seaweed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 17 / 880,484, filed August 3, 2022, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 63 / 229,973, filed August 5, 2021, Provisional Application No. 63 / 238,003, filed August 27, 2021, and Provisional Application No. 63 / 308,876, filed February 10, 2022, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for cultivating plants, and more particularly to devices, systems, and methods for promoting the attachment and growth of seaweed spores and / or sporophytes. [Background technology]

[0003] Although much research and development has gone into developing biointerfaces for mammalian (e.g., human) cells, there is a need for biointerfaces specifically tailored for non-mammalian cells.

[0004] Traditional seaweed hatcheries rely on spores attached to seed strings. For example, one current process for cultivating seaweed from spores involves using textured nylon "culture strings" or "seed strings" to which spores are weakly attached during a laboratory-based seeding process and then nourished through an external nutrient system. The culture strings, containing the weakly attached juvenile seaweed (gametophytes and sporophytes), are then wound onto ropes at seaweed farms, which are then placed in water. This process inherently results in variable yields and throughput, primarily due to potential damage to the seaweed.

[0005]

[0003] Further approaches to growing seaweed on a large scale include direct seeding. Many of these methods involve growing gametophytes and sporophytes in culture, then removing the gametophytes and sporophytes from the culture medium and manually attaching them to a rope using a binder that is essentially an adhesive that helps secure the gametophytes and sporophytes to the rope on which the seaweed plants are intended to grow. This technique is labor-intensive and requires the use of adhesives that can retard appressorium development and slow plant growth. Clearly, there remains a need for new materials and methods for both indirect and direct seaweed growth. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Various aspects are directed to cultivation systems and related cultivation methods configured to attract, hold, and maintain viability of spores and juvenile seaweed plants. Some embodiments relate to cultivation systems that include ropes or platforms with composite structures including at least two distinct types of materials. The materials include at least one microfiber material that includes a microstructure suitable for attaching appressoria and appressorial elements, particularly aquatic plants such as macroalgae. The other is at least one macrofiber material that includes a macrostructure suitable for capturing young plants. In one exemplary cultivation system, the macrofiber material is closely or proximately associated with a surface of at least one of the microfiber materials that comprise the cultivation system. These cultivation systems can be configured in virtually any shape, including, for example, ropes, ribbons, rods, panels, sheets, planks, and the like. These structures may be composed of at least one material having a microstructure configured to retain the morphology of an adult plant or a plant formed during the plant's reproductive cycle, including, but not limited to, a macroalgal spore, sporophyte, young sporophyte, gametophyte, young plant, and / or mature plant, and at least one relatively hydrophilic material that acts as an attractant for the macroalgal spore, sporophyte, young sporophyte, gametophyte, young plant, and / or mature plant.

[0007] According to one example ("Example 1"), a composite material for growing macroalgae includes at least one first high-tortuosity component having an average pore size of about 1 mm to about 200 mm and at least one second component having low tortuosity, at least a portion of the second component being in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the at least one first high-tortuosity component, and the high-tortuosity component being at least 5 times more tortuosity than the second component having low tortuosity.

[0008] According to another example ("Example 2"), in addition to Example 1, the first high tortuosity component is at least 50 times more tortuosity than the second component having a low tortuosity.

[0009] According to another example ("Example 3"), in addition to Example 1, the first high tortuosity component is at least 500 times more tortuous than the second component having a low tortuosity.

[0010] According to another example ("Example 4"), further to Examples 1-3, the first high tortuosity component is composed of a microfiber material including a network of connected fibers having an inter-fibril distance of about 1 μm to about 200 μm.

[0011] According to another example ("Example 5"), in addition to Examples 1-4, the at least one low-tortuosity second component comprises a bundle of unconnected fibers.

[0012] According to another example ("Example 6"), in addition to Examples 1 to 4, at least one second component having a low degree of tortuosity is composed of a bundle of connected fibers.

[0013] According to another example ("Example 7"), in addition to Examples 1 to 6, the high tortuosity component and the at least one second component having a low tortuosity have different hydrophilicities from each other.

[0014] According to another example ("Example 8"), in addition to Examples 1-7, the second component absorbs more water by weight than the first high tortuosity component by weight.

[0015] According to another example ("Example 9"), in addition to Examples 1 to 8, the high tortuosity component is 1.0 gcm -3 The second component, which has a density below 1.0 gcm and has low tortuosity -3 It has a density of more than 10 ...

[0016] According to another example ("Example 10"), in addition to Examples 1 to 8, the high tortuosity component is 0.1 to 1.0 gcm -3 has an average density of

[0017] According to another example ("Example 11"), in addition to Example 10, the high tortuosity component has an average density (gcm) of about 1 to about 2000 average interfibril distances (μm). -3 ) has a ratio to

[0018] According to another example ("Example 12"), in addition to Examples 1 to 11, the high tortuosity component is 1gcm -3 It has areas with the following densities:

[0019] According to another example ("Example 13"), in addition to Examples 1 to 11, the high tortuosity component is 1.7 gcm -3 It has an area with a density of equal to or greater than 1000 .mu.m.

[0020] According to another example ("Example 14"), in addition to Examples 1-13, the high tortuosity component includes at least one expanded (expanded, swollen, stretched or foamed) fluoropolymer.

[0021] According to another example ("Example 15"), in addition to Example 14, the expanded fluoropolymer is one of expanded fluorinated ethylene propylene (eFEP), porous perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), expanded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (eETFE), expanded vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene polymer (eVDF-co-(TFE or TrFE)), or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

[0022] According to another example ("Example 16"), in addition to Examples 1-15, the composite material includes at least one expanded thermoplastic polymer.

[0023] According to another example ("Example 17"), in addition to Example 16, the expanded thermoplastic polymer is one of expanded polyester sulfone (ePES), expanded ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (eUHMWPE), expanded polylactic acid (ePLA), or expanded polyethylene (ePE).

[0024] According to another example ("Example 18"), in addition to Examples 1-17, the composite material includes at least one expanding polymer.

[0025] According to another example ("Example 19"), in addition to Example 18, the expanding polymer is an expanding polyurethane (ePU).

[0026] According to another example ("Example 20"), in addition to Examples 1-19, the composite material includes at least one polymer formed by expanded chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

[0027] According to another example ("Example 21"), in addition to Examples 1-20, the composite material includes expanded polyparaxylylene (ePPX).

[0028] According to another example ("Example 22"), in addition to Examples 1-21, the second component is at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of spun / filament polyester, spun / filament nylon, spun HEMP, and natural fibers.

[0029] According to another example ("Example 23"), in addition to Examples 1-22, the second component includes at least one material consisting of interconnected fibers.

[0030] According to another example ("Example 24"), in addition to Examples 1-23, the second component includes at least one material having a plurality of fibers with at least one end that is not connected to another fiber in the material.

[0031] According to another example ("Example 25"), in addition to Examples 1-24, the composite material is in at least one form selected from the group consisting of a braid, a knit, a yarn, a covered yarn, a nonwoven, a woven fabric, a cloth, a particulate dispersion, a bead, a stitch-bonded cloth, and a laminate.

[0032] According to another example ("Example 26"), in addition to Examples 1 to 25, the surface of the composite material has relatively highly hydrophilic regions and relatively less hydrophilic regions.

[0033] According to another example ("Example 27"), in addition to Example 26, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the composite material are randomly spaced.

[0034] According to another example ("Example 28"), in addition to Example 26, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the composite material are uniformly spaced apart.

[0035] According to another example ("Example 29"), in addition to Examples 26-28, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions are separated from each other by any distance in the range of about 0.9 to about 1.0 mm.

[0036] According to another example ("Example 30"), in addition to Examples 26 to 28, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions are separated from each other by an average of about 1.0 mm or more.

[0037] According to another example ("Example 31"), in addition to Examples 1-30, the high tortuosity components form a core having a surface.

[0038] According to another example ("Example 32"), in addition to Example 31, the second component forms a band, and the band is attached to at least a portion of the surface of the core of the high tortuosity component.

[0039] According to another example ("Example 33"), further to Example 32, the bands are spaced apart from each other by any distance selected from the range of about 0.9 mm to about 10.1 mm.

[0040] According to another example ("Example 34"), in addition to Example 32, the bands are spaced apart from each other by more than about 10 mm.

[0041] According to another example ("Example 35"), in addition to Example 31, the second component is in the form of regular or irregular patches, the patches being uniformly or randomly attached to the surface of the core.

[0042] According to another example ("Example 36"), in addition to Example 31, the second component is in the form of at least one rope, and the at least one rope is wound around at least a portion of the surface of the core.

[0043] According to another example ("Example 37"), further to Example 31, the second component is in the form of at least one ribbon, and the at least one ribbon is wound around at least a portion of the surface of the core.

[0044] According to another example ("Example 38"), in addition to Example 31, the second component is in the form of one or more particles, and at least one or more particles are attached to at least a portion of the surface of the core.

[0045] According to another example ("Example 39"), in addition to Examples 31-38, the core is in at least one form selected from the group of forms consisting of ropes, sheets, struts, sheets, layers, and rods.

[0046] According to another example ("Example 40"), further to Examples 1-30, the composite material is in the form of a braid including at least one high tortuosity component and at least one second component having a low tortuosity.

[0047] According to another example ("Example 41"), in addition to Examples 1-39, the composite material is in the form of a covered yarn including at least one high tortuosity component and at least one second component having a low tortuosity.

[0048] According to another example ("Example 42"), in addition to Example 41, a second component having a low tortuosity is wound around a high tortuosity component.

[0049] According to another example ("Example 43"), in addition to Example 42, a repeating portion of about 0.9 mm to about 1.1 mm on the surface of the high tortuosity component is not covered by the second component having a low tortuosity.

[0050] According to another example ("Example 44"), in addition to Example 42, a repeat portion of the surface of the high tortuosity component that is greater than about 1.0 mm is not covered by a second component having a low tortuosity.

[0051] According to another example ("Example 45"), in addition to Examples 1-44, a second component is attached to the surface of the high tortuosity component at an interval that promotes capture of seaweed on the composite material.

[0052] According to another example ("Example 46"), in addition to Examples 1-45, the composite material includes at least one nutrient that promotes the attachment and / or growth of macroalgae.

[0053] According to another example ("Example 47"), in addition to Examples 1-46, the high tortuosity component includes a microfiber material, and the microfiber material has at least one higher porosity region and at least one lower porosity portion.

[0054] According to another example ("Example 48"), in addition to Example 47, the microfiber material includes portions with larger interfibril distances and portions with smaller interfibril distances.

[0055] According to another example ("Example 49"), in addition to Examples 47 and 48, the interfibrillar distance portion defines the axial orientation of the interfibrillar distance portion.

[0056] According to another example ("Example 50"), in addition to Examples 45-49, the high tortuosity components and the lower tortuosity components have different hydrophilicities, and the components are randomly associated with each other.

[0057] According to another example ("Example 51"), in addition to Examples 1-50, the structure further includes one or more structural elements selected from the group consisting of rods, backer layers, hollow tubes, solid shafts, ropes, cages, boards, bars, growth modules, linear frames, and circular frames.

[0058] Another example ("Example 52") includes the same components as in Examples 1 to 51, and further includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, natural fibers, plastics, wood, metals, coated metals, and combinations thereof.

[0059] According to another example ("Example 53"), further to Examples 1-52, the composite material is configured to promote spore capture, development, and growth.

[0060] According to another example ("Example 54"), further to Examples 1-52, the composite material is configured to promote the capture, development, and growth of at least one form of a seaweed growth cycle selected from the group consisting of a sporophyte, a gametophyte, a juvenile sporophyte, a juvenile plant, and a mature plant.

[0061] According to another example ("Example 55"), further to Examples 1-52, the composite material is configured to promote direct seeding of at least one macroalgae in a form selected from the group consisting of sporophyte, gametophyte, juvenile sporophyte, juvenile plant, and mature plant.

[0062] According to another example ("Example 56"), in addition to Example 55, the composite material further comprises at least one extrinsic binder selected from the group consisting of adhesives and bioglues.

[0063] According to another example ("Example 57"), in addition to Example 55, the composite material is substantially free of exogenous binders.

[0064] According to another example ("Example 58"), further to Examples 1-57, the high tortuosity elements are configured to allow ingrowth and / or development of seaweed appressoria.

[0065] According to another example ("Example 59"), further to Examples 1-58, the second component having a low degree of tortuosity is configured to facilitate capture of one or more elements of seaweed growth and reproduction selected from the group consisting of sporophyte, gametophyte, juvenile sporophyte, juvenile plant, and mature plant.

[0066] According to another example ("Example 60"), further to Examples 1-59, the composite material is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of red algae, brown algae, and green algae.

[0067] According to another example ("Example 61"), further to Examples 1-59, the composite material is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of palmaria palmata, porphyra, pyropia, and saccharina latissima.

[0068] According to another example ("Example 62"), further to Examples 1-59, the second component having a low tortuosity is configured to promote capture of at least one form of macroalgae growth cycle, and the high tortuosity material is configured to promote growth, development, and attachment of seaweed appressoria.

[0069] According to another example ("Example 63"), in addition to Examples 1-62, the high tortuosity components are configured to firmly anchor seaweed plants.

[0070] According to another example ("Example 64"), a cultivation system includes any one of the composite materials of Examples 1-63 and at least one additional feature, wherein the feature is useful for cultivating macroalgae.

[0071] According to another example ("Example 65"), in addition to Example 64, the cultivation system further includes at least a support element.

[0072] According to another example ("Example 66"), in addition to Example 65, the support element includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of a rope, a cable, a bar, a rod, a plate, a screen, and a sheet.

[0073] According to another example ("Example 67"), in addition to Examples 64-66, the cultivation system further includes at least one structure selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, weights, floats, buoys, cages, screens, ladders, sleepers, and platforms.

[0074] According to another example ("Example 68"), in addition to Examples 64-67, the cultivation system further includes at least one of the following structural elements: a backer layer, a carrier layer, a stack of multiple layers, a composite material, or a combination thereof.

[0075] According to another example ("Example 69"), further to Examples 64-68, the cultivation system is configured to promote the growth and / or harvesting of seaweed.

[0076] According to another example ("Example 70"), a method for cultivating seaweed includes contacting a population of seaweed spores, gametophytes, or sporophytes with any one of the composite materials of any one of Examples 1-62 until at least a portion of the population of seaweed spores, gametophytes, or sporophytes is retained by the cultivation system.

[0077] According to another example ("Example 71"), a method for cultivating seaweed includes contacting at least one juvenile seaweed plant and / or one mature seaweed plant with the composite material of any one of Examples 1-62 until at least a portion of a population of seaweed spores, gametophytes, or sporophytes grow and establish attachment to the material.

[0078] According to another example ("Example 72"), in addition to Examples 70-71, further comprising transporting the composite material once at least a portion of the at least one seaweed plant or seaweed reproductive structure is attached to the composite material.

[0079] According to another example ("Example 73"), in addition to Examples 70-72, the method further comprises placing the composite material, including a portion of a population of seaweed plants or seaweed reproductive structures attached to the composite material, in an open water environment.

[0080] According to another example ("Example 74"), a composite material for use in aquaculture comprises a six-carrier diamond braid of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) having about 5 to 6 picks per inch, the ePTFE having a density of 1.0 g cm -3 It has a density of less than 1000, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm, and a linear mass density of 3000 denier.

[0081] According to another example ("Example 75"), a composite material for use in aquaculture has a density of 1.0 gcm -3 The braid comprises a six-carrier diamond braid with one end of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) having a density of less than 1000 denier, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm, and a linear mass density of 1000 denier, one end of 8 / 1 spun polyester, and three carriers on each of the two ends of 8 / 1 spun polyester, the braid having approximately 5 to 6 picks per inch.

[0082] According to another example ("Example 76"), a composite material for use in aquaculture has a density of 1.0 gcm -3 The double-covered yarn comprises a core comprising expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) having a density of less than 1000 denier, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm, and a linear mass density of 5000 denier, and a pair of double-covered surface wraps of 1 / 8 spun polyester.

[0083] According to another example ("Example 77"), a method of cultivating dulse comprises contacting any one of the materials of Examples 72-77 with seaweed derived from dulse (palmaria palmata) selected from the form consisting of a spore, a sporophyte, a young sporophyte, a gametophyte, a young plant, and a mature plant.

[0084] According to another example ("Example 78"), a seaweed cultivation substrate for anchoring appressoria of seaweed plants in an aquatic environment includes a first cord extending over a first length and defining an outer first cord surface configured to face the aquatic environment, the first cord including a plurality of first polymer fibers arranged adjacent to one another along the first length and defining a first cross-sectional thickness of the first cord, each of the plurality of first polymer fibers further defining a first spacing between adjacent first polymer fibers, and The polymer fibers and the first spacings together define a first natural path length extending from the outer first cord surface and navigating around adjacent first polymer fibers to a first midpoint of the first cross-sectional thickness (or in the direction of the first midpoint), and the plurality of first polymer fibers and the first spacings together further define a first twist ratio of the first cord defined by the length of the first natural path compared to a first linear length measured from the outer first cord surface to the first midpoint (or to a first position in the direction of the first midpoint). and a second cord defining an outer second cord surface engaging the outer first cord surface and extending over a second length and configured to face an aquatic environment, the second cord including a plurality of second polymer fibers arranged adjacent to one another along the second length and defining a second cross-sectional thickness of the second cord, each of the plurality of second polymer fibers further defining a second spacing between adjacent second polymer fibers, the plurality of second fibers and the second spacing together defining the outer first cord surface. and a second cord, the second cord defining a second natural path length extending from the second cord surface and navigating around adjacent second polymer fibers to a second midpoint of the second cross-sectional thickness (or a second location in the direction of the second midpoint), the plurality of second polymer fibers and the second spacing together further defining a second twist ratio of the second cord defined by the length of the second natural path compared to the second linear length measured from the outer second cord surface to the second midpoint (or to the second location in the direction of the second midpoint). The second twist ratio is at least five times greater than the first twist ratio. Alternatively, Example 78 may have a first twist ratio at least five times greater than the second twist ratio.

[0085] The path length through existing adjacent spaces within a material or between bonded or unbonded layers, stacks, and / or bundles of elements of a given material can increase as the size of the spaces per unit thickness of a given material decreases and the number of spaces increases. A measure of the relative tortuosity of a material can be defined as the ratio of the path length through the material measured from a particular starting point on the surface of the material to a particular stopping point at the midpoint of the material (or a point located in the direction of the midpoint of the material) to the length of a straight line drawn from the same starting point on the surface of the material to the same stopping point at the midpoint of the material (or a point located in the direction of the midpoint of the material). According to this definition, the higher the ratio, the more tortuous the material. For example, a more tortuous material may be at least 5 times, or 50 times, or 500 times more tortuous than a less tortuous material.

[0086] Some embodiments of the seaweed cultivation substrate are composed of at least two cords, each having a different tortuosity. For example, a first cord having a relatively low tortuosity is brought into contact with a portion of the surface of a second cord having a relatively high tortuosity, with a section of each material's surface exposed to the environment. In an aquatic environment, the surfaces of the cords that are not in contact with each other may be in contact with water, e.g., seawater. Cords composed of a material having a high tortuosity may be composed of a porous or semi-porous microfibrous material having multiple inter-fibril spaces. Materials having a low tortuosity may be composed of a porous macrofibrous material having multiple inter-fibril spaces. In some embodiments, the low-tortuosity porous material may be composed of solid or nearly solid individual elements arranged relative to each other to form spaces between the individual elements. These spaces between the elements may be arranged to form a tortuous path. In some embodiments, cords composed of a high-tortuosity material may be configured to promote the attachment of aquatic plants, such as various types of seaweed, and these materials may be configured to facilitate a suitable substrate for the ingrowth of seaweed appressorial elements. In some aspects, materials exhibiting a relatively low degree of tortuosity may be configured to promote capture of seaweed in germinated forms such as sporophytes, juvenile sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile plants, and plants.

[0087] In some aspects, the seaweed substrate may be configured to facilitate direct and / or indirect seeding of various or specific forms of seaweed in their life cycle from spore to mature plant.

[0088] According to another example ("Example 79"), a seaweed cultivation substrate for securing appressoria of seaweed plants in an aquatic environment includes first cords arranged on a frame and having a first outer surface, and a series of first fibers defining first passages between the series of first fibers, the first passages extending from the first outer surface into the first cords. The substrate further includes second cords having a second outer surface, the second cords arranged across and covering portions of the first cords, presenting an alternating substrate outer surface to the aquatic environment. The alternating substrate outer surface has an uncoated first outer surface arranged adjacent to the second outer surface. The second cords have second passages extending from the second outer surface into the second cords. In some examples, the tortuosity may be defined by determining a tortuosity value corresponding to the length of a tortuous path extending into or through the material and navigating into or through the material, the length extending along the tortuous path from an entry point into the material until an end point is reached, where the cumulative angular amount redirected while progressing along the tortuous path is equal to at least a certain angular amount (e.g., 100 degrees, 200 degrees, 500 degrees, and 1000 degrees).

[0089] Thus, according to one example, further to example 79, the uncoated first outer surface extends into the first cord a first distance from a first entry point toward an interior of the first cord, the uncoated first outer surface defining a first tortuosity value representing a first length of a first tortuosity path extending into or through the uncoated first outer surface and navigating into or through the material, the first length extending from the first entry point along the first tortuosity path until reaching a first end point, at which a cumulative degree of redirection while traveling along the first tortuosity path is at least equal to 100 degrees; The second outer surface extends from a second entry point a distance into or through the second chord into the second chord, the second outer surface defining a second tortuosity value representing a second length of a second tortuosity path extending through the second outer surface and navigating through approximately a second center of the second tortuosity path, the second length extending from the second entry point along the second tortuosity path until reaching a second end point, where the cumulative degree of redirection while traveling along the second tortuosity path is at least 100 degrees, and the second tortuosity value is at least five times greater than the first tortuosity value. Alternatively, Example 79 may have a first tortuosity value at least five times greater than the second tortuosity value.

[0090] In some aspects, the tortuosity of a given material can be measured by setting selected limits on the angle (e.g., degrees) to be measured and tracing the path of the particle through the center of the continuous space defined by the elements of the material. The degree of turning that the particle must make on a given path can be measured for each turn on the particle's path, and the degrees of turning are summed until the selected limit for the angle is reached, at which point the total distance traveled by the particle from its starting point into or through the material is measured to provide a measure of tortuosity. In the case of a relatively tortuoso material, particles travel a shorter distance into or through the material compared to a less tortuoso material because they undergo more turns in the more tortuoso material. Stated differently, particles passing through a tortuoso material travel only a relatively short length or depth into or through the material because they encounter multiple obstacles and must make frequent turns (e.g., turn laterally or even reverse) without further traversing the thickness of the material. Conversely, particles moving through a material with low tortuosity require fewer turns and can travel a greater distance through the thickness of the material before reaching any angle. If the same arbitrary angular limit is used and particles of the same size are used to trace a path through the material, the distance the particle travels until the set angular limit is reached can be used to define the tortuosity of a given material as a function of the number of acute and / or obtuse turns a given object must make to traverse a path of the length defined by the path. The change in direction a given particle must make to avoid, or at least minimize, contact with structural elements of the material can be expressed as the total turning angle required for the particle to traverse a given path through the thickness or depth of the material. For comparison purposes, the total turning angle can be normalized to a given value expressed per unit thickness of a given material. For example, a 100-degree turn can define a 10 μm path into or through a relatively tortuous material, while a 100-degree turn can define a path extending 1 mm or more into a less tortuous material.In some aspects, the cumulative degree calculation may be the sum of the measured left or right angles for each turn made along a twist path measured along a two-dimensional plane or along a cutting plane used to cut into the cord material during evaluation. In other aspects, the cumulative degree calculation may be the sum of the measured leftward, rightward, upward, and downward angles for each turn made along a twist path measured in a three-dimensional reference system, with the angles resulting from leftward, rightward, upward, or downward turns being summed to provide the cumulative degree. In further aspects, the turn measurements and turn angles may be based on a centrally located twist path that is equidistant from surrounding structures to the extent needed to provide a representation of a centrally located twist path. In other aspects, the twist path may be biased to one side of a central location based on equidistance from surrounding structures. In still other aspects, the twist path may be biased in favor of turns that provide a more direct path toward the center of the cord. In still other aspects, the tortuous path may be biased to avoid turns that lead to dead ends or require a reversal of direction. In still other aspects, in assessing the cumulative number of turns, the assessment may ignore turns that provide angles corresponding to dead ends or reversals. In still other aspects, the assessment of the center or bias location along the tortuous path, or the cumulative number of turns, may be based on an average of a representative set of data points or measurements observed from the material or cord of interest.

[0091] According to another example ("Example 80"), a composite material for use in seaweed aquaculture includes an eight-carrier diamond braid having at least 5 picks per inch, the eight-carrier diamond braid having a first group of four carriers and a second group of four carriers, each of the four carriers in the first group having one end of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fiber, each of the ePTFE fiber having a density of less than 1.0 g / cc, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm (inclusive), and a linear mass density of at least 1000 denier, each of the four carriers in the first group further including one end of 8 / 1 spun polyester fiber, and each of the four carriers in the second group having two ends of 8 / 1 spun polyester fiber.

[0092] According to another example ("Example 81"), a composite material for use in seaweed aquaculture includes an 8-carrier diamond braid having at least 5 picks per inch, the 8-carrier diamond braid woven with 100% ePTFE fiber having at least 8 carriers, each of the at least 8 carriers having one end of ePTFE fiber, each of the ePTFE fibers having a density of less than 1.0 g / cc, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm (inclusive), and a linear mass density of at least 1000 denier.

[0093] According to another example ("Example 82"), a seaweed cultivation substrate for securing appressoria of seaweed plants in an aquatic environment comprises any one of the materials of Examples 80-81 and at least one feature for securing the substrate to a fixed object.

[0094] According to another example ("Example 83"), a method for cultivating dulse includes providing any one of the materials of Examples 80 or 81 and contacting it with at least one form of dulse (palmaria palmata) selected from the forms consisting of spores, sporophytes, young sporophytes, gametophytes, young plants, and mature plants.

[0095] According to another example ("Example 84"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 83, the first cord and the second cord have different hydrophilicities.

[0096] According to another example ("Example 85"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-84, the first cord absorbs more water on a weight basis than the second cord on a weight basis.

[0097] According to another example ("Example 86"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 85, the second cord has a tensile strength of 1.0 gcm -3 The first cord has a density of 1.0 gcm -3 It has a density of more than 10 ...

[0098] According to another example ("Example 87"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 86, the second cord has a tensile strength of 0.1 to 1.0 gcm -3 has an average density of

[0099] According to another example ("Example 88"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 87, the second cord has an average interfibril distance (μm) of about 1 to about 2000 and an average density (gcm -3 ) has a ratio to

[0100] According to another example ("Example 89"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 88, the second code is 1gcm -3 It has areas with the following densities:

[0101] According to another example ("Example 90"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 89, the second cord has a tensile strength of 1.7 g / cm -3 It has an area with a density of equal to or greater than 1000 .mu.m.

[0102] According to another example ("Example 91"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-90, the second cord comprises at least one expanded fluoropolymer.

[0103] According to another example ("Example 92"), in addition to Example 91, the expanded fluoropolymer is one of expanded fluorinated ethylene propylene (eFEP), porous perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), expanded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (eETFE), expanded vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene polymer (eVDF-co-(TFE or TrFE)), or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

[0104] According to another example ("Example 93"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-92, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one expandable thermoplastic polymer.

[0105] According to another example ("Example 94"), in addition to Example 93, the expanded thermoplastic polymer is one of expanded polyester sulfone (ePES), expanded ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (eUHMWPE), expanded polylactic acid (ePLA), or expanded polyethylene (ePE).

[0106] According to another example ("Example 95"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-94, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one expanding polymer.

[0107] According to another example ("Example 96"), in addition to Example 95, the expanding polymer is an expanding polyurethane (ePU).

[0108] According to another example ("Example 97"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-96, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one polymer formed by expanding chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

[0109] According to another example ("Example 98"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-97, the cultivation substrate comprises expanded polyparaxylylene (ePPX).

[0110] According to another example ("Example 99"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-97, the first cord is at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of spun / filament polyester, spun / filament nylon, spun HEMP, and natural fibers.

[0111] According to another example ("Example 100"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-99, the second cord comprises at least one material comprising interconnected fibers.

[0112] According to another example ("Example 101"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-100, the first cord includes at least one material, has a plurality of fibers, and has at least one end that is not connected to another fiber within the material.

[0113] According to another example ("Example 102"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 101, the cultivation substrate is in at least one form selected from the group consisting of braid, knit, yarn, covered yarn, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, cloth, particulate dispersion, beads, stitch-bonded cloth, and laminate.

[0114] According to another example ("Example 103"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 102, the surface of the cultivation substrate has relatively highly hydrophilic regions and relatively less hydrophilic regions.

[0115] According to another example ("Example 104"), in addition to Example 103, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the cultivation substrate are randomly spaced apart.

[0116] According to another example ("Example 105"), in addition to Example 103, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the cultivation substrate are uniformly spaced apart.

[0117] According to another example ("Example 106"), in addition to any one of Examples 103-105, the relatively hydrophilic regions are separated from each other by any distance within the range of about 0.9 to about 1.0 mm.

[0118] Another example (see Example

[0119] According to "107"), in addition to any one of Examples 103 to 105, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions are spaced apart from each other by an average of about 1.0 mm or more.

[0120] According to another example ("Example 108"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-107, the second cord forms a core having a surface that engages with the first cord.

[0121] According to another example ("Example 109"), further to Example 108, the first cords form bands, each band defined by a single wrap of the first cord around a second cord, and the bands are attached to at least a portion of a surface of the second cord.

[0122] According to another example ("Example 110"), further to example 109, the bands are spaced apart from each other by any distance selected from the range of about 0.9 mm to about 10 mm.

[0123] According to another example ("Example 111"), in addition to Example 109, the bands are spaced apart from each other by more than about 10 mm.

[0124] According to another example ("Example 112"), further to Example 108, the first cord is in the form of regularly or irregularly spaced bands, the bands being uniformly or randomly attached to the surface of the core, and each band being defined by a single winding of the first cord around the second cord.

[0125] According to another example ("Example 113"), further to example 108, the first cord is in the form of at least one rope, and the at least one rope is wound around at least a portion of a surface of the core.

[0126] According to another example ("Example 114"), further to Example 108, the first cord is in the form of at least one ribbon, and the at least one ribbon is wrapped around at least a portion of a surface of the core.

[0127] According to another example ("Example 115"), in addition to any one of Examples 108-114, the core is in at least one form selected from the group of forms consisting of ropes, sheets, struts, layers, and rods.

[0128] According to another example ("Example 116"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-107, the cultivation substrate is in the form of a braid including at least one second cord and at least one first cord.

[0129] According to another example ("Example 117"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-107, the cultivation substrate is in the form of a covered yarn including at least one first cord and at least one second cord.

[0130] According to another example ("Example 118"), in addition to Example 117, the first cord is wound around the second cord.

[0131] According to another example ("Example 119"), in addition to Example 118, a repeating portion of about 0.9 mm to about 1.1 mm on the surface of the second cord is not covered by the first cord.

[0132] According to another example ("Example 120"), in addition to Example 118, a repeat portion of more than about 1.0 mm of the surface of the second cord is not covered by the first cord.

[0133] According to another example ("Example 121"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-120, the first cords are attached to the surface of the second cords at intervals that promote capture of seaweed on the composite.

[0134] According to another example ("Example 122"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-121, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one nutrient that promotes the attachment and / or growth of macroalgae.

[0135] According to another example ("Example 123"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-122, the second cord comprises a microfiber material, the microfiber material having at least one higher porosity region and at least one lower porosity region.

[0136] According to another example ("Example 124"), in addition to Example 123, the microfiber material includes portions with larger interfibril distances and portions with smaller interfibril distances.

[0137] According to another example ("Example 125"), in addition to Example 124, the interfibrillar distance portion defines an axial orientation of the interfibrillar distance portion.

[0138] According to another example ("Example 126"), in addition to any one of Examples 45 to 49, the first cord and the second cord have different hydrophilicities, and the first cord and the second cord are randomly associated with each other.

[0139] According to another example ("Example 127"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-126, the system further includes one or more structural elements selected from the group consisting of rods, backer layers, hollow tubes, solid shafts, ropes, cages, boards, bars, growth modules, linear frames, and circular frames.

[0140] According to another example ("Example 128"), in addition to any one of Examples 78 to 127, the composition further includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, natural fibers, plastics, wood, metals, coated metals, and combinations thereof.

[0141] According to another example ("Example 129"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-128, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote spore capture, development, and growth.

[0142] According to another example ("Example 130"), further to any one of Examples 78-128, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture, development, and growth of at least one form of seaweed growth cycle selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, juvenile plants, and mature plants.

[0143] According to another example ("Example 131"), further to any one of Examples 78-130, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote direct seeding of macroalgae in at least one form selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, juvenile plants, and mature plants.

[0144] According to another example ("Example 132"), in addition to Example 131, the composition further includes at least one extrinsic binder selected from the group consisting of adhesives and bioglues.

[0145] According to another example ("Example 133"), in addition to Example 131, the composite is substantially free of exogenous binders.

[0146] According to another example ("Example 134"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-133, the second cord is configured to allow ingrowth and / or development of seaweed appressoria.

[0147] According to another example ("Example 135"), further to any one of Examples 78-133, the first code is configured to facilitate capture of one or more elements of seaweed growth and reproduction selected from the group consisting of sporophyte, gametophyte, juvenile sporophyte, juvenile plant, and mature plant.

[0148] According to another example ("Example 136"), further to any one of Examples 78-135, the composite substrate is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of red algae, brown algae, and green algae.

[0149] According to another example ("Example 137"), in addition to any one of Examples 78-135, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of palmaria palmata, porphyra, pyropia, and saccharina latissima.

[0150] According to another example ("Example 138"), further to any one of Examples 78-137, the first cord is configured to promote capture of at least one form of macroalgae growth cycle, and the high tortuosity second cord is configured to promote growth, development, and attachment of seaweed appressoria.

[0151] According to another example ("Example 139"), further to any one of Examples 78-138, the second cord is configured to securely fasten the seaweed plants.

[0152] According to another example ("Example 140"), a seaweed cultivation substrate for anchoring appressoria of seaweed plants in an aquatic environment includes: first cords disposed across a frame, the first cords having a first outer surface and a series of first fibers defining first passages between the series of first fibers, the first passages extending from the first outer surface into the first cords; and second cords having a second outer surface, the second cords disposed across and covering portions of the first cords to present alternating substrate outer surfaces to the aquatic environment, the uncoated first outer surface disposed adjacent to the second outer surface, the second cords having second passages extending from the second outer surface into the second cords, the uncoated first outer surface extending into the first cords a first distance from a first entry point toward an interior of the first cords, and the uncoated first outer surface extending into the uncoated first cords a first distance from a first entry point toward an interior of the first cords. The second outer surface defines a first tortuosity value representing a first length of a first tortuosity extending through the outer surface and navigating through approximately a first center of the first tortuosity, the first length extending from a first entry point along the first tortuosity until reaching a first end point where a cumulative degree of turning while traveling along the first tortuosity is at least equal to 100 degrees; the second outer surface extends from the second entry point into the second chord a second distance toward the interior of the second chord; the second outer surface defines a second tortuosity value representing a second length of a second tortuosity extending through the second outer surface and navigating through approximately a second center of the second tortuosity, the second length extending from the second entry point along the second tortuosity until reaching a second end point where a cumulative degree of turning while traveling along the second tortuosity is at least equal to 100 degrees;

[0153] According to another example ("Example 141"), further to Example 140, the second twist ratio is at least 50 times greater than the first twist ratio.

[0154] According to another example ("Example 142"), further to Example 140, the second twist ratio is at least 500 times greater than the first twist ratio.

[0155] According to another example ("Example 143"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-142, the second cord comprises a microfiber material including a network of connected fibers having an interfibril distance of about 1 μm to about 200 μm.

[0156] According to another example ("Example 144"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-143, the first cord includes bundles of unconnected fibers.

[0157] According to another example ("Example 145"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-143, the first cord comprises a bundle of connected fibers.

[0158] According to another example ("Example 146"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-145, the first cord and the second cord have different hydrophilicities.

[0159] According to another example ("Example 147"), further to any one of Examples 140-146, the first cord absorbs more water on a weight basis than the second cord on a weight basis.

[0160] According to another example ("Example 148"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 147, the second cord has a 1.0 gcm -3 The first cord has a density of 1.0 gcm -3 It has a density of more than 10 ...

[0161] According to another example ("Example 149"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 147, the second cord has a tensile strength of 0.1 to 1.0 gcm -3 has an average density of

[0162] According to another example ("Example 150"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 149, the second cord has an average interfibril distance (μm) of about 1 to about 2000 and an average density (gcm -3 ) has a ratio to

[0163] According to another example ("Example 151"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 149, the second code is 1gcm-3 It has areas with the following densities:

[0164] According to another example ("Example 152"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 149, the second cord has a tensile strength of 1.7 gcm -3 It has an area with a density of equal to or greater than 1000 .mu.m.

[0165] According to another example ("Example 153"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-152, the second cord comprises at least one expanded fluoropolymer.

[0166] According to another example ("Example 154"), in addition to Example 153, the expanded fluoropolymer is one of expanded fluorinated ethylene propylene (eFEP), porous perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), expanded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (eETFE), expanded vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene polymer (eVDF-co-(TFE or TrFE)), or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

[0167] According to another example ("Example 155"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-154, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one expandable thermoplastic polymer.

[0168] According to another example ("Example 156"), in addition to Example 155, the expanded thermoplastic polymer is one of expanded polyester sulfone (ePES), expanded ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (eUHMWPE), expanded polylactic acid (ePLA), or expanded polyethylene (ePE).

[0169] According to another example ("Example 157"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-156, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one expanding polymer.

[0170] According to another example ("Example 158"), in addition to Example 157, the expanding polymer is an expanding polyurethane (ePU).

[0171] According to another example ("Example 159"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-158, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one polymer formed by expanding chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

[0172] According to another example ("Example 160"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-159, the cultivation substrate comprises expanded polyparaxylylene (ePPX).

[0173] According to another example ("Example 161"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-160, the first cord is at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of spun / filament polyester, spun / filament nylon, spun HEMP, and natural fibers.

[0174] According to another example ("Example 162"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-161, the second cord includes at least one material including interconnected fibers.

[0175] According to another example ("Example 163"), further to any one of Examples 140 to 162, the first cord comprises at least one material, has a plurality of fibers, and has at least one end that is not connected to another fiber within the material.

[0176] According to another example ("Example 164"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 163, the cultivation substrate is at least one of a form selected from the group of forms consisting of braid, knit, yarn, covered yarn, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, cloth, particulate dispersion, beads, stitch-bonded cloth, and laminate.

[0177] According to another example ("Example 165"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-164, the surface of the cultivation substrate has relatively more hydrophilic regions and relatively less hydrophilic regions.

[0178] According to another example ("Example 166"), in addition to Example 165, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the cultivation substrate are randomly spaced apart.

[0179] According to another example ("Example 167"), in addition to Example 165, the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the cultivation substrate are uniformly spaced apart.

[0180] According to another example ("Example 168"), in addition to any one of Examples 165-157, the relatively hydrophilic regions are separated from each other by any distance within the range of about 0.9 to about 1.0 mm.

[0181] According to another example ("Example 169"), in addition to any one of Examples 165-167, the relatively hydrophilic regions are spaced apart from each other by an average of about 1.0 mm or more.

[0182] According to another example ("Example 170"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-169, the second cord forms a core having a surface.

[0183] According to another example ("Example 171"), further to example 170, the first cord forms a band, and the band is attached to at least a portion of a surface of the second cord.

[0184] According to another example ("Example 172"), further to Example 171, the bands are spaced apart from each other by any distance selected from the range of about 0.9 mm to about 10 mm.

[0185] According to another example ("Example 173"), in addition to Example 171, the bands are spaced apart from each other by more than about 10 mm. According to another example ("Example 174"), further to Example 170, the first cord is in the form of regularly or irregularly spaced bands, the bands being uniformly or randomly attached to the surface of the core, each band being defined by a single winding of the first cord around the second cord.

[0186]

[0187] According to another example ("Example 175"), further to Example 170, the first cord is in the form of at least one rope, and the at least one rope is wrapped around at least a portion of a surface of the core.

[0188] According to another example ("Example 176"), further to Example 170, the first cord is in the form of at least one ribbon, and the at least one ribbon is wrapped around at least a portion of a surface of the core.

[0189] According to another example ("Example 177"), in addition to any one of Examples 170-176, the core is in at least one form selected from the group of forms consisting of ropes, sheets, struts, layers, and rods.

[0190] According to another example ("Example 178"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-169, the cultivation substrate is in the form of a braid including at least one second cord and at least one first cord.

[0191] According to another example ("Example 179"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-179, the composite is in the form of a covered yarn including at least one first cord and at least one second cord.

[0192] According to another example ("Example 180"), in addition to Example 179, the first cord is wound around the second cord.

[0193] According to another example ("Example 181"), in addition to Example 180, a repeating portion of about 0.9 mm to about 1.0 mm on the surface of the second cord is not covered by the first cord.

[0194] According to another example ("Example 182"), in addition to Example 180, a repeat portion of more than about 1.0 mm of the surface of the second cord is not covered by the first cord.

[0195] According to another example ("Example 183"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-182, the first cords are attached to the surface of the second cords at intervals that promote capture of seaweed on the cultivation substrate.

[0196] According to another example ("Example 184"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-183, the cultivation substrate comprises at least one nutrient that promotes the attachment and / or growth of macroalgae.

[0197] According to another example ("Example 185"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 184, the second cord comprises a microfiber material, the microfiber material having at least one higher porosity region and at least one lower porosity region.

[0198] According to another example ("Example 186"), in addition to Example 185, the microfiber material includes portions with larger interfibril spacing and portions with smaller interfibril spacing.

[0199] According to another example ("Example 187"), in addition to Example 186, the interfibrillar distance portion defines an axial orientation of the interfibrillar distance portion.

[0200] According to another example ("Example 188"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 187, the first cord and the second cord have different hydrophilicities, and the first cord and the second cord are randomly associated with each other.

[0201] According to another example ("Example 189"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-188, the system further includes one or more structural elements selected from the group consisting of rods, backer layers, hollow tubes, solid shafts, ropes, cages, boards, bars, growth modules, linear frames, and circular frames.

[0202] According to another example ("Example 190"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-189, the material further includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, natural fibers, plastic, wood, metal, coated metal, and combinations thereof.

[0203] According to another example ("Example 191"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-190, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote spore capture, development, and growth.

[0204] According to another example ("Example 192"), further to any one of Examples 140-190, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture, development, and growth of at least one form of seaweed growth cycle selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, juvenile plants, and mature plants.

[0205] According to another example ("Example 193"), further to any one of Examples 140-190, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote direct seeding of macroalgae in at least one form selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, juvenile plants, and mature plants.

[0206] According to another example ("Example 194"), in addition to Example 193, the composition further includes at least one extrinsic binder selected from the group consisting of adhesives and bioglues.

[0207] According to another example ("Example 195"), in addition to Example 193, the cultivation substrate is substantially free of exogenous binders.

[0208] According to another example ("Example 196"), in addition to any one of Examples 140 to 195, the second cord is configured to allow ingrowth and / or development of seaweed appressoria.

[0209] According to another example ("Example 197"), further to any one of Examples 140-196, the first code is configured to facilitate capture of one or more elements of seaweed growth and reproduction selected from the group consisting of sporophyte, gametophyte, juvenile sporophyte, juvenile plant, and mature plant.

[0210] According to another example ("Example 198"), further to any one of Examples 140-197, the composite material is configured to promote capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of red algae, brown algae, and green algae.

[0211] According to another example ("Example 199"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-197, the cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of palmaria palmata, porphyra, pyropia, and saccharina latissima.

[0212] According to another example ("Example 200"), further to any one of Examples 140-199, the second cord is configured to promote capture of at least one form of a macroalgae growth cycle, and the high tortuosity material is configured to promote growth, development, and attachment of algal appressoria.

[0213] According to another example ("Example 201"), in addition to any one of Examples 140-200, the first cord is configured to securely fasten the seaweed plants.

[0214] According to another example ("Example 202"), a composite material for use in seaweed aquaculture includes an 8-carrier diamond braid having at least 5 picks per inch, the 8-carrier diamond braid having a first group of 4 carriers and a second group of 4 carriers, each of the first group of 4 carriers having one end of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fiber, each of the ePTFE fiber having a density less than 1.0 g / cc, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm (inclusive), and a linear mass density of at least 1000 denier, each of the first group of 4 carriers further including one end of 8 / 1 spun polyester fiber, and each of the second group of 4 carriers having two ends of 8 / 1 spun polyester fiber.

[0215] According to another example ("Example 203"), a composite material for use in seaweed aquaculture includes an 8-carrier diamond braid having at least 5 picks per inch, the 8-carrier diamond braid woven with 100% ePTFE fiber having at least 8 carriers, each of the at least 8 carriers having one end of ePTFE fiber, each of the ePTFE fibers having a density of less than 1.0 g / cc, a typical interfibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm (inclusive), and a linear mass density of at least 1000 denier.

[0216] According to another example ("Example 204"), a seaweed cultivation substrate for securing appressoria of seaweed plants in an aquatic environment comprises any one of the materials of Examples 202-203 and at least one feature for securing the substrate to a fixed object.

[0217] According to another example ("Example 205"), a method for cultivating dulse includes providing any one of the materials of any one of Examples 202-203 and contacting the material with at least one form of dulse (palmaria palmata) selected from the form consisting of a spore, a sporophyte, a young sporophyte, a gametophyte, a young plant, and a mature plant.

[0218] According to another example ("Example 206"), a seaweed cultivation substrate includes a more porous cultivation substrate material, a less porous cultivation substrate material disposed adjacent to the more porous cultivation substrate material, and an aquatic plant, the aquatic plant having plant material growing on and within the more porous cultivation substrate material, the growth of the plant material on and into the more porous cultivation substrate forming a plant-material interface, the plant-material interface separating a first portion of the growth of the plant material on the more porous cultivation substrate and an adjacent portion of the growth of the plant material into the more porous cultivation substrate. the first and second portions together define a 100 μm thick layer of plant material growth at the boundary, with the first half of the 100 μm thickness being plant material growth on the more porous cultivation substrate and the second half of the 100 μm thickness being plant material growth into the more porous cultivation substrate, the first and second portions together defining a transition of plant material growth across the boundary at the plant-material interface, and the density of plant material growth in the second half being at least 50% of the density of plant material growth in the first half.

[0219] According to another example ("Example 207"), further to example 206, the first material is at least 10 times more porous than the second material.

[0220] According to another example ("Example 208"), further to any one of Examples 206-207, a cross-section of the plant-material interface creates a side view of a plant growing on and within the material, a boundary region bisected by a defined boundary forms a first half of the bisected region and a second half of the bisected region, the first half of the bisected boundary region containing only naturally growing aquatic plants and the second half of the bisected boundary region containing a mixture of the material and plant matter, and the amount of plant matter in the first half of the bisected boundary region and the amount of plant matter in the second half of the bisected boundary region determine a ratio.

[0221] According to another example ("Example 209"), further to Example 208, the first ratio is determined using an intra-boundary area bisected by a defined boundary between the plant and the more porous material, and the second ratio is determined by an intra-boundary area bisected by a defined boundary between the plant and the less porous material.

[0222] According to another example ("Example 210"), in addition to Example 209, the first ratio is five times smaller than the second ratio.

[0223] According to another example ("Example 211"), in addition to Example 209, the first ratio is 10 times smaller than the second ratio.

[0224] According to another example ("Example 212"), in addition to any one of Examples 206-211, the less porous material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of spun / filament polyester, spun / filament nylon, spun HEMP, and natural fibers.

[0225] According to another example ("Example 213"), in addition to any one of Examples 206-212, the more porous material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of expanded fluorinated ethylene propylene (eFEP), porous perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), expanded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (eETFE), expanded vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene polymer (eVDF-co-(TFE or TrFE)), or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

[0226] According to another example ("Example 214"), in addition to any one of Examples 206-213, at least two porous materials are combined to form a spun yarn.

[0227] According to another example ("Example 215"), in addition to any one of Examples 206-214, the device further includes at least one structural element.

[0228] According to another example ("Example 216"), in addition to any one of Examples 206-215, the device further includes at least one element for fixing the substrate in a particular position.

[0229] According to another example ("Example 217"), in addition to any one of Examples 206-216, the aquatic plant is a macroalgae.

[0230] According to another example ("Example 218"), a method for measuring ingrowth on a cultivation substrate includes the steps of: traversing a portion of the aquatic plant and cultivation substrate through a boundary between the aquatic plant and a combination zone, which is an area where the aquatic plant and the cultivation substrate are combined; imaging a cross section across the boundary between the aquatic plant and the combination zone, the image being positioned to bisect a 100 μm x 100 μm frame positioned across the boundary; comparing a first amount of plant material in a first image of a first half of the bisected frame, which is primarily composed of the plant, with a second amount of plant material in a second image of a second half of the bisected frame, which is composed of the aquatic plant and the cultivation substrate; and scoring the degree of growth by comparing the first amount of plant material with the second amount of plant material, the scoring indicating that the value of the second amount is at least 50% of the value of the first amount.

[0231] According to another example ("Example 219"), in addition to Example 218, further comprising treating the cross-section with a contrast agent before performing the imaging step.

[0232] According to another example ("Example 220"), in addition to any one of Examples 218-219, the imaging step uses a technique selected from the group consisting of visible imaging, fluorescent imaging, and electron microscopy.

[0233] According to another example ("Example 221"), a seaweed cultivation system for use in an aquatic environment includes a rope having a rope length sufficient to support seaweed plants in the aquatic environment, the rope having a first fiber material extending the rope length and defining a tensile strength of the rope, the rope further having a second material disposed adjacent to the first fiber material and further disposed to present a porous surface of the second material on an exterior of the rope; and appressoria of the seaweed plants that engage the porous surface of the second material such that first portions of both appressoria are adjacent the porous surface of the second material and second portions adjacent the appressoria penetrate the porous surface of the second material, the rope length defining an axis of the rope and the engagement zone is perpendicular to the rope axis. and an appressoria observable in a cross-section provided on a cut portion of the image, wherein the engagement zone image further includes an engagement region where a 100 μm by 100 μm square frame engagement zone is applied to position a first half of the square frame engagement zone over one of the first portions of the appressoria and a second half of the square frame engagement zone over one of the second portions of the appressoria, the first half of the square frame engagement zone surrounding a first visible area of ​​the image that includes fully naturally arranged seaweed plant material to define a 100% seaweed plant benchmark value, and the second half of the square frame engagement zone surrounding a second visible area of ​​the image that includes at least 50% seaweed plant material compared to the 100% seaweed plant benchmark value.

[0234] According to another example ("Example 222"), further to Example 221, the presence of seaweed plant material is observable through the use of visible light.

[0235] According to another example ("Example 223"), further to Example 221, the presence of seaweed plant material is observable through the use of a fluoresceable light source, wherein the seaweed plant material fluoresces when exposed to the fluoresceable light source.

[0236] According to another example ("Example 224"), further to any one of Examples 221-223, the second visible region is at least 75% seaweed plant material compared to a 100% seaweed plant benchmark value.

[0237] According to another example ("Example 225"), further to any one of Examples 221-223, the second visible region is at least 90% seaweed plant material compared to a 100% seaweed plant benchmark value.

[0238] According to another example ("Example 226"), further to any one of Examples 221-223, the second visible region is 50-90% seaweed plant material compared to a 100% seaweed plant benchmark value.

[0239] According to another example ("Example 227"), further to any one of Examples 221-223, the second visible region is 50-75% seaweed plant material compared to a 100% seaweed plant benchmark value.

[0240] According to another example ("Example 228"), in addition to any one of Examples 218-224, the second material is braided with at least a portion of the first textile material.

[0241] According to another example ("Example 229"), in addition to Example 228, the braided second material is arranged to provide portions of the second material at discontinuous outward positions that vary along the rope length.

[0242] According to another example ("Example 230"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-227, the second material is disposed on an exterior surface of the first fibrous material.

[0243] According to another example ("Example 231"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-227, the second material is disposed at multiple discrete, non-contiguous locations along the rope length.

[0244] According to another example ("Example 232"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the second material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of expanded fluorinated ethylene propylene (eFEP), porous perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), expanded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (eETFE), expanded vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene polymer (eVDF-co-(TFE or TrFE)), and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

[0245] According to another example ("Example 233"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressoria are grown in the second material for a period of at least 7 days.

[0246] According to another example ("Example 234"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressorium is grown within the second material over a period of at least one month.

[0247] According to another example ("Example 235"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressoria are grown in the second material over a period of at least three months.

[0248] According to another example ("Example 236"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressorium is grown within the second material for a period of time defined by a season suitable for growing seaweed plants.

[0249] According to another example ("Example 237"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressorium is growing within the second material for a period of time defined by a spore stage of the seaweed plant.

[0250] According to another example ("Example 238"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressorium is grown within the second material for a period of time defined by a seeding stage of the seaweed plants.

[0251] According to another example ("Example 239"), in addition to any one of Examples 221-232, the appressorium is grown within the second material for a period of time defined by a juvenile stage of the seaweed plant.

[0252] According to another example ("Example 240"), a seaweed cultivation system for use in an aquatic environment includes a rope having a rope length sufficient to support seaweed in the aquatic environment, the rope having a first fiber material extending the rope length and defining a tensile strength of the rope, the rope further having a second material disposed adjacent to the first fiber material and further disposed to provide a porous surface of the second material on an exterior of the rope, the first material and the second material being disposed adjacent to one another and presenting a seaweed growth support surface on the exterior of the rope, the adjacent first material and second material being visible at a microscopic level to provide images of a first natural pathway extending within the first material and a second natural pathway extending within the second material, the image of the first material defining a first tortuosity value of the first material and the image of the second material defining a second tortuosity value of the second material, the tortuosity value of the second material being greater than the tortuosity value of the first material.

[0253] According to another example ("Example 241"), in addition to Example 240, the image is a two-dimensional perspective view applied to a three-dimensional view of the code.

[0254] According to another example ("Example 242"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-241, the image includes both the first material and the second material.

[0255] According to another example ("Example 243"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-241, the image includes a first image of the first material and a second image of the second material.

[0256] According to another example ("Example 244"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-243, the image is enhanced by tracking applied to the image to track the first natural path and / or the second natural path.

[0257] According to another example ("Example 245"), further to any one of Examples 240-244, the ingrowth of a seaweed plant is present in the code, and the image is enhanced by tracking applied to the image to follow a natural path defined by the ingrowth.

[0258] According to another example ("Example 246"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-245, the natural path is defined to run in a direction towards a midpoint of the cord.

[0259] According to another example ("Example 247"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-246, the natural path is defined to run in a direction perpendicular to the cord surface.

[0260] According to another example ("Example 248"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-247, the natural path includes a series of turns that provide an angle for the natural path.

[0261] According to another example ("Example 249"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-248, the natural pathway defines an end point of the natural pathway.

[0262] According to another example ("Example 250"), further to Example 249, the endpoints define a linear depth relative to the chord surface.

[0263] According to another example ("Example 251"), further to any one of Examples 240-250, the first tortuosity value is based on a comparison of the first depth to a first natural path having a length and a first endpoint of the first natural path, and the first tortuosity value is at least one of less than 2, between 1 and 2, between 1 and 1.75, between 1 and 1.50, and between 1 and 1.25.

[0264] According to another example ("Example 252"), further to any one of Examples 240-251, the second tortuosity value is based on a comparison of a second natural path length and a second natural path having a second endpoint to the second depth, and the second tortuosity value is in one of the ranges of 2 to 200 (inclusive), 2 to 100 (inclusive), 2 to 50 (inclusive), 2 to 10 (inclusive), 2 to 5 (inclusive), 2 to 3 (inclusive), 5 to 200 (inclusive), 5 to 100 (inclusive), 5 to 50 (inclusive), 5 to 10 (inclusive), 10 to 200 (inclusive), 10 to 100 (inclusive), 10 to 50 (inclusive), 50 to 200 (inclusive), 50 to 100 (inclusive), and 100 to 200 (inclusive).

[0265] According to another example ("Example 253"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-252, the second tortuosity value is based on a comparison of a second natural path having a second natural path length and a second endpoint to the second depth, and the second tortuosity value is one of 2 or more, 5 or more, 10 or more, 20 or more, 50 or more, 100 or more, and 200 or more.

[0266] According to another example ("Example 254"), further to any one of Examples 240-253, the first tortuosity value is based on an amount of change in direction experienced along the first natural path per first unit length of the first natural path, and the first tortuosity value is less than 3.00 degrees / μm.

[0267] According to another example ("Example 255"), further to any one of Examples 240-254, the second tortuosity value is based on an amount of change in direction experienced along the second natural path per second unit length of the second natural path, and the second tortuosity value is in the range of 3 to 1000 degrees / μm, 3 to 500 degrees / μm (inclusive), 3 to 200 degrees / μm (inclusive), 3 to 100 degrees / μm (inclusive), 3 to 50 degrees / μm (inclusive), 3 to 10 degrees / μm (inclusive), 3 to 5 degrees / μm (inclusive), 5 to 1000 degrees / μm The angle is one of the following: 5 to 500 degrees / μm (inclusive), 5 to 200 degrees / μm (inclusive), 5 to 100 degrees / μm (inclusive), 5 to 50 degrees / μm (inclusive), 5 to 10 degrees / μm (inclusive), 7 to 1000 degrees / μm (inclusive), 7 to 500 degrees / μm (inclusive), 7 to 200 degrees / μm (inclusive), 7 to 100 degrees / μm (inclusive), 7 to 50 degrees / μm (inclusive), and 7 to 10 degrees / μm (inclusive).

[0268] According to another example ("Example 256"), further to any one of Examples 240-255, the second tortuosity value is based on an amount of change in direction experienced along the second natural path per second unit length of the second natural path, and the second tortuosity value is one of 3 degrees / μm or more, 5 degrees / μm or more, 7 degrees / μm or more, and 10 degrees / μm or more.

[0269] According to another example ("Example 257"), further to any one of Examples 240-256, the first tortuosity value is based on a first natural path having a first depth-advancing portion and a first depth-neutral portion, and further based on a percentage of the first depth-neutral portion compared to the sum of the first depth-advancing portion and the first depth-neutral portion, and the first tortuosity value is less than 30%.

[0270] According to another example ("Example 258"), further to any one of Examples 240-257, the second tortuosity value is based on a second natural path having a second depth advancement portion and a second depth neutral portion, and further based on a percentage of the second depth neutral portion compared to the sum of the second depth advancement portion and the second depth neutral portion, and the second tortuosity value may be in the range of 30-90% (inclusive), 30-80% (inclusive), 30-70% (inclusive), 30-60% (inclusive), 30-50% (inclusive), 30-40% (inclusive), 40-90% (inclusive), or range of 50-60% (inclusive), 40-80% (inclusive), 40-70% (inclusive), 40-60% (inclusive), 40-50% (inclusive), 50-90% (inclusive), 50-80% (inclusive), 50-70% (inclusive), 50-60% (inclusive), 60-90% (inclusive), 60-80% (inclusive), 60-70% (inclusive), 70-90% (inclusive), 70-80% (inclusive), 80-90% (inclusive).

[0271] According to another example ("Example 259"), further to any one of Examples 240-258, the second tortuosity value is based on a second natural path having a second depth-advancing portion and a second depth-neutral portion, and further based on a percentage of the second depth-neutral portion compared to the sum of the second depth-advancing portion and the second depth-neutral portion, and the second tortuosity value is one of 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, and 90% or more.

[0272] According to another example ("Example 260"), further to any one of Examples 240-259, the first tortuosity value is based on the visual presence of seaweed ingrowth into the first material within a 100 μm square frame applied to a first image having a square frame bisected by a code surface, and further based on a comparison of the visual presence of seaweed in the first half of the square frame with the second half of the square frame, and the first tortuosity value is in the range of 10% to 25%.

[0273] According to another example ("Example 261"), further to any one of Examples 240-260, the second tortuosity value is based on a visual presence of seaweed ingrowth into the second material within a 100 μm square frame applied to a second image having a square frame bisected by the code surface, and further based on a comparison of the visual presence of seaweed in a first half of the square frame to a second half of the square frame, the first tortuosity value being in the range of 25% to 90% (inclusive), 30% to 90% (inclusive), 30% to 80% (inclusive), 30% to 70% (inclusive), 30% to 60% (inclusive), or 30% to 50% (inclusive). range, 30-40% (inclusive), 40-90% (inclusive), 40-80% (inclusive), 40-70% (inclusive), 40-60% (inclusive), 40-50% (inclusive), 50-90% (inclusive), 50-80% (inclusive), 50-70% (inclusive), 50-60% (inclusive), 60-90% (inclusive), 60-80% (inclusive), 60-70% (inclusive), 70-90% (inclusive), 70-80% (inclusive), and 80-90% (inclusive).

[0274] According to another example ("Example 262"), further to any one of Examples 240-261, the second tortuosity value is based on the visual presence of seaweed ingrowth into the second material within a 100 μm square frame applied to a second image having a square frame bisected by the code surface, and further based on a comparison of the visual presence of seaweed in a first half of the square frame and a second half of the square frame, and the first tortuosity value is one of 25% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, and 90% or more.

[0275] According to another example ("Example 263"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-262, the visual presence is a visible light presence.

[0276] According to another example ("Example 264"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-262, the visual presence is the presence of fluorescence.

[0277] According to another example ("Example 265"), in addition to any one of Examples 240-263, the first material and the second material form a braid within the cord. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0278] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A is a diagram of a core, a single covered yarn, and a double covered yarn, and a process for forming the single covered yarn and the double covered yarn.

[0279] [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a diagram of a double covered yarn.

[0280] [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a diagram of a "loosely" wound covered yarn.

[0281] [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a diagram of a "tightly" wound covered yarn.

[0282] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a covered yarn with seaweed shown to be located primarily on the surface of the material with low tortuosity.

[0283] [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a diagram of a braid of high tortuosity microfiber material.

[0284] [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a diagram of a composite braid including high tortuosity microfiber material and material with low tortuosity.

[0285] [Figure 4C]FIG. 4C is a diagram of two braided composites including a high tortuosity microfiber material and a material with a low tortuosity.

[0286] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a color photograph of the surface of a braided composite supporting seaweed growth.

[0287] [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image showing a portion of a seaweed appressorium attached to the surface of a microfiber material, with the magnification and scale indicated on the image.

[0288] [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an SEM image showing the growth of seaweed appressorial tendrils on the surface and into the interfiber spaces of the microfiber material. The image is to scale as indicated on the image.

[0289] [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows SEM images of a cross section of a portion of a seaweed appressoria grown on and within a microfiber material. The images are to the scale indicated on the image.

[0290] [Figure 9A] Figure 9A is an SEM image of a portion of a composite material supporting seaweed growth. The image is to scale as indicated on the image.

[0291] [Figure 9B] Figure 9B is a magnified SEM image of a portion of the composite material shown in Figure 9A. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0292] [Figure 9C] Figure 9C is a magnified SEM image of a portion of the composite material shown in Figure 9A. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0293] [Figure 10A]Figure 10A is the same SEM image as Figure 9A, but with the addition of lines tracing the tortuous path through the component material and a pair of straight lines showing an imaginary straight path through the material. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0294] [Figure 10B] Figure 10B is the same SEM image as Figure 9B, but with the addition of lines tracing tortuous paths through the component material and paired straight lines showing imaginary straight paths through the material. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0295] [Figure 10C] Figure 10C is the same SEM image as Figure 9C, but with the addition of lines tracing tortuous paths through the component material and paired lines showing imaginary straight paths through the material. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0296] [Figure 11A] Figure 11A is the same SEM image as Figures 9A and 10A, but with the addition of a series of vectors tracing the tortuous path through the component material. The image is to scale as indicated on the image.

[0297] [Figure 11B] Figure 11B is the same SEM image of Figures 9B and 10B, but with the addition of a series of vectors that trace the tortuous path through the component material. The image is to scale as indicated on the image.

[0298] [Figure 12] Figure 12 is an illustration of a composite 8-carrier diamond braid including high tortuosity microfiber material and material with low tortuosity. The image is scaled with millimeters and inches displayed on an illustration of a ruler.

[0299] [Figure 13] 13 is a magnified photographic image of aquatic plants growing in contact with a composite cultivation substrate comprising ePTFE and spun polyester. The image is to scale as indicated on the image.

[0300] [Figure 14A] 14A is a magnified visible light photographic image of a cross section of a portion of an aquatic plant growing on and within a composite cultivation substrate. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0301] [Figure 14B] Figure 14B is a magnified fluorophotographic image of a cross section of the same image shown in Figure 14A. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0302] [Figure 15A] 15A is a magnified visible light photographic image of a cross section of a portion of an aquatic plant growing on and within a composite cultivation substrate. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0303] [Figure 15B] Figure 15B is a magnified fluorophotographic image of a cross section of the same image shown in Figure 15A. The image is to the scale indicated on the image.

[0304] [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a photographic image of two cord sections showing seaweed growth.

[0305] As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the accompanying drawings referred to herein are not necessarily drawn to scale and may be exaggerated or schematic in order to illustrate various aspects of the present disclosure, and in that regard, the drawings should not be construed as limiting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0306] Definitions and Terminology This disclosure is not meant to be read in a restrictive manner. For example, the terms used in this application should be read broadly in the context of the meanings that those skilled in the art would ascribe to such terms.

[0307] With respect to the term imprecision, the terms "about" and "approximately" may be used interchangeably to refer to a measurement that includes the stated measurement and also includes any measurement that is reasonably close to the stated measurement. A measurement that is reasonably close to the stated measurement deviates from the stated measurement by a reasonably small amount, as understood and easily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Such deviations may result from, for example, measurement error, differences in measurement and / or manufacturing equipment calibration, human error in reading and / or setting measurements, fine-tuning made to optimize performance and / or structural parameters given measurement differences associated with other components, specific implementation scenarios, imprecise adjustment and / or manipulation of objects by humans or machines, etc. Where it is determined that one of ordinary skill in the art would not easily ascertain such a reasonably small difference, the terms "about" and "approximately" may be understood to mean plus or minus 10% of the stated value.

[0308] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience. For example, words such as "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "left," "left-facing," "right," "right-facing," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward," and "downward" are intended to merely describe the orientation of components in the configuration or installation position shown in the figures. Indeed, referenced components may be oriented in any direction. Similarly, throughout this disclosure, when processes or methods are shown or described, the methods may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that the method is dependent on a particular operation being performed first.

[0309] A coordinate system is shown in the figures and referenced in the description, with the "Y" axis corresponding to the vertical direction, the "X" axis corresponding to the horizontal or lateral direction, and the "Z" axis corresponding to the internal / external direction.

[0310] Entrapment is the initial capture of spores / gametophytes within the growth medium after initial seeding in the hatchery. Entrapment provides protection for the spores / gametophytes (i.e., resistance to loss due to spore / gametophyte migration) until attachment (appressorium formation) can provide sufficient stability for healthy plant growth to be initiated.

[0311] Appressorium are root-like structures at the base of seaweed plants that anchor them to a substrate, such as rock. Appressorium and roots vary in shape and structure between species. Root-like structures can extend from the appressorium to further anchor the seaweed to the substrate. The type of substrate can also influence the shape and structure of the appressorium and roots. Seaweed appressorium differ from terrestrial plant roots because they do not have the nutrient absorption function found in terrestrial plant roots, but both appressorium and roots have similar anchoring functions in terrestrial and marine plants.

[0312] Tortuosity is a property of porous materials and can be defined in terms of tortuous, i.e., twisting curves with many turns. Tortuosity characterizes the complex paths through openings and passages in or through a portion of porous or semi-porous media. Tortuosity can be defined as the ratio of (1) the length of a natural streamline or natural flow path from a first point to a second point within or through a material, as allowed by the structures and surfaces that define the path, to (2) the length of an imaginary straight line drawn between the same first and second points and passing through or through any intervening structures and surfaces. The higher the tortuosity of a material, the greater the tortuosity ratio of the natural streamline length compared to the imaginary straight line length. Tortuosity can also be a comparison of (1) the distance an intruding organic structure potentially or actually travels to achieve proper engagement with a porous material to (2) the straight line depth that the same intruding organic structure achieves for the same engagement, measured from the surface entry point of the organic structure to the end point of the organic structure. Porous media, including synthetic microporous materials and natural porous structures such as rock and soil, are a broad set of composite materials containing highly disordered pores with widely varying pore sizes. These porous media contain twisted and tortuous paths rather than straight lines. A virtual object flowing through a high-tortuosity material must traverse a path that may be many times longer than the length of a virtual straight line drawn between the start and end of the same path. As used herein, unless otherwise specified, in some high-tortuosity materials, at least one path may not penetrate completely through the material, meaning that an object starting on one side of the high-tortuosity material cannot traverse the entire width of the high-tortuosity material and cannot emerge from the material on the other side by traversing a single path. Yet another method for determining tortuosity is to track the total distance traversed by a particle by following its natural path through the material from a point where it starts on the surface of the material towards the midpoint of the material; starting from the same starting point on the surface, a straight line can be drawn from the starting surface point towards the midpoint reached by the particle following its natural path; the ratio of the distance traveled by the particle on its natural path to the straight line distance is a measure of tortuosity.The higher the tortuosity of a material, the longer the length of its natural path into or through the material, and the greater the ratio of the natural path length to a straight line drawn between the start of the natural path and a point located toward the midpoint of the material. Yet another measure of tortuosity is measuring the total angle of change of direction a particle makes as it follows its natural path through the center of a material or a channel having a layer of material. The total distance a particle travels within or through the thickness or depth of a material until it reaches a certain total angle value is a measure of the tortuosity of the material. A particle traveling into or through a tortuosity material will make several changes of direction in multiple directions, and the sum of the changes in any three-dimensional direction or direction aligned with a plane can be expressed as an angle, and the length of the material's natural path can be measured when the particle reaches a selected cumulative angle. In each of the foregoing examples, the estimated tortuosity value may be an average, median, or range of values ​​for a selected volume or surface area of ​​the material. For example, the tortuosity of a material can be assessed over a desired area (e.g., one square centimeter, one square meter, or some other value) by taking a desired number of measurements and averaging those values. In that example, the tortuosity value of a material can be expressed as the average tortuosity value seen over a manageable surface area or volume of the material. Similarly, for materials with a wide variety of pore sizes and variable channel dimensions, the median tortuosity value can be determined in a manner similar to that used to obtain the average tortuosity value.

[0313] Description of various aspects The present disclosure relates to a cultivation system that includes a cultivation substrate that includes at least one fibrillated material that includes spaces suitable for the ingrowth of plant anchoring structures, such as appressoria, and at least one additional component that is more hydrophilic than the fibrillated material and is typically associated with the exterior of the fibrillated material. The cultivation system can be used for attracting, holding, culturing, and / or growing seaweed, and related methods and devices. In some aspects, the cultivation system is operable to grow seaweed in an open water environment or in an incubator.

[0314] Cultivation systems according to the present disclosure can be used to promote the attachment, culture, germination, and / or growth of spores in plants, such as seaweed. These structures are useful in one or more stages of plant growth, development, and / or reproduction. Some embodiments find utility in one or more of the following stages of macroalgal reproduction and growth: attachment and / or germination and growth of seaweed gametophytes and / or sporophytes, and attachment and growth of young and mature plants, as well as the transport and deposition of such plants in one or more stages of plant growth, development, and reproduction. In certain embodiments, the cultivation substrates described herein may be used as improved growth substrates for the growth and cultivation of seaweed forms (e.g., spores, gametophytes, sporophytes, young sporophytes, young plants, mature plants), resulting in improved yields and throughput compared to current cultivation practices.

[0315] In these embodiments, the cultivation system provides both a catch for the spores / gametophytes and an attachment feature for the appressorium and root-like structures extending from the appressorium.

[0316] In some embodiments, the cultivation system includes at least one material having a network of both connected / interconnected and partially connected fibril microstructures with pore sizes that promote the ingrowth, stabilization, and anchoring of one or more species of seaweed. The fibrillated microstructure of the substrate and the highly hydrophilic components of the system promote both seaweed attachment to the system and plant growth and development. The pores of the microporous material can be selected to foster the attachment and ingrowth of seaweed appressoria. In further embodiments, the pores of the microporous material can be organized axially or unidirectionally, for example, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0317] In these embodiments, the highly hydrophilic components of the cultivation system itself have a three-dimensional structure. These structural shapes include, but are not limited to, rods, ribbons, fibers, bands, layers, tubes, and patches of various sizes and shapes. In some embodiments, the more hydrophilic components are attached to or at least associated with the surface of the highly hydrophobic core material. The highly hydrophilic components may be in continuous contact with at least a portion of the core, or may contact the core only in one or more regions of the highly hydrophobic core's surface. The hydrophilic components may be wrapped around the core, layered on the core, tied to the core at one or more points using the same or different material as the anchoring device, or glued, otherwise bonded, sewn, or linked to the surface of the core.

[0318] Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to cultivation systems that include a cultivation substrate. Some aspects relate to cultivation substrates used for spore retention, culture, and / or growth (e.g., for retaining and maintaining algal spores and growing mature seaweed therefrom), as well as related methods and apparatus. In various examples, the cultivation system is operable to grow multicellular organisms (e.g., seaweed). In some aspects, the cultivation system is operable to grow multicellular organisms in an open water environment (e.g., saltwater).

[0319] The cultivation system according to the present disclosure may be used in a variety of applications, including spore capture, spore culture and growth, spore and / or gametophyte / sporophyte transport and deposition, and seaweed appressorium growth and development.

[0320] In some aspects, the cultivation substrates described herein may be used as improved growth substrates for the growth and cultivation of seaweed forms (e.g., spores, gametophytes, sporophytes), resulting in improved yields and throughput compared to current cultivation practices.

[0321] In some embodiments, the cultivation system includes a cultivation substrate that itself includes a fibrillated material having a microstructure including a plurality of fibrils that define an average inter-fibril distance. In some embodiments, the microfiber material is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The microstructure of the microfiber material can be defined by a plurality of fibrils that interconnect nodes. The fibrils define inter-fibril spaces.

[0322] In some embodiments, the fibrils have a diameter of about 1 μm to about 200 μm, about 1 μm to about 5 μm, about 1 μm to about 20 μm, about 1 μm to about 10 μm, about 1 μm to about 5 μm, about 5 μm to about 50 μm, about 5 μm to about 20 μm, about 5 μm to about 10 μm, about 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 10 μm to about 75 μm, about 10 μm to about 50 μm, about 10 μm to about 25 μm, about 25 μm The fibril-to-fibril distance may be about 200 μm, about 25 μm to about 150 μm, about 25 μm to about 100 μm, about 25 μm to about 50 μm, about 50 μm to about 200 μm, about 50 μm to about 150 μm, about 50 μm to about 100 μm, about 100 μm to about 200 μm, about 100 μm to about 150 μm, or about 150 μm to about 200 μm. In some embodiments, the fibrils can have an average interfibril distance of, for example, about 1 μm, about 2 μm, about 3 μm, about 4 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 20 μm, about 30 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, about 60 μm, about 70 μm, about 80 μm, about 90 μm, about 100 μm, about 110 μm, about 120 μm, about 130 μm, about 140 μm, about 150 μm, about 160 μm, about 170 μm, about 180 μm, about 190 μm, or about 200 μm, although various additional values ​​are contemplated.

[0323] The pores may be circular, nearly circular, or elliptical. The pores may be about 1 μm to about 200 μm, about 1 μm to about 50 μm, about 1 μm to about 20 μm, about 1 μm to about 10 μm, about 1 μm to about 5 μm, about 5 μm to about 50 μm, about 5 μm to about 20 μm, about 5 μm to about 10 μm, about 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 10 μm to about 75 μm, about 10 μm to about 50 μm, about 10 μm to about 25 μm, about 25 μm The nanoparticles may have a diameter of, or approximately a diameter of, from about 25 μm to about 200 μm, from about 25 μm to about 150 μm, from about 25 μm to about 100 μm, from 25 μm to about 50 μm, from about 50 μm to about 200 μm, from about 50 μm to about 150 μm, from about 50 μm to about 100 μm, from about 100 μm to about 200 μm, from about 100 μm to about 150 μm, or from about 150 μm to about 200 μm. In some embodiments, the pores can have a diameter or approximate diameter of, for example, about 1 μm, about 2 μm, about 3 μm, about 4 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 20 μm, about 30 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, about 60 μm, about 70 μm, about 80 μm, about 90 μm, about 100 μm, about 110 μm, about 120 μm, about 130 μm, about 140 μm, about 150 μm, about 160 μm, about 170 μm, about 180 μm, about 190 μm, or about 200 μm, although various additional values ​​are contemplated.

[0324] In some embodiments, the microstructure of the cultivation substrate is configured to retain spores and sporophytes, gametophytes, or other organisms grown from retained spores. In some embodiments, the microstructure is configured to retain algal spores, algal sporophytes and / or gametophytes, plant spores, seeds, bacterial endospores, fungal spores, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the cultivation substrate retains multiple spores and / or organisms grown therefrom (e.g., sporophytes and / or gametophytes). The multiple spores and / or organisms may all be of the same type, or may be two or more different types. In some embodiments, the cultivation substrate retains two different spore types that exhibit a symbiotic relationship when cultured or grown together. For simplicity, reference will be made throughout this disclosure to "spores," but gametophytes, sporophytes, seeds, or other organisms grown from spores are also contemplated by this term and are considered within the scope of this disclosure.

[0325] In some aspects, in addition to retaining spores, the cultivation systems and substrates of the present disclosure promote germination of and growth from the retained spores. That is, the cultivation systems and substrates maintain the viability of the retained spores. In certain aspects, the microstructures are configured to securely immobilize at least a portion of the spores.

[0326] In some embodiments, the cultivation substrate creates a microenvironment that promotes germination of and growth from retained spores. In some embodiments, the microstructure initially undergoes a first retention phase in which the microstructure functions to retain and maintain target spores. The microstructure then transitions to a second growth phase in which spore germination is induced and ingrowth of spores (e.g., sporophytes, gametophytes, seeds, etc.) occurs from the spores onto and / or within the microstructure, resulting in mechanical interlocking or fixation of the spores to the microstructure. Thus, in some embodiments, the microstructure is configured to permanently fix germinated spores, preventing loss of the germinated spores during, for example, transportation or placement in the field (e.g., in an open water environment) or loss to environmental factors (e.g., currents).

[0327] In certain embodiments, the cultivation substrate creates a selective microenvironment that promotes germination and growth from target spores while inhibiting or preventing germination, growth, and / or proliferation of non-target spores or other cells. The selective microenvironment can be achieved, for example, by providing a combination of interfibril distance and / or pore size, material density, ratio of interfibril distance to average density of the material, depth or thickness, hydrophobicity, and the presence or absence of nutrients, moisture, bioactive agents, and adhesives that support germination and growth from target spores while inhibiting or preventing germination, growth, and / or proliferation of non-target spores or other cells.

[0328] Several factors can affect the retention and / or viability of spores and the organisms grown therefrom, including, for example, interfibril distance and / or pore size, material density, ratio of interfibril distance to average density of the material, depth or thickness, hydrophobicity, and the presence or absence of nutrients, moisture, bioactive agents, and adhesives. Each of these factors is described in more detail below.

[0329] In some embodiments, the distance between two fibrils (i.e., the interfibril distance) defines an interfibril space. In some embodiments, the interfibril space, and thus the interfibril distance, is sufficient to retain a spore therein, and the spore is retained between the two fibrils that define the interfibril space. The interfibril distance is sufficient to allow at least a portion of the spore to enter (e.g., via migration, growth, or a combination thereof) between the two fibrils that define the interfibril space.

[0330] In some embodiments, the average interfibril distance is controlled to facilitate at least a portion of the spores entering the microstructure, for example, when it is desired for the microstructure to retain dulse spores.

[0331] For dulse (Palmaria palmata) spores having a diameter of about 30 μm, the average interfibril distance of the microstructure is about 30 μm or slightly greater (e.g., about 32 μm to about 35 μm). For example, if it is desired for the microstructure to retain spores of seaweed, e.g., Porphyra / Pyropia, or kelp, e.g., Saccharina species, Alaria species, Macrocystis species, each having a diameter of about 10 μm, the average interfibril distance of the microstructure is about 10 μm or slightly greater (e.g., about 12 μm to about 15 μm). In some embodiments, it may be desirable to retain spores of multiple species (e.g., dulse, seaweed, and kelp). In such embodiments, the average interfibril distance is sufficient to allow at least a portion of the spores of the multiple species to enter and be retained in the interfibril spaces. In some embodiments, the target spores, gametophytes, and sporophytes have a diameter of about 0.5 μm to about 200 μm.

[0332] In some embodiments, approximately half of the target spores may enter the interfibrillar spaces. In such embodiments, the interfibrillar distance is at least equal to a dimension (e.g., diameter or width) of the target spore. In some embodiments, the interfibrillar distance is slightly greater than a dimension of the target spore. This allows the entire spore to enter and be retained in the interfibrillar spaces.

[0333] In some embodiments, more than half of the target spores, and up to the entire spore, may enter the interfibrillar spaces. In such embodiments, the fraction of spores that enter the interfibrillar spaces may depend on the depth of the pores whose openings are defined by the interfibrillar spaces. The depth of the pores may be controlled, for example, by the density of the material.

[0334] In some embodiments, only a portion of the spore, sporophyte, young sporophyte, gametophyte, young plant, and / or mature plant enters the interfibrillar space. Thus, if the interfibrillar distance is less than the diameter of the target spore, the target spore may only partially enter the interfibrillar space. If the target spore only partially enters the interfibrillar space, the target spore may be retained therein if a sufficient portion of the target spore enters the interfibrillar space. In some embodiments, a substance such as an adhesive applied to the microstructure can reduce the portion of the spore required to enter the interfibrillar space and aid retention.

[0335] In some embodiments, the microstructure is formed by a non-fibrillating material. In certain embodiments, the pore opening is inherent to the material of the cultivation substrate. It will be appreciated that different materials may have different pore opening characteristics, and materials may be manufactured or otherwise engineered to provide desired pore opening characteristics. In other embodiments, the pore opening is formed by micro-drilling techniques, such as mechanical micro-drilling, such as ultrasonic drilling, powder blasting, or abrasive water jet machining (AWJM); thermal micro-drilling, such as laser machining; chemical micro-drilling, including wet etching, deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), or plasma etching; and hybrid micro-drilling techniques, such as spark discharge assisted chemical engraving (SACE), vibration assisted micro-machining, laser induced plasma micro-machining (LIPMM), and water assisted micro-machining.

[0336] In embodiments where the microstructure is formed from a non-fibrillating material, the pore openings are of sufficient size to act like the interfibrillar spaces described above and allow at least a portion of the target spores to enter the pore openings. In some embodiments, the spores are thereby retained within the microstructure of the cultivation substrate. In some embodiments, the size of the pore openings is controlled to facilitate entry of at least a portion of the target spores into the microstructure. For example, if it is desired that the microstructure retain dulse (Palmaria palmata) spores having a diameter of about 30 μm, the pore openings of the microstructure have a diameter of about 30 μm or slightly larger (e.g., about 32 μm to about 35 μm). In some embodiments, the target spores have a diameter of about 0.5 μm to about 200 μm.

[0337] In some embodiments, approximately half of the target spores can enter the pore opening. In such embodiments, the pore opening is at least equal to the dimension (e.g., diameter or width) of the target spore. In some embodiments, the pore opening is slightly larger than the dimension of the target spore. This allows the entire spore to enter and be retained therein.

[0338] In some embodiments, more than half to the entire target spore may enter the pore opening. In such embodiments, the fraction of spores that enter the pore opening may depend on the depth of the pore. The depth of the pore may be controlled, for example, by the density of the material.

[0339] In some embodiments, only a portion of the spores enter the pore opening. Thus, if the pore opening is smaller than the diameter of the target spore, the target spore can only partially enter the pore opening. If the target spore only partially enters the pore opening, the target spore can be retained therein if a sufficient portion of the target spore enters the pore opening. In some embodiments, a substance such as an adhesive applied to the microstructure can reduce the portion of the spore required to enter the pore opening and aid retention.

[0340] In some embodiments, the cultivation substrate comprises a low-density material, which may be fibrillated or non-fibrillated and in some embodiments defines the microstructure of the cultivation substrate. The low-density material has a density of about 0.1 g / cm. 3 , about 0.2g / cm 3 , about 0.3g / cm 3 , approximately 0.4 g / cm 3 , about 0.5g / cm 3 , about 0.6g / cm 3 , about 0.7g / cm 3 , about 0.8g / cm 3 , about 0.9g / cm 3 , or about 1.0 g / cm 3 In some embodiments, the density of the low density material can be about 0.1 g / cm 3 ~Approx. 1g / cm 3 is.

[0341] In some aspects, the low density material provides sufficient pore depth to retain spores in the interfibrillar spaces or pore openings.

[0342] In some embodiments, the dimensions of the pore opening (length (μm) and width (μm)), along with the depth (μm) to which the target spores enter the pore, whether formed by a fibrillating or non-fibrillating material, define the capture ratio. Each spore type may have a different capture ratio required for proper retention of the spore by the microstructure. The required capture ratio may be influenced by the properties of the materials comprising the microstructure, as well as the presence or absence of nutrients, adhesives, and / or bioactive agents.

[0343] In some embodiments, the low-density material allows spores to germinate and grow into the low-density material. For example, as dulse spores retained in the low-density material having the microstructures described herein develop into gametophytes and then sporophytes, the dulse grows into the low-density material in all three dimensions (i.e., horizontally in the x and y dimensions and depthwise in the z dimension). This three-dimensional growth allows for improved retention of dulse gametophytes and sporophytes. [Example]

[0344] As used in the following examples, the terms "tortuous" and "tortuosity" may be evaluated according to any of the methods and definitions described above, including any of the exemplary ratios and values ​​provided in association with such terms. The following examples may not exactly correspond to the "examples" of the examples described herein. [Example]

[0345] A typical cultivation system may include a composite material containing one or more materials differing in their ability to promote capture and attachment of various plant forms found in the macroalgae growth cycle. Some non-limiting examples include microfiber materials such as ePTFE configured to promote attachment of macroalgae anchoring structures and / or components of the microalgae anchoring system, such as rhizoids and / or appressorial elements, and macrofiber materials such as spun polyester configured to promote capture of various forms of the macroalgae growth cycle, such as spores, sporophytes in one or more stages of growth and development, gametophytes, juvenile plants, and mature plants. The different materials in the composite may have different hydrophilicities.

[0346] It is believed that materials with relatively high hydrophilicity will facilitate capture of seaweed forms such as sporophytes, gametophytes, and young plants. It is believed that materials with relatively high hydrophilicity that absorb water will be particularly effective in facilitating capture of seaweed forms such as sporophytes, gametophytes, and young plants. [Example]

[0347] The cultivation system may include a microfiber material configured to promote attachment and engraftment of at least some elements of the macroalgae fixation system, with the microfiber material supported, if necessary, by additional material that provides tensile strength to the cultivation system. Figure 1A shows an exemplary cultivation system (1) with various configurations of cords (2, 3, and 4), which can also be viewed as stages in an assembly process, starting with a single-material cord core (left-most image), progressing to a wrapped cord or yarn (middle image), and then to a double-wrapped cord or braided configuration (right-most image). As shown in Figure 1A, the cultivation system (1) in the left-most image may have a single-core (2) material made from a high-torque material, such as ePTFE, or a combination of ePTFE modified to include additional materials that enhance tensile strength. The center image of Figure 1A shows the core (2) wrapped with a single cord (3) made of a high-tensile material that provides tensile strength to the system (1), with the material or cord (3) being a low-torque material, such as polyester. The right-most image in FIG. 1A shows a cultivation system (1) having double-wrapped cords (3, 4) wound or braided around a core (2). Both cords (3, 4) can be high-tensile materials with low tortuosity, such as polyester. As can be seen in all of the configurations shown in FIG. 1A, the exterior of the various cultivation systems (1) presents an exterior surface that exposes the low-tortuosity material (3, 4). The exterior surfaces in the middle and right-most images of FIG. 1A also present exterior surfaces that provide exposure of the high-tortuosity material of the core (2) adjacent to the low-tortuosity material (3, 4), such that both the low-tortuosity material and the high-tortuosity material are presented to the aquatic environment in sufficient proximity to one another to allow individual seaweed plants to interact with the adjacent low-tortuosity and high-tortuosity materials to promote capture, growth, and attachment of the seaweed plants. Similarly, and as shown, cultivation systems having a rolled or woven configuration (center and far right images) provide windows (5) defined by cords (3, 4) through which the underlying material of the core (2) may be accessible to an external aquatic environment to promote plant growth.FIG. 1B shows an alternative external view of the cultivation system (1) at the far right of FIG. 1A, in which a window (5) provides access through cords (3, 4) to the underlying core (2) made from a high-torque material such as ePTFE.

[0348] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the cultivation system (1) can be modified to provide additional cords wrapped around the core (2) or braided around the core (2), for example, in a six- or eight-braid configuration. In other configurations, the core (2) can be a low-torque material such as polyester, and one or more of the cords (3, 4) can be a high-torque material, or a combination of low-torque cords (3) and high-torque cords (4) presenting a high-torque material on the outer surface. In other configurations, the core (2) can be eliminated, and the cords (3, 4) can be braided using known techniques, preferably using a six- or eight-cord braid, with one or more of the cords in the braid being a high-torque material such as ePTFE.

[0349] As can be seen from Figures 1A and 1B, the illustrated cultivation system (1) may be a portion of a longer cord long enough to connect two buoys together, so that the middle portion of the cord is suspended at a depth within the aquatic environment to provide sufficient sunlight and nutrients to promote seaweed plant growth. In another embodiment, the illustrated cultivation system (1) may be a portion of a longer length, with one end connected to a weight and the other end connected to a float or buoy, sufficient to suspend the cord at the appropriate depth and position to promote seaweed growth. In yet another embodiment, the cultivation system (1) may be placed around a support tube. In yet another embodiment, the cultivation system (1) may be placed within an incubator to promote incubation of immature seaweed plants prior to transfer from one aquatic environment to another. [Example]

[0350] The cultivation system may include a composite of a high-tortuosity microfiber material configured to promote the attachment and survival of at least some elements of the anchorage portion of at least one species of macroalgae and at least one macrofiber material configured to promote the capture of at least one form of the macroalgae growth cycle. Referring again to Figure 1A, the cultivation system (1) is a covered yarn consisting of a high-tortuosity microfiber core (2) comprising a yarn of a material such as ePTFE coated with a second material (3) having a low tortuosity, which may be a material such as spun polyester.

[0351] Referring now to Figure 1B, there is shown a double-covered yarn (1) comprising a high-tortuosity microfiber material (2), e.g., a low-density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) Gore material with a linear mass of 5000 denier, and a second component (3, 4) having a low tortuosity, e.g., an 8 / 1 spun polyester. Still referring to Figure 1B, the high-tortuosity material (2) is doubly covered with components (3, 4) having a low tortuosity, with windows (5) between adjacent low-tortuosity components (3, 4) exposing the underlying high-tortuosity material (2) to the external aquatic environment. [Example]

[0352] The cultivation system may comprise a composite of a high-tortuosity microfiber material configured to promote the attachment and survival of at least some elements of the anchoring portion of at least one species of macroalgae and at least one second material having a low tortuosity configured to promote the capture of at least one form of the macroalgae growth cycle. Referring to Figure 1A, the cultivation system (1) comprises a double-covered yarn or cord (rightmost image) consisting of a high-tortuosity microfiber core (2) including, for example, a yarn of ePTFE, covered with two cords (3, 4) of a material having a low tortuosity, such as spun polyester. Figure 1B shows another external view of the rightmost cultivation system (1) in Figure 1A.

[0353] FIG. 2A provides a diagram of a portion of a double-covered cord or yarn (20). The double-covered yarn (20) includes a high-tortuosity microfiber core (27) made of at least one material, such as ePTFE. The core (27) is "loosely" covered with a second component (26) having a low tortuosity, such as a material such as spun polyester, shown in FIG. 2A as a wrap or braid made from strands (21, 22). The strands (21, 22) are loosely wound or braided such that there are gaps (27a, 27b) between the strands (21, 22) that provide external access to the underlying core (27) to provide a portion of the exposed (uncoated) surface of the core (27) to the external aquatic environment.

[0354] Referring to FIG. 2B, the covered cord or yarn (25) includes a high-tortuosity microfiber core (23). The core (23) may be made of a high-tortuosity material such as ePTFE. The core (23) may be "tightly" coated with a second component (28) having a low tortuosity, such as spun polyester. The tight wraps of the low-tortuosity material (28) on the high-tortuosity core (23) may be arranged to provide spaces or gaps (23a, 23b) between the individual wraps of the low-tortuosity material to expose a portion of the uncoated surface of the core (23) between the individual wraps of the tightly wound low-tortuosity material (28). Comparing the covered yarn (20) shown in Figure 2A with the covered yarn (23) in Figure 2B, it can be seen that more of the surface of the core material (21, 23) is exposed in the loosely wound covered yarn (20) than in the tightly wound covered yarn (25).

[0355] FIG. 3 shows a double-covered cord or yarn (30) (such as that shown and described in connection with FIG. 1B). The double-covered yarn (30) includes a core (36) made of at least one high-tortuosity material, such as ePTFE, which is covered by two components (34a and 34b) having low tortuosity, such as polyester. Using methods known in the art, immature seaweed plants can be adhered to a growth medium, for example, by contacting immature seaweed plants in the form of seaweed flakes with the growth medium so that the surface structure of the flakes becomes embedded in or anchors itself to the growth medium. As shown in FIG. 3, flakes of kelp plants (31, 32) are shown on the outer surface of the engaged covered yarn (30). As shown, the flakes (31, 32) are primarily disposed on or associated with the low-tortuosity second components (34a, 34b) and not primarily disposed on the exposed surface of the high-tortuosity microfiber core material (36). Kelp flakes, such as flakes (31, 32) shown in FIG. 3, are believed to mate well with low-tortuosity materials, such as the low-tortuosity second components (34a, 34b), which may comprise polyester, because the outer surface of the seaweed flakes has an outer surface with features sized and arranged to mate well with low-porosity materials, such as polyester. In contrast, the same flakes, as shown in FIG. 3, are believed to mate poorly with high-tortuosity materials, such as ePTFE, due to the mismatch between the outer surface features of the flakes and the outer surface presented by the low-tortuosity material. Furthermore, composites of low-tortuosity and high-tortuosity materials, with each material positioned adjacent to one another, are believed to provide an improved environment for seaweed growth, among other reasons, because the seaweed flakes can remain well attached to the low-tortuosity material, while the growing seaweed plants can reach and engage the growing appressoria on the nearby positioned high-tortuosity material. As shown in Figure 3, braided or wrapped structures of low-tortuosity and high-tortuosity components with adjacent low-tortuosity and high-tortuosity materials present an improved environment for seaweed attachment and growth, particularly because the proximity of these two dissimilar materials provides the young seaweed plants with two artificial surfaces that meet the different needs of the plant during its growth cycle. [Example]

[0356] Referring now to Figure 4A, there is shown a six-carrier diamond braid braid (40) consisting essentially of a high-tortuosity material (41), which may be a microfibrous, relatively hydrophobic, high-tortuosity material, or may be a low-density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) such as, for example, a 3000 denier linear mass Gore material. The braid has 5-6 picks per inch. [Example]

[0357] Referring to Figure 4B, a six-carrier diamond braid (42) is shown that includes a high-tortuosity microfiber material such as ePTFE (43), e.g., low-density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a 1000 denier linear mass Gore material, and a second material with low tortuosity, e.g., 8 / 1 spun polyester (44). The braid has 5-6 picks per inch. [Example]

[0358] Figure 4C provides an illustration of two different eight-carrier diamond braids (45a) and (45b). The braid (45a) shown at the top of Figure 4C is comprised of a high-torque material (46) woven with a low-torque material (48). The high-torque material (46) may comprise a high-torque microfiber material such as low-density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), which may be a 3000 denier linear mass Gore material. The low-torque material (48) may comprise, for example, 8 / 1 spun polyester.

[0359] Still referring to Figure 4C, the braid (45b) shown at the bottom of Figure 4C is comprised of a high-tortuosity material (47) braided with a low-tortuosity material (49). The braid (45b) is comprised of a high-tortuosity microfiber material (47), which may comprise, for example, low-density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), which may be a 3000 denier linear mass Gore material. The low-tortuosity material (49) may comprise, for example, 25 / 1 / 3 spun polyester. [Example]

[0360] FIG. 5 shows a photomicrograph image of the surface of a composite braid (50), such as the braid (42) shown in FIG. 4B. As shown in the image, the braid surface includes fibers of high-tortuosity material (51) adjacent to fibers of low-tortuosity material (53) in a braided configuration. As shown in FIG. 5, the composite braid (50) supports the entrapment and growth of juvenile kelp plants (52), which appear in the image as dark spots. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, the braid (50) includes a structure that positions low-tortuosity and high-tortuosity components adjacent to one another to provide an improved environment for seaweed entrapment, attachment, and growth. As shown in FIG. 5, the white areas (54) of the composite braid include high-tortuosity microfiber material (51) and are shown as not fully supporting the entrapment of juvenile plants. 5, juvenile kelp plants (52) and (56) are seen primarily engaging the surface of the gray region (56) comprising a material having a lower tortuosity macrofiber component (53), such as polyester. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, the braided or wrapped cord or yarn structure of low and high tortuosity components with adjacent low and high tortuosity materials is believed to provide an improved environment for seaweed attachment and growth by allowing capture of the juvenile plants as they engage the low tortuosity material, and subsequent engagement as the juvenile plants present growth appressoria that engage the high tortuosity material. [Example]

[0361] Figure 6 is an SEM image showing a seaweed plant (60) with a portion of the seaweed appressorium (62) extending from the plant and attached to the surface of a microfiber material (64), which may comprise, for example, ePTFE. The image is to scale as indicated on the image. [Example]

[0362] FIG. 7 is an SEM image showing a seaweed plant having kelp appressoria (72) (mostly vertically oriented) on the surface of a highly tortuosity microfiber material (74), which may comprise, for example, ePTFE. As shown, the highly tortuosity material (74) includes fibrils (76) (mostly horizontally oriented) that define interfiber spaces (78) between the fibrils (76). As also shown, the appressoria (72) have grown within the interfiber spaces (78) of the highly tortuosity microfiber material (74). The image is to scale. As can be seen, the SEM imaging method dehydrates the appressoria (72) in the image; and as can be seen, viable appressoria (72), when viewed without dehydration, would fill with fluid and expand to occupy most or all of the interfiber spaces (78), providing engagement between the appressoria (72) and the highly tortuosity microfiber material (74). [Example]

[0363] Figure 8 is an SEM image showing a seaweed plant (80) and a cross section of a portion of seaweed appressoria (82) (mostly vertically oriented) growing between fibrils (86) (mostly horizontally oriented) and within the interfiber spaces (88) of a highly tortuous microfiber material (84). The cross section was created by cutting a portion of a highly tortuous cord or yarn (84), such as ePTFE, where the seaweed appressoria (82) are engaged with the material, as shown in Figure 13. The cut portion further shows the point where the appressoria (82) engage the outer surface (83) of the cord or yarn, and is positioned to provide a pictorial perspective that further illustrates where the appressoria (82) penetrate the outer surface (83) of the cord or yarn to achieve engagement between the plant (82) and the material (86, 88). The image is to scale as indicated on the image. As noted with respect to Figure 7, the SEM imaging method used to produce Figure 8 dehydrates the appressoria (82) in the image, and as can be seen, the viable appressoria (82), when viewed without dehydration, are filled with fluid and swell to occupy most or all of the interfiber spaces (88), providing engagement between the appressoria (82) and the highly tortuous microfiber material (84).

[0364] The notable difference between Figures 7 and 8 is the orientation of the images. Figure 7 shows an image looking down onto the surface of the cord or yarn with the appressoria growing across the surface of the cord or yarn. Figure 8 shows essentially the same image, obtained by making a 90 degree cut into the material, as shown in Figure 13, showing the seaweed appressoria engaging the material but from a different orientation, with the appressoria engaging the surface of the material and penetrating into it. [Example]

[0365] Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C show three views of the same SEM image: a magnified main image (Figure 9A), a first further magnified image (Figure 9B), and a second further magnified image (Figure 9C). The magnified main image (Figure 9A) includes dotted boxes (9B and 9C) that indicate where the first and second further magnified images (Figures 9B and 9C) correspond to the magnified main image (Figure 9A). All three images (Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C) should be understood collectively, and all images are magnified and scaled as shown in each image.

[0366] The three images in Figures 9A-9C show cross sections of cords or yarns, cords, yarns, and braids (20, 25, 30, 40, 42, 45a, 45b, 50) as described in the cultivation system (1) above. In particular, the images shown in Figures 9A-9C are cross sections of a cord or yarn (90) made by transverse cuts through the cord or yarn at locations selected to expose the internal structure of the cord or yarn for viewing by SEM imaging techniques and show where the seaweed appressorium (91) engages the cord or yarn, as shown in Figure 13. The SEM images in Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C are directed at the area of ​​the cut cord or yarn (90), where the plant appressorium (91) can be seen engaging with and even penetrating the surface (90a) of the cord or yarn (90). As shown in Figure 9A, selected portions of a woven cord or yarn (90) include both high tortuosity material (92) and low tortuosity material (93), with seaweed appressoria (91) engaging both the high tortuosity and low tortuosity materials. In particular, the illustrated composite cord or yarn (90) is constructed from a high tortuosity microfiber material (91), such as ePTFE, and a low tortuosity microfiber material (93), such as polyester, selected at locations along the cord or yarn (90), with plant appressoria (91) growing on and within the cord or yarn (90).

[0367] Also, as shown in Figure 9B, the appressoria of the kelp plants (91) exhibit intimate integration into the high tortuosity microfiber material (92), as demonstrated by the twisted plant growth (91a) engaging the high tortuosity material (92) in a manner that makes it difficult to distinguish the plants (91a) from the high tortuosity material (92). The plants (91a) and the high tortuosity material (92) can be made more distinguishable from one another using color images, dyes, fluorescence, and other known techniques for providing visual highlighting to either the plants or the material to distinguish one from the other. As can be seen and understood, the torsional engagement between the plant growth (91 a) and the high tortuosity material (92) includes portions of the plant growth (91 a) that protrude directly into the material (92) toward the center of the cord (90) and portions of the plant growth (91 a) that turn laterally from their direction toward the center of the cord (90) or pass around and behind fibrils and other material features of the high tortuosity material (92) to engage and secure the plant (91) to the high tortuosity material (92). In stark contrast, the plant growth (91 b) engaging the low tortuosity material (93) in Figures 9A and 9C is less pronounced and occupies less space within the interior space defined by the low tortuosity material (93). Furthermore, in FIG. 9C, the plant growth (91b) is shown to exhibit little or no interaction with the low tortuosity macro-fiber material (93) during the plant growth and development stage, as evidenced by the majority of the plant growth (91b) projecting slightly to the side in a direction toward the center of the cord (90) and wrapping behind or around the individual fibers of the cord (90).

[0368] To help identify the transition from pure appressoria (91) engaging the surface of the high-tortuosity material (92) to where the appressoria (91) penetrate the high-tortuosity material (92), dashed lines are shown in Figure 9B to indicate the surface (90a) of the cord or yarn (90). As further shown in Figure 9B, after a certain depth of penetration of the appressoria (91) into the high-tortuosity material (92), there is a region (92a) where plants no longer penetrate the high-tortuosity material (92). As can be seen, Figure 9B, when viewed in SEM cross section, shows three significant phases: the top phase comprises pure surface plant growth (91) disposed on the surface (90a) of the high-tortuosity material (92); the middle, inner phase (91a) represents the intimate incorporation of penetrating plant growth into the high-tortuosity microfiber material (92); and the bottom phase (92a) represents high-tortuosity microfiber material without significant plant penetration. The depth of penetrating plant growth (91a) into the high-tortuosity material (92) is significant in the intermediate interior phase, with the combination of plant growth (91a) and high-tortuosity material (92) in the intermediate interior phase reaching a depth of at least 50 μm from the cord surface (90a). Penetrating plant growth (91a) is quantifiable when defined by the volume of plant growth within the interior space defined by the high-tortuosity material (92) in the intermediate interior phase prior to such growth, with the portion of the high-tortuosity material (92) in the intermediate interior phase having a volume of plant material (91a) that is 50% or more of the volume defined by the high-tortuosity material (92) prior to ingrowth. Referring now to Figure 9C and comparing it to Figure 9B, penetration of the appressorium (91) in Figure 9C into the low-tortuosity material (93) is significantly limited by the intermediate interior phase, with the intermediate interior phase containing appressorium growth (91b) that is less than 50% of the volume defined by the intermediate interior phase.

[0369] Comparing Figures 9B and 9C, at the magnification shown in the images and using SEM techniques that do not provide color, it is further apparent in Figure 9B that the ingrowth and attachment of plant appressoria (91a) within the high-tortuosity material (92) is indistinguishable from the high-tortuosity material itself at a depth of 50 μm from the cord surface (90a). In contrast, Figure 9C shows that the ingrowth of plant appressoria (91b) within the low-tortuosity material (93) is readily distinguishable from the low-tortuosity material at a depth of 50 μm from the cord surface (90a) due to the significant presence of interfiber spaces in the low-tortuosity material (93) that remain unfilled by penetrating plant growth. [Example]

[0370] Referring now to Figure 10, which has the same image and content as Figure 9, the cord or yarn (90), cord surface (90a), appressorium (91), penetrating plant growth (91a) / intermediate interior phase (91a), appressorium growth (91b), high-tortuosity material (92), underphase (92a), and low-tortuosity material (93) are again shown but are not labeled as in Figure 9. As described with respect to Figure 9, Figure 10 shows three views of the same SEM image, with an enlarged main image (10A), a first further enlarged image (10B), and a second further enlarged image (10C). All three images (10A, 10B, 10C) should be understood together, and all images are enlarged and scaled as noted for each image.

[0371] With reference to FIG. 10 , it is believed that the tortuosity of a material may be characterized and defined, in part, by identifying natural paths through the material that are either presentable for potential seaweed ingrowth or that have observably promoted seaweed appressorial ingrowth, and that the tortuosity of a material may be further defined by comparing (a) the length of travel along the natural path to (b) the depth achieved within the material. It is further believed that the tortuosity of a material may be based, in part, on the direction of a potential or observable ingrowth path into the material, as ascertained from a trace or framework applied to images of the material in which seaweed ingrowth is absent and / or applied to images of observable seaweed appressorial ingrowth into the material. It is also believed that the tortuosity of a material may be defined, in part, by tracing the natural path through the material applied to images of the material and / or seaweed ingrowth into the material to ascertain (a) the length of the natural path to the endpoint of the path, and (b) the depth from the surface of the material between the surface and the endpoint, and that the length and depth of the natural path may be compared to each other to define the tortuosity value of the material being evaluated.

[0372] Images 10A and 10B show two types of high-tortuosity curves (95a, 95b), while images 10A and 10C show two types of non-tortuosity curves (99a, 99b). The high-tortuosity curves (95a) in image 10A are applied to the image over spaces (which may be intrafiber spaces) present within the high-tortuosity material (92) that are available to receive penetrating plant growth (91a). The high-tortuosity curves (95b) in image 10B are applied to the image over appressorial-penetrating plant growth (91a) that is present and observed penetrating the high-tortuosity material (92) as the plant growth (91a) navigates through the spaces and intrafiber spaces of the high-tortuosity material (92). The non-tortuosity curves (99a) in image 10A are applied to the image over spaces present between fibers of the low-tortuosity material (93) that are available to receive appressorial plant growth (91b). The non-tortuosity curve (99b) in image 10C is added to the image above the appressorial plant growth (91b) which is present and observed penetrating the low-tortuosity material (93) as the plant growth (91b) navigates through the space of the low-tortuosity material (93).

[0373] Referring to Image 10A, the high tortuosity curves (95a) and the non-tortuosity curves (99a) respectively follow material-defined natural paths that ignore the actual path taken by the seaweed apprehension apparatus (91) shown in Image 10A and instead follow paths through the high tortuosity material (92) or low tortuosity material (93) that the penetrating apprehension apparatus may take as it navigates the internal structure of the high tortuosity material or low tortuosity material, respectively. The high tortuosity curves (95a) may proceed into the high tortuosity material (92) and the non-tortuosity curves (99a) may proceed from their own starting point into the low tortuosity material (93), for example, on or at the cord surface (90a), in a direction that is a midpoint direction (96a) towards the midpoint (not shown) of the cord or yarn (90) or in an orthogonal direction (96b) perpendicular to the cord surface (90a). The natural path of material definition traced by the high twist curve (95a) shown in image 10A is in the midpoint direction (96a). The natural path of material definition traced by the non-twist curve (99a) shown in image 10A is in the orthogonal direction (96b), which is disposed perpendicular to the portion of the cord surface (90a) where the non-twist curve (99a) begins.

[0374] Referring now to images 10B and 10C, an alternative high-tortuosity curve (95b) in image 10B and an alternative non-tortuosity curve (99b) in image 10C are shown to follow the natural path of growth prescribed by where the seaweed appressoria (91) are located, and are observed to penetrate either the high-tortuosity material (92) or the low-tortuosity material (93), respectively. As shown in images 10B and 10C, both the high-tortuosity curve (95b) and the non-tortuosity curve (99b) extend from an initiation point, for example, on or at surface (90a), and proceed in a direction that is either a midpoint direction (96a) toward either the midpoint of the cord or yarn (90) (not shown) or a point in an orthogonal direction (96b) perpendicular to the cord surface (90a). The penetrating plant growth (91a) shown in image 10B is followed by the high-tortuosity curve (95b) in the orthogonal direction (96b). The penetrating plant growth (91a) shown in image 10C is traced by a non-tortuous curve (99b) in the direction of the midpoint (96a).

[0375] As can be appreciated, the midpoint direction 96a from the cord surface 90a toward the midpoint (not shown) of the cord or yarn 90 can be estimated based on where the midpoint would have been prior to the processing required to obtain the image of the cut cord 90 presented in Figure 10. Also, as can be appreciated, the orthogonal direction 96b away from the cord surface 90a and toward the cord 90 can be estimated based on the portion of the cord surface 90a that is sufficiently linear or substantially linear to define the orthogonal direction 96b at or near the start of the associated trace. As can be further appreciated, when tracing a high tortuosity curve (95a) or a non-tortuosity curve (99a) over a material-defined natural path, the material-defined line (95a, 99a) can be plotted by tracing a path that advances continuously in either a direction (96b) toward the midpoint (96a) or an orthogonal direction (96b), with successive turns in the path that avoid obstructing structures, each turn being in a direction toward the midpoint (96a) or an orthogonal direction (96b).

[0376] The primary influence on the tracking of the high-torsion curves (95a) or non-torsion curves (99a) applied to each material-prescribed natural path is that the selection of each turn in the trace path is based on the options presented by the internal material structure disposed along the material-prescribed natural path, with this selection guided by a preference for the turn option to continue forward in the desired midpoint direction (96a) or orthogonal direction (96b). The primary influence on the tracking of the high-torsion curves (95b) or non-torsion curves (99b) applied to each growth-prescribed natural path is that the selection of each turn in the trace path is based on the options presented by the observed intrusive plant growth (91a) along the growth-prescribed natural path, with this selection guided by a preference for the observed growth to continue forward in the desired midpoint direction (96a) or orthogonal direction (96b). As can be appreciated, tracking of lines (95a, 99a) based on the material-prescribed natural path does not require the presence of intrusive plant growth (91a).

[0377] The tracing of the material-defined or growth-defined natural path, which progresses continuously in the midpoint direction (96a) or orthogonal direction (96b), may be limited to a tracing contained entirely within a two-dimensional or photographically enabled plane presented in the image of the cut cord (90), as shown in images 10A, 10B, and 10C, or may be unconstrained and capable of rotation in three dimensions without being limited to the plane defined by the image. As shown in image 10A, the high twist curve (95a) follows the material-defined natural path in the midpoint direction (96a), consisting of turns limited by the plane presented in the image, and turns that continuously advance the material-defined natural path in the midpoint direction (96a) without turns going in the opposite direction to the midpoint direction (96a). As shown in image 10B, the high-torsion curve (95b) consists of turns that follow the natural path of growth prescription in the orthogonal direction (96b) and are limited by the plane presented in the image, and also consists of turns that follow the observed intrusive plant growth (91a) in a roughly orthogonal direction (96b), sometimes turning back in the opposite direction to the orthogonal direction (96b) at some points (95c) until the observed growth reaches a point more advanced in the orthogonal direction (96b). As shown in image 10A, the non-torsion curve (99a) consists of turns that follow the natural path of material prescription in the orthogonal direction (96b) and are limited by the plane presented in the image, and also consists of turns that continuously advance the natural path of material prescription in the orthogonal direction (96b) without any turns that go in the opposite direction to the orthogonal direction (96b). As shown in image 10C, the non-twisting curve (99b) follows the natural path of growth regulation in the midpoint direction (96a), consisting of turns limited by the flat surface presented in the image, and also following the observed intrusive plant growth (91a) mostly in the midpoint direction (96a), and due to the nature of the growth, at some points (not observable in the example presented in image 10C) may sometimes turn back in the opposite direction to the midpoint direction (96a) until the observed growth reaches a point further forward in the midpoint direction (96a).

[0378] Referring to Figure 10, each of the high-torque curves (95a, 95b) and non-torque curves (99a, 99b) can be traced to reach their respective end points (97a for 95a, 97b for 95b, 97c for 99a, and 97d for 99b) to provide the length of each high-torque or non-torque curve and the depth reached within the material for each line relative to the cord surface (90a) near where the direction (96a, 96b) is defined. The end points (97a, 97b, 97c, 97d) can be at any depth from the cord surface (90a) as shown in Figure 10, or can be fixed at a depth of 50 μm or 100 μm from the cord surface (90a) in the selected midpoint direction (96a) or orthogonal direction (96b). As can be appreciated, the depth associated with each end point (97a, 97b, 97c, 97d) defines a linear distance (i.e., linear length) between the cord surface (90a) and the end point (97a, 97b, 97c, 97d), which can be compared to the torsional length of the corresponding high-tortuosity curve (95a, 95b) or non-tortuosity curve (99a, 99b). The length of each high-tortuosity curve (95a, 95b) can be compared to the corresponding linear length to provide a ratio (tortuosity value) representative of the tortuosity of the high-tortuosity material (92), and similarly, the length of each non-tortuosity curve (99a, 99b) can be compared to the corresponding linear length to provide a ratio (tortuosity value) representative of the tortuosity of the low-tortuosity material (99).

[0379] For example, referring to Figure 10, high tortuosity curve (95a) may have a twist length (along the high tortuosity natural path from cord surface 90a to end point 97a) of 400 μm, and its corresponding linear measured depth may have a length (along the straight line between cord surface 90a and end point 97a) of 200 μm, thereby providing a tortuosity value of 2 for high tortuosity material (92) calculated as 400 μm divided by 200 μm. For example, a tortuosity value of 2 indicates that for each unit of linear length that achieves a specified depth (e.g., 50 μm) from the cord surface into the high tortuosity material in a selected direction (either toward the midpoint or orthogonal), the tortuous natural path through the material structure requires twice that unit length to reach the desired depth into the material at the end of the natural path. In another example, referring to image 10B, a high tortuosity curve (95b) may have a twist length of 600 μm and its corresponding linear measurement depth may have a length of 200 μm, thereby providing a tortuosity value of 3 for the high tortuosity material (92) calculated by dividing 600 μm by 200 μm. For example, a tortuosity value of 3 represents that for each unit of linear length that achieves depth in a selected direction into the high tortuosity material, the natural path through the material requires three times that unit length to reach the desired depth into the material. As can be seen, applying this calculation method, a high tortuosity material will have a tortuosity value greater than a low tortuosity material. As can also be appreciated, the high tortuosity material (92) shown in images 10A-10B and characterized as having tortuosity values ​​of 2 and 3 can be further characterized, using the aforementioned examples and not limitation, as having tortuosity values ​​of 2-3, representing a range, as having an average tortuosity value of 2.5, or as having an average value based on the aforementioned values ​​and additional values ​​that constitute a statistically sufficient sampling to characterize the tortuosity of the material. In further aspects, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are considered to have tortuosity values ​​in the ranges including 2-200, 2-100, 2-50, 2-10, 2-5, 2-3, 5-200, 5-100, 5-50, 5-10, 10-200, 10-100, 10-50, 50-200, 50-100, and 100-200, inclusive.Additionally, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are considered to have tortuosity values ​​of 2 or greater, 5 or greater, 10 or greater, 20 or greater, 50 or greater, 100 or greater, and 200 or greater.

[0380] Similarly, in another example, referring to images 10A and 10C, the non-torsion curve (99a) may have a torsion length of 210 μm and its corresponding linear measurement depth may have a length of 200 μm, thereby providing a torsion value of 1.05 for the low-torsion material (93). For example, a torsion value of 1.05 may indicate that for each unit of linear length achieving depth in a selected direction (either midpoint or orthogonal) into the low-torsion material, the tortuous natural path defined by the material requires 1.05 times that unit length to reach the desired depth into the material. In another example, referring to image 10C, the non-torsion curve (99b) may have a torsion length of 250 μm and its corresponding linear measurement depth may have a length of 200 μm, thereby providing a torsion value of 1.25 for the low-torsion material (93). For example, a tortuosity value of 1.25 may represent that for each unit of linear length achieving depth in a selected direction into the high-tortuosity material, the material's natural path requires 1.25 times that unit length to reach the desired depth into the material. As can be appreciated, the low-tortuosity material (93) shown in images 10A and 10C may be characterized, using the foregoing examples and without limitation, as having a tortuosity value between 1.05 and 1.25, as having an average tortuosity value of 1.15, or as having an average value based on a sufficient number of samples of the material. In evaluating known low-tortuosity materials used to cultivate seaweed, low-tortuosity materials are considered to have tortuosity values ​​of less than 2, between 1 and 2, between 1 and 1.75, between 1 and 1.50, and between 1 and 1.25.

[0381] Some of the aforementioned embodiments include a braid or composition of high-tortuosity material combined with or adjacent to a low-tortuosity material. In such configurations, the tortuosity of the braided or composite cord or yarn can be expressed as the ratio of the tortuosity value of the high-tortuosity material compared to the tortuosity value of the low-tortuosity material. For example, in a braided cord having a high-tortuosity material with a tortuosity value of 2 and a low-tortuosity material with a tortuosity value of 1.05, the comparative tortuosity value can be expressed as a combined ratio of 1.90 (calculated by dividing 2 by 1.05), as a difference of 0.95 (calculated by subtracting 1.05 from 2), or as an addition to the baseline defined by the low-tortuosity material, such as +0.95 (representing that the tortuosity value of 2 of the high-tortuosity material represents an increase of +0.95 relative to the tortuosity value of 1.05 of the low-tortuosity material). In other expressions, the number of braids and the type of material within each braid may be used to bias the expression to give a greater calculated weight to materials with a greater presence, greater mass, or greater surface area on the outer surface of the cord that presents a seaweed-engaging surface. [Example]

[0382] Referring now to Figures 11A and 11B, which have the same images and content as Figures 9 (Images 9A and 9b) and 10 (Images 10A and 10B), the cord or yarn (90), cord surface (90a), appressorium (91), penetrating plant growth (91a) / middle interior phase (91a), appressorium growth (91b), high tortuosity material (92), underphase (92a), low tortuosity material (93), midpoint direction (96a), and orthogonal direction (96b) are again shown, but are not labeled as they are in Figures 9 and 10. As discussed with respect to Figure 9, Figure 11B is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 11A. Both Figures 11A and 11B should be understood together and should be understood in conjunction with Figure 9C from Figure 9. As with Figures 9 and 10, all images in Figures 11A and 11B have been enlarged and scaled as indicated in the respective images.

[0383] 11A and 11B, it is believed that the tortuosity of a material may be characterized and defined in part by identifying a natural path through the material that is either presentable for potential seaweed ingrowth or that has observably promoted seaweed appressorial ingrowth, and that the tortuosity of a material may be further defined by comparing (a) the length of travel along the natural path to (b) the amount or number of turns undergone during that travel. It is further believed that the tortuosity of a material may be based in part on the length of potential or observable ingrowth into the material, as ascertained from a trace or framework applied to images of the material in the absence of seaweed ingrowth and / or to images of observable seaweed appressorial ingrowth into the material. It is also believed that the tortuosity of a material may be defined in part by (a) the length of the natural path, and (b) a trace of the natural path through the material applied to images of the material and / or seaweed ingrowth into the material to ascertain the cumulative number or degree of turns undergone along the length of the natural path, and that the length of the natural path and the number or degree of turns may be compared to each other to define the tortuosity value of the evaluated material.

[0384] Referring now to Figures 11A and 11B, and with reference to the description of Figures 9 and 10, Figure 11A shows a series of vectors (100) tracing a natural path through low-tortuosity material (93), and Figure 11B shows a line (101) representing a series of vectors (100) tracing a natural path through high-tortuosity material (92). Each vector (100) in the series of vectors is a straight line extending a discrete length from a start point to an end point to trace a substantially straight segment of the natural path, and together the series of vectors (100) traces the entire natural path, as described above with respect to Figures 9 and 10. Each vector (100) in the series of vectors is connected end-to-end to define an angle between adjacent vectors representing a discrete turn in the natural path. The angle can be evaluated to provide the number of turns observed along the natural path or the degree of turn between adjacent vectors (100) along the natural path. Each vector corresponds to a discrete distance that the natural path would travel through the material without the presence of seaweed material, and may also correspond to a discrete distance of observed seaweed appressorial movement along the natural path through the material. As shown in FIG. 11A, changes in angle or direction of adjacent vectors occur at points (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, and 100g) until the end of the last vector (100) is reached at terminal point (100h). As can be seen, when one vector is adjacent to the next vector in the series, there is a corresponding angle between the adjacent vectors, or viewed another way, there is a change in direction of the path defined by the previous vector in the series. The change in angle or direction of the natural path can be assigned a degree of turn value, for example, as observed in a two-dimensional plane defined by an image such as FIG. 11A, or the number of turns can be counted between each vector in the series. The total number of degrees or angles of turns in the natural path can be summed to determine the total turns or angles presented by the natural path for a given length of travel.

[0385] In the example of Figure 11A, where the change in direction is determined along the natural path of the material definition, the first vector (100) in the series of vectors sets an initial direction that is used to determine the degree of change in direction required to change the initial direction of the first vector to the direction of a second vector. As shown in Figure 11A, the initial vector and other vectors (100) follow a natural path that begins in the midpoint or orthogonal direction on the cord surface (90a) and then may undergo a change in direction of several degrees to align with the next vector (100) in the series. As shown in Figure 11A, the first vector is in the orthogonal direction (96b) in the two-dimensional plane of the image and is shown connecting to a second vector at point 100a, where it makes a 60-degree change to the left to align with the second vector, which then terminates at point 100b, where it makes a 65-degree change to the right to connect to a third vector, and so on. This series of vectors continues as follows: a 30-degree turn to the right at point 100c, a 45-degree turn to the left at point 100d, a 45-degree turn to the left at point 100e, a 45-degree turn to the right at point 100f, a 30-degree turn to the left at point 100g, and ends at point 100h. The cumulative angle of this natural path is calculated as the sum of the individual turn values. In the example of FIG. 11A, the seven turns add up to 320 degrees in the selected two-dimensional plane (calculated as 60° + 65° + 30° + 45° + 45° + 45° + 30° = 320°). It can be seen that the low-torque material (93) in FIG. 11A undergoes 320-degree turns to achieve a measurable path length from the scaling shown in FIG. 11A. Inspection of each vector in Figure 11A and the scale provided allows for the determination of a natural path length of 125 μm, calculated from the individual vector length values ​​of 20 μm, 15 μm, 15 μm, 15 μm, 10 μm, 15 μm, 15 μm, and 20 μm. Thus, the low tortuosity material (93) in Figure 11A can be determined to have a tortuosity value based on a 320 degree turn over the 125 μm natural path length in the direction established by the first orthogonal vector (100) in the series of vectors.When expressed as a ratio, the low tortuosity material (93) shown in the example of Figure 11A can be said to have a tortuosity value of 2.56 degrees for each micrometer of length, or expressed even another way, it can be said to have a tortuosity value of 2.56 degrees / μm (calculated as 320 degrees divided by 125 μm). As can be seen, high tortuosity materials exhibit higher tortuosity values ​​because they undergo a greater degree of change of direction for each unit length of movement along the natural path seen in the high tortuosity material.

[0386] As discussed above with respect to Figure 10, the low tortuosity material (93) shown in Figure 11A and characterized as having a tortuosity value of 2.56 degrees / μm may, using the foregoing examples, be further characterized as having a tortuosity value expressed as a range encompassing, but not limited to, multiple evaluations of the material, as having an average tortuosity value based on an average of multiple evaluations of the material, or as having an average value based on a statistically sufficient number of samples to characterize the material tortuosity. Additionally, low tortuosity materials used in seaweed applications are believed to be limited to tortuosity values ​​of less than 3.00 degrees / μm.

[0387] Referring now to FIG. 11B, the natural path of high-tortuosity material 92 is traced by a line 101 representing the series of vectors 100 applied in the description of FIG. 11A. The high incidence of turns in the natural paths of FIG. 11B precludes application and viewing of high-tortuosity natural paths with the same sized discrete vectors used with FIG. 11A for low-tortuosity natural paths. To enable evaluation of FIG. 11B for the purposes of this disclosure, a line 101 is applied to capture most of the vectors and turns that would otherwise be represented by a large number of smaller sized discrete vectors 100. As can be appreciated, the discrete vectors 100 applied to high-tortuosity material may be better represented by a line 101 with greater magnification and with the use of computer-enabled image analysis, which may enable or enhance the identification of vectors and turns in identifying natural paths. Also, as can be appreciated, the use of a line 101 is a simplification that omits some of the turns and degrees of turn that would be observed at higher magnifications of the image of FIG. 11B.

[0388] As previously described with respect to Figures 9 and 10, line (101) may follow a natural path through material that is free of seaweed, or may follow a natural path that follows observable appressorial ingrowth. Also, as explained with respect to Figures 9 and 10, line (101) may proceed in a midpoint direction or an orthogonal direction. In Figure 11B, line (101) proceeds from cord surface (90a) in an orthogonal direction (96b) to follow a natural path defined by observable seaweed ingrowth, which sometimes returns in a direction opposite the orthogonal direction along which the seaweed ingrowth exhibits such a change of direction.

[0389] 11B, points along line (101) are shown changing direction, and a visual estimate of the degree of turn associated with each turn can be obtained from the image in FIG. 11B. In the example of FIG. 11B, each significant turn is evaluated from a two-dimensional plane of the image, which allows the degree of turn to be evaluated for each point as follows: a 90 degree right turn at point 101a, a 180 degree left turn at point 101b, a full 360 degree loop at point 101c, a 170 degree right turn at point 101d, a 100 degree left turn at point 101e, a 70 degree right turn at point 101f, a 180 degree left turn, and so on. A 60-degree right turn at point 101g, followed by a 60-degree left turn, a 180-degree right turn at point 101h, a 180-degree left turn at point 101i, a 180-degree right turn at point 101j, a 110-degree left turn at point 101k, a 90-degree right turn at point 101l, a 180-degree left turn, followed by a 60-degree right turn at point 101m, then a 60-degree left turn, then a 90-degree right turn, followed by a 90-degree left turn at point 101n. Although not marked in Figure 11B, line (101) indicates additional turns until the end point (101o) is reached. These additional unmarked turns following point 101n provide the following turn degrees until the end point (101o) is reached: a 30° right turn, a 70° right turn, a 70° left turn, a 70° right turn, a 30° left turn, a 160° left turn, a 180° right turn, a 90° left turn, a 110° right turn, a 90° left turn, a 130° left turn, a 170° right turn, a 90° left turn, a 130° left turn, a 120° right turn, and a 45° left turn. Adding all of the above turns together provides a total of 4075° of turns for navigating the highly tortuous material to reach the end point (101o). As shown in Figure 11B, the length of line (101) can be estimated to have a length of 540 μm in the two-dimensional plane provided in the image using the scaling provided in the image. Thus, the high tortuosity material (92) of Figure 11B can be determined to have a tortuosity value based on a 4075 degree turn over a natural path length of 540 μm in a direction established from starting point 101a.When expressed as a ratio, the high tortuosity material (92) shown in the example of Figure 1 IB can be said to have a tortuosity value of 7.55 degrees for each micrometer of length, or expressed even another way, it can be said to have a tortuosity value of 7.55 degrees / μm (calculated as 4075 degrees divided by 540 μm). As can be seen, lower tortuosity materials exhibit lower tortuosity values ​​because they undergo a smaller degree of change of direction for each unit length of movement along the natural path seen in low tortuosity or non-tortuosity materials.

[0390] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 10, the high tortuosity material (92) shown in FIG. 11B and characterized as having a tortuosity value of 7.55 degrees / μm may be further characterized, using the foregoing examples, as having a tortuosity value expressed as a range encompassing, but not limited to, multiple evaluations of the material, as having an average tortuosity value based on an average of multiple evaluations of the material, or as having an average value based on a statistically sufficient number of samplings to characterize the material tortuosity. In further embodiments, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are believed to have tortuosity values ​​ranging from 3 to 1000 degrees / μm, 3 to 500 degrees / μm, 3 to 200 degrees / μm, 3 to 100 degrees / μm, 3 to 50 degrees / μm, 3 to 10 degrees / μm, 3 to 5 degrees / μm, 5 to 1000 degrees / μm, 5 to 500 degrees / μm, 5 to 200 degrees / μm, 5 to 100 degrees / μm, 5 to 50 degrees / μm, 5 to 10 degrees / μm, 7 to 1000 degrees / μm, 7 to 500 degrees / μm, 7 to 200 degrees / μm, 7 to 100 degrees / μm, 7 to 50 degrees / μm, and 7 to 10 degrees / μm inclusive. Additionally, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are considered to have tortuosity values ​​of 3 degrees / μm or greater, 5 degrees / μm or greater, 7 degrees / μm or greater, and 10 degrees / μm or greater.

[0391] Some of the foregoing embodiments include a braid or composition of high tortuosity material combined with or adjacent to a low tortuosity material. In such configurations, the tortuosity of the braid or composite cord or yarn can be expressed as a ratio of the tortuosity value of the high tortuosity material compared to the tortuosity value of the low tortuosity material. For example, in a woven cord having a high-torque material with a torsion value of 7.00 degrees / μm and a low-torque material with a torsion value of 2.50 degrees / μm, the comparative torsion value can be expressed as a combination ratio of 2.8 (calculated by dividing 7.00 degrees / μm by 2.50 degrees / μm), as a difference of 4.50 degrees / μm (calculated by subtracting 2.50 degrees / μm from 7.00 degrees / μm), or as an addition to the baseline defined by the low-torque material, such as +4.50 degrees / μm (representing that the torsion value of the high-torque material of 7.00 degrees / μm represents an increase of +4.50 degrees / μm relative to the torsion value of the low-torque material of 2.50 degrees / μm). In other expressions, the number of braids and the type of material within each braid may be used to bias the expression to give a greater calculated weight to materials with a greater presence, greater mass, or greater surface area on the outer surface of the cord that presents a seaweed-engaging surface.

[0392] In addition to the above, another way to compare the tortuosity of two materials is to trace the natural path present in each material until a predetermined path length is reached, then compare the degree of change of direction achieved for each material. Yet another way to compare the tortuosity of two materials is to trace the natural path present in each material, accumulate the degree of change of direction until a predetermined amount of angle is achieved, and then compare the length of the path or depth of the material achieved. Referring to the examples in Figures 11A and 11B, one measure of tortuosity is the length of the path extended until a given angle is achieved. A body moving through a high tortuosity material, such as ePTFE, will need to change direction more frequently than a body moving through a lower tortuosity material, such as spun polyester. The length of the path traversed into, within, or through a given material until a set cumulative angle is reached is one way to measure the tortuosity of the material. To measure tortuosity, the angle can be set to a given value, and the length of the path an object follows as it moves along its natural path can be measured until the object reaches the cumulative angle limit. [Example]

[0393] 11B, it is believed that the tortuosity of a material may be characterized and defined, in part, by identifying natural paths through the material that are either presentable for potential seaweed ingrowth or that have facilitated observable seaweed appressorial ingrowth, and further that material tortuosity may be characterized by comparing (a) the portion of travel along the natural path in a direction that increases the depth of the natural path within the material with (b) the portion of travel along the natural path in a direction that increases the depth of the natural path within the material orthogonal or transverse to said direction. It is further believed that material tortuosity may be based, in part, on the length of potential or actual ingrowth into the material, as may be ascertained from tracings applied to images of the material in which no seaweed ingrowth is present and / or applied to images of observable seaweed appressorial ingrowth into the material. It is also believed that the tortuosity of the material may be determined in part by tracing the natural path through the material, applied to images of the material and / or seaweed ingrowth into the material to identify (a) a first depth-advancing portion of the natural path that advances the depth of the natural path within the material, and (b) a second depth-neutral portion of the natural path that does not advance or decrease the depth of the natural path within the material, and the depth-advancing portion and the depth-neutral portion may be compared to each other to determine the tortuosity value of the material being evaluated.

[0394] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 11B , the natural path may be traced by a line, such as line (101), and may be depicted as having a depth-advancing portion that advances the travel of the tracking line in a selected direction, such as orthogonal direction (96b) in FIG. 11B , and a depth-neutral portion that does not advance or reduces prior advancement in the selected direction. Similarly, with respect to FIG. 11A , the natural path may be traced by a series of vectors, such as vector (100), each of which may be depicted as having a depth-advancing portion that advances the travel of the tracking line in a selected direction, such as orthogonal direction (96b) in FIG. 11A , and a depth-neutral portion that does not advance or reduces prior advancement in the selected direction. Each of line (101) in FIG. 11B or vector (100) in FIG. 11A can be divided into a first portion that is parallel to the selected direction (orthogonal direction 96b) and a second portion that is not parallel to the selected direction. The first portion may be further refined to remove elements opposite the selected direction, thereby reducing the first portion to only a depth-augmenting portion. As can be appreciated, the length of the first depth increasing portion can be compared to the second depth neutral portion to provide a natural path and tortuosity value for the material.

[0395] In the example of FIG. 11A, the distance from the start point of the series of vectors on the cord surface (90a) to the end point (100h) can be determined from the scale of the image, providing a depth-increase distance (or depth) of 200 μm. The same evaluation of the image and its scaling provides the distance traversed either left or right in the orthogonal direction (96b) as the series of vectors progresses to the end point (100h), which can be determined from the scale of the image, providing a depth-neutral distance (or total left-right displacement) of 70 μm. Comparing the depth-neutral value to the depth-increase value for the example of FIG. 11A provides a tortuosity value of 26% (calculated as the percentage of the 70 μm lateral portion divided by the observed total of 200 + 70 μm), representing 26% of the natural path traversed through the low-tortuosity material (93) devoted to lateral displacement. Low-tortuosity materials used in seaweed cultivation are believed to provide tortuosity values ​​of less than 30%. A highly tortuous path in a high tortuosity material will have a greater proportion of its movement contributing to lateral motion compared to a less tortuous path presented in a low tortuosity material. As can be seen, if a material were to exhibit a straight line path to a non-tortuous material, such a line would have a tortuosity value of 0 percent since none of its movement would be lateral.

[0396] In the example of Figure 11B, the distance from the start point of line (100) at point 101a on the cord surface (90a) to the end point (101o) provides a depth-increase distance (or depth) of 110 μm, which can be seen from the scale of the image. The same evaluation of the image and its scaling provides the distance traversed either left or right in the orthogonal direction (96b) as line (101) progresses to end point (101o), which can be seen from the scale of the image, providing a depth-neutral distance (or total left-right displacement) of 230 μm. Comparing the depth-neutral value to the depth-increase value for the example of Figure 11B provides a tortuosity value of 68% (calculated as the percentage of 230 μm divided by 230 + 110 μm), representing 68% of the natural path traversed through the high tortuosity material (92) contributing to lateral displacement.

[0397] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 10, the high tortuosity material (92) shown in FIG. 11B and characterized as having a tortuosity value of 68% may be further characterized, using the foregoing examples, as having a tortuosity value expressed as a range encompassing, but not limited to, multiple evaluations of the material, as having an average tortuosity value based on an average of multiple evaluations of the material, or as having an average value based on a statistically sufficient number of samplings to characterize the material tortuosity. In further embodiments, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are contemplated to have tortuosity values ​​in the ranges including 30-90%, 30-80%, 30-70%, 30-60%, 30-50%, 30-40%, 40-90%, 40-80%, 40-70%, 40-60%, 40-50%, 50-90%, 50-80%, 50-70%, 50-60%, 60-90%, 60-80%, 60-70%, 70-90%, 70-80%, and 80-90% (inclusive). Also, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are contemplated to have tortuosity values ​​of 50% or greater, 60% or greater, 70% or greater, 80% or greater, and 90% or greater. [Example]

[0398] Referring now to FIG. 12, an eight-carrier diamond braid (120) having five to six picks per inch is shown to scale, consisting of four carriers from a first group and four carriers from a second group. Each of the four carriers in the first group includes one end of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fiber. The ePTFE fiber (122) (shown as tan or stippled) has a density of less than 1.0 g / cc, a typical inter-fibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm, and a linear mass density of 1000 denier. Each of the four carriers in the first group also includes one end of 8 / 1 spun polyester fiber. Each of the four carriers in the second group includes two ends of 8 / 1 spun polyester fiber (124) (shown as white or without stipples). As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a similar braid can be woven using, for example, a 12-carrier braid having six carriers from the first group and six carriers from the second group. Other variations in braiding techniques are envisioned and are within the scope of options for forming the braid (120). For example, for a more rounded outer diameter of the braid, more carriers may be employed, such as 16, 32, and 64 carrier braids. For a more robust braid, the linear mass density of the ePTFE fibers may be increased to 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 denier.

[0399] In an alternative embodiment of this embodiment, an eight-carrier diamond braid can be woven with 5 to 6 picks per inch of 100% ePTFE fiber (no polyester component), each consisting of eight carriers containing one end of ePTFE fiber having a density of less than 1.0 g / cc, a typical inter-fibril spacing of 1 μm to 50 μm, and a linear mass density of 1000 denier. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a similar braid can be woven using, for example, 12 or more carrier braids. Other variations in braiding techniques are contemplated and are within the scope of options for forming the braid. For example, for a more rounded outer diameter of the braid, more carriers can be employed, such as 16, 32, and 64 carrier braids. For a more robust braid, the linear mass density of the fiber can be increased to 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 denier. [Example]

[0400] As previously mentioned, seeds or young seaweed plants require stable engagement between their appressorium and the anchoring surface in order to grow and mature into healthy plants and provide seaweed farmers with high-yield harvests. Analysis of various seaweed growth patterns has revealed that insufficient engagement between the appressorium and the anchoring surface stimulates the seaweed plant to provide more nutrients for appressorium development and less for overall plant growth during the season. A high degree of engagement between the appressorium and the anchoring substrate material, particularly a high degree of appressorium penetration into the anchoring substrate material, is believed to be associated with improved engagement of the substrate with the plant. Furthermore, improved plant-anchor engagement at the appressorium-substrate interface is believed to be associated with achieving robust plant health and improved yield at harvest.

[0401] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the cultivation substrate may be a component of a seaweed cultivation system, including a rope of appropriate length and tension, allowing the rope to be supported by a float or anchor in an aquatic environment. In some embodiments, the rope is initially seeded with immature seaweed plants, which are positioned to grow onto and into the rope material and form an engagement with the rope. Images of this interface between the cultivation substrate and the seaweed appressorium can be obtained after a growing period by cutting the rope transversely or vertically at the locations where the seaweed has engaged the rope to form one or more cross sections, as shown in FIG. 13 . Using known macroscopic and microscopic visualization techniques that can provide a view of the interface at the appropriate angle, and with appropriate lighting or other visualization techniques, a view of the interface between the cultivation substrate and the appressorium can be obtained. Other macroscopic and microscopic visualization techniques may be used, such as applying dyes to enhance the image to distinguish the substrate from the appressorium, or simply to highlight the presence of seaweed material. Another visualization technique may involve using fluorescence to enhance the image to distinguish between the substrate and appressoria or to highlight the presence of seaweed material.

[0402] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, images can be made at any time during the process of growing aquatic plants on an aquatic plant growth substrate. Growth on a given substrate can be initiated by contacting the substrate with spores, gametophytes, sporophytes, young plants, or plants or plant parts at more advanced stages of growth. Images and samples can be taken at any time during the growth cycle, for example, from immediately after attachment until the time the plants are ready for harvest.

[0403] Figure 13 shows a close-up color image of aquatic plants growing in contact with the surface of a composite cultivation substrate comprising a woven fabric of spun polyester (157) and ePTFE (158). The area defined by the dashed circle (151) is an isolated detail showing the portion of the plant appressorium (152) in contact with the outer surface of the cultivation substrate comprising spun polyester (157). The dashed circle (153) is an isolated detail showing the portion of the plant appressorium (154) in contact with the outer surface of the cultivation substrate comprised of ePTFE (158) in the composite. As shown in this image, the growth of the portion of the appressorium (154) growing on the surface of the substrate comprised of ePTFE (158) exhibits more robust growth and engagement than the growth of the portion of the appressorium (152) in contact with the spun polyester (157). [Example]

[0404] 14-17, it is believed that the suitability of a material for appressorium engagement and the tortuosity of a material can be characterized and defined, in part, by identifying and characterizing the extent to which seaweed appressorium engage and grow into the material after the seaweed is allowed to grow into the material for a defined amount of time. It is also believed that the extent of appressorium engagement and ingrowth can be visually assessed by preparing a sample in which appressorium-material engagement is present and by using microscopy, particularly visible light and fluoroscopic techniques, to visually confirm the presence of appressorium ingrowth within the material. It is further believed that visible light and fluorescent photographic images of materials with engaged seaweed appressorium can be processed and displayed to reveal the level of engagement and ingrowth, and that these photographic images can be used to assess the amount, extent, and depth of ingrowth into the material. It is also contemplated that scaled tracking and frames can be applied to such photographic images to quantify the level of engagement and ingrowth, and comparisons can be made between algal appressorial structures located adjacent to the material (and therefore not within the material as ingrowth), portions of the material with appressorial ingrowth, and portions of the material with minimal or no appressorial ingrowth.

[0405] FIGS. 14A and 14B show two microscopic views of the same example. This example is a portion of a braided cord made in part from the same low-tortuosity material shown and described with respect to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11A-11B. The images in FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of a cord made using a fabrication technique similar to that described with respect to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11A-11B by transversely cutting the cord and manipulating the cut ends of the cord to reveal views of the low-tortuosity material and the seaweed appressoria engaging and penetrating the low-tortuosity material. FIG. 14A is a microscopic view of the cross section in visible light, and FIG. 14B is a microscopic view of the same cross section in fluorescent light. Both FIGS. 14A and 14B are to the same scale, and both are at the scale indicated on each image. Visible light images such as those shown in FIG. 14A can be made using standard photographic techniques.

[0406] 14A shows a portion of a cord (110) having a low-tortuosity material (120) made of polyester fibers defining interfiber spaces (121). The low-tortuosity material (120) has a surface (122) that is the exterior surface of the cord, which, prior to preparation, was exposed to an aquatic environment for a growing period to promote the growth of seaweed appressoria on and within the surface (122) of the cord (110). As shown in the image, a view of the cut cord (110) was selected and created to show seaweed appressoria (123) located adjacent to the cord surface (122) and seaweed ingrowth (124) penetrating the low-tortuosity material (120) within the interfiber spaces (121). In the photographic image of Figure 14A, which displays the cord (110) and appressoria (123) under visible light, it is possible to distinguish the artificial cord material from the organic seaweed material, due in part to the dark brown coloration of the seaweed material compared to the colorless polyester, and in part to the finer structure of the seaweed material compared to the larger structure of the polyester fibers.

[0407] As can be seen in Figure 14A, a portion of the cord surface (122) has a linear orientation in which the low-tortuosity material (120) and the seaweed appressoria (123) remain adjacent to one another and the seaweed ingrowth (124) extending from the appressoria (123) is intact within the structure of the low-tortuosity material (120). A boundary line (125) having a length of at least 100 µm is placed over the image of the linearly oriented cord surface (122). The boundary line (125) marks features on the image where a suitable representation of seaweed-material engagement exists, in particular, where there is a linear or near-linear engagement between the low-tortuosity material (120) and the appressoria (123), and where the appressoria (123) exhibit engagement with the penetrating ingrowth (124) extending into the low-tortuosity material (120). As also shown, frame (126) is positioned across the boundary line in a specific orientation, bisecting frame (126) and placing one half of frame (126) on each side of boundary line (125). Frame (126) is a 100 μm by 100 μm square, bisected by boundary line (125), with a first frame half (126a) extending across the seaweed appressorium (123) (50 μm in this example) and a second frame half (126b) extending across the low-tortuosity material (120) having seaweed ingrowth (124) (50 μm in this example). The second frame half (126b) does not span the area of ​​low-tortuosity material (120) lacking seaweed ingrowth (124). As can be appreciated, the placement of boundary line (125) and frame (126) is purposefully done to capture a consistent and representative view of the seaweed appressoria (123) in first frame half (126a) and a consistent and representative view of the penetrating ingrowth (124) in second frame half (126b). Comparing first frame half (126a) and second frame half (126b) in Figure 14A, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the organic seaweed material visually present in second frame half (126b) under a visible light microscope is less than 25% of the organic seaweed material visually present in first frame half (126a) under the same visualization technique.The low tortuosity material, which has engaged with the seaweed appressoria and has ingrowth of the appressoria into the low tortuosity material, is believed to present an amount of organic seaweed material in the second frame half (126b) that is in the range of 10% to 25% of the amount of organic seaweed material in the first frame half (126a).

[0408] It is also believed that application of a 100 μm x 100 μm frame (126) provides a sufficient sample of seaweed-material engagement to represent engagement over a larger surface of the cord (122), and such a frame can be applied to multiple locations exhibiting engagement and ingrowth to provide an average for the sample cord. It is contemplated that other frames can be used that define an area that is a fair representation of seaweed-material engagement for the majority of the cord, such as a frame that is a circle with a 100 μm diameter that can be bisected by a boundary line (125).

[0409] Figure 14B shows the same image as Figure 14A, but using a fluorescent image instead of visible light. Fluorescence images such as those shown in Figure 14B can be generated using standard techniques, such as by using an Aquapen handheld device. Further information on fluorescence imaging techniques can be found in sources such as "Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis; a guide to good practice and understanding some new applications," Murchie and Lawson, Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 64, No. 13, pp. 3983-3998, 2013.

[0410] Figure 14B contains all of the same structures shown in Figure 14A, but with some structures that are less or more visible when subjected to the fluorescence imaging technique displayed in Figure 14B. To aid the viewer, a dotted line (127) has been applied to Figure 14B to outline where the polyester low-torque material (120) is present, as seen in Figure 14A. As seen in Figure 14B, the low-torque material (120) within the dotted line (127) is black, non-fluorescent, and indistinguishable from areas of the image that have no fluorescence. Additionally, the contrast of the image in Figure 14B has been adjusted to maintain the image of the low-torque material (120) at a level that has zero or minimal presence in the fluorescence image. As can be seen, by adjusting the contrast, the low-torque material (120) can be made to match the zero-fluorescence background of the image, or set to a level that may be defined as a zero-fluorescence baseline level in the image. As can be appreciated, this calibration of fluorescence image contrast is important because, if performed properly, the calibration will eliminate low tortuosity material (120) as a significant source of fluorescence in the image when a comparison is made between the first frame half (126a) and the second frame half (126b).

[0411] As can also be seen in Figure 14B, both the appressorium (123) and the penetrating ingrowth (124) provide observable levels of fluorescence that are visually and measurably distinguishable from the low-tortuosity material (120) and the zero-fluorescence background of the image. Viewing frame 126 also reveals that the fluorescence of the first frame half (126a) surrounding the area containing the organic seaweed material of the appressorium (123) is substantially greater than the fluorescence of the second frame half (126b) surrounding the area containing the organic seaweed material of the penetrating ingrowth (124) disposed between the fibers of the low-tortuosity material (120). Comparing the first and second frame halves (126a) and (126b) in Figure 14B, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that the organic seaweed material visually present in the second frame half (126b) under fluorescence imaging microscopy techniques is less than 25% of the organic seaweed material present in the first frame half (126a) under the same visualization techniques. The low-tortuosity material, which has engaged with the seaweed appressoria and has ingrowth of the appressoria into the low-tortuosity material, is believed to present a second amount of organic seaweed material enclosed by the second frame half (126b), which is in the range of 10% to 25% of the first amount of organic seaweed material enclosed by the first frame half (126a).

[0412] Reference is now made to Figures 15A and 15B. As can be appreciated, the same visualization techniques applied to Figures 14A and 14B can be applied to the images of Figures 15A and 15B, respectively: (a) select and prepare an example cord and appressoria with appressorial ingrowth to provide a cross-section; (b) obtain images of the cord material, appressoria, and penetrating ingrowth using either visible illumination or fluorescent techniques; and (c) apply lines and frames to the images to achieve similar comparisons between certain comparable regions of the images. For simplicity, where possible, the same numbering scheme used in Figures 14A-14B where similar structures or features are identified will be used in Figures 15A-15B.

[0413] FIGS. 15A and 15B show two microscopic views of the same example. This example is a portion of a braided cord made in part from the same high-tortuosity material shown and described with respect to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11A-11B. The images in FIGS. 15A and 15B are cross-sectional views of a cord made by transversely cutting the cord and manipulating the cut ends of the cord to reveal views of the high-tortuosity material and the seaweed appressors engaging and penetrating the high-tortuosity material, using fabrication techniques similar to those described with respect to FIGS. 9, 10, 11A-11B, and 14A-14B. FIG. 15A is a microscopic view of the cross section in visible light, and FIG. 15B is a microscopic view of the same cross section in fluorescent light. Both FIGS. 15A and 15B are to the same scale, and both are at the scale indicated on each image. Visible light images such as those shown in FIG. 15A can be made using standard photographic techniques.

[0414] 15A shows a portion of a cord (110) having a high-tortuosity material (130) made of ePTFE fibrils that define intrafiber spaces (not shown) between the fibrils. The high-tortuosity material (130) has a surface (132) that is the exterior surface of the cord, which, prior to fabrication, was exposed to an aquatic environment for a growing period to promote the growth of seaweed appressoria on and within the surface (132) of the cord (110). As shown in the image, a view of the cut cord (110) was selected and fabricated to show seaweed appressoria (123) located adjacent to the cord surface (132) and seaweed ingrowth (124) penetrating the high-tortuosity material (130) within the interfiber spaces (not shown) between the fibrils. In the photographic image of Figure 15A, which displays the cord (110) and appressoria (123) under visible light, it is possible to distinguish between the artificial cord material and the organic seaweed material due in part to the dark brown coloration of the seaweed material compared to the white ePTFE. It is also possible to see the seaweed ingrowth (124) present in the white ePTFE high tortuosity material (130) because the white ePTFE turns yellow-brown where there is enough seaweed present to provide a color difference compared to the white ePTFE and the dark brown seaweed appressoria (123) located adjacent to the surface (132) of the high tortuosity material (130).

[0415] As can be seen in Figure 15A, a portion of the cord surface (132) has a linear orientation in which the high-tortuosity material (130) and the seaweed appressoria (123) remain adjacent to one another and the seaweed ingrowth (124) extending from the appressoria (123) is intact within the structure of the high-tortuosity material (130). A boundary line (125) having a length of at least 100 μm is placed over the image of the linearly oriented cord surface (132). The boundary line (125) marks features on the image where a suitable representation of seaweed-material engagement exists, in particular, where there is a linear or near-linear engagement between the high-tortuosity material (130) and the appressoria (123), and where the appressoria (123) exhibit engagement with the penetrating ingrowth (124) extending into the high-tortuosity material (130). As also shown, frame (136) is positioned on boundary line (125) in a specific orientation that bisects frame (136), with frame halves (136) positioned on either side of boundary line (125). Frame (136) is an 80 μm by 80 μm square, bisected by boundary line (125), with a first frame half (136a) extending across the seaweed appressoria (123) (40 μm in this example) and a second frame half (136b) extending across the high-tortuosity material (130) having seaweed ingrowth (124) (40 μm in this example). The second frame half (136b) does not extend across the area of ​​low-tortuosity material (130) lacking seaweed ingrowth (124). As can be appreciated, the placement of boundary line (125) and frame (136) is purposefully done to capture a consistent and representative view of the seaweed appressoria (123) in first frame half (136a) and a consistent and representative view of the penetrating ingrowth (124) in second frame half (136b). Comparing first frame half (136a) and second frame half (136b) in Figure 15A, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the organic seaweed material visually present in second frame half (136b) under a visible light microscope and having a white or tan color contains 25% or more of the organic seaweed material visually present (having a dark brown color) in first frame half (136a) under the same visualization technique.The high tortuosity material, which engages with seaweed appressoria and has appressorial ingrowth into the high tortuosity material, is believed to present a second amount of organic seaweed material surrounded by the second frame half (136b) that is in the range of 25% to 90% of the first amount of organic seaweed material surrounded by the first frame half (136a). In further aspects, the high tortuosity material shown and described herein is believed to promote seaweed ingrowth such that the second frame half (136b) surrounds a second amount of organic seaweed material that constitutes a percentage of the first amount of organic seaweed material surrounded by the first frame half (136a), including percentages of 30-90%, 30-80%, 30-70%, 30-60%, 30-50%, 30-40%, 40-50%, 40-60%, 40-70%, 40-80%, 40-90%, 40-90%, 40-100%, 40-120%, 40-140%, 40-160%, 40-20%, 40-220%, 40-240%, 40-260%, 40-30%, 40-320%, 40-420%, 40-440%, 40-50%, 40-520%, 40-520%, 40-520%, 40-60%, 40-70%, 40-80%, 40-90%, 40-160%, 40-220%, 40-240%, 40-320%, 40-420%, 40-520%, 40-520%, 40-520%, 40-60%, 40-70%, 40-80%, 40- The ranges are one of: 90%, 40-80%, 40-70%, 40-60%, 40-50%, 50-90%, 50-80%, 50-70%, 50-60%, 60-90%, 60-80%, 60-70%, 70-90%, 70-80%, and 80-90% (inclusive), as well as 25% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, and 90% or more.

[0416] It is also contemplated that application of an 80 μm x 80 μm frame (136) provides a sufficient sample of seaweed-material engagement to represent engagement across a larger surface of the cord (122), and that such a frame may be applied to multiple locations exhibiting engagement and ingrowth to provide an average for the sample cord. Note that frame (136) in FIG. 15A is slightly smaller than frame (126) in FIG. 14A because the ePTFE material exhibits a narrower structure in the selected image of FIG. 15A. It is contemplated that other frames may be used that define an area that is a fair representation of seaweed-material engagement for the majority of the cord, such as a frame that is a circle with a diameter of 80 μm that may be bisected by boundary line (125).

[0417] Figure 15B shows the same image as Figure 15A, but using a fluorescent image instead of visible light. A fluorescent image such as that shown in Figure 15B can be generated in the same manner as described above with respect to Figure 14B.

[0418] Figure 15B includes all of the same structures shown in Figure 15A, but with some structures that are less or more visible when subjected to the fluorescence imaging technique displayed in Figure 15B. To aid the viewer, a dotted line (137) has been applied to Figure 15B to outline where the ePTFE high-torque material (130) is present as seen in Figure 15A. As seen in Figure 15B, the high-torque material (130) within the dotted line (137) has a black, non-fluorescent portion (138a) and a nearly non-fluorescent portion (138b) that is indistinguishable from areas of the image that have no fluorescence. Additionally, the contrast of the image in Figure 15B has been adjusted to maintain the image of the high-torque material (130) at a level that has zero or minimal presence in the fluorescence image. As can be seen, by adjusting the contrast, the high tortuosity material 130 without seaweed ingrowth 124 (e.g., in the black non-fluorescent portion 138a and nearly non-fluorescent portion 138b) can be made to match the zero fluorescence background of the image, or set to a level that may be defined as a zero fluorescence baseline level in the image. As can be appreciated, this calibration of fluorescence image contrast is important because, if performed properly, the calibration will eliminate the high tortuosity material 130 as a significant source of fluorescence in the image when a comparison is made between the first frame half 136a and the second frame half 136b.

[0419] 15B, both the appressorium (123) and the penetrating ingrowth (124) provide observable levels of fluorescence that are visually and measurably close to or identical to the fluorescence in some portions (138c) of the high-tortuosity material (130) located near the cord surface (132). Viewing the frame 136 also reveals that the fluorescence of the first frame half (136a) surrounding the area containing the organic seaweed material of the appressorium (123) is substantially similar to or identical to the fluorescence of the second frame half (136b) surrounding the area containing the organic seaweed material of the penetrating ingrowth (124) located between the fibrils of the high-tortuosity material (130). Comparing the first frame half (136a) and the second frame half (136b) in Figure 15B, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the organic seaweed material visually present in the second frame half (136b) under fluorescent imaging microscopy techniques is 25% or more of the organic seaweed material present in the first frame half (136a) under the same visualization techniques. The high-tortuosity material, which has engaged with the seaweed appressoria and has ingrowth of the appressoria into the high-tortuosity material, is believed to present an amount of organic seaweed material in the second frame half (136b) ranging from 25% to 90% (inclusive) of the amount of organic seaweed material in the first frame half (136a). In further aspects, the high tortuosity materials shown and described herein are believed to promote seaweed ingrowth surrounding a second quantity of organic seaweed material (detectable by fluorescence techniques) where the second frame half (136b) comprises a percentage of the first quantity of organic seaweed material (detectable by fluorescence techniques) surrounded by the first frame half (136a), the percentage being 30-90%, 30-80%, 30-70%, 30-60%, 30-70% or more. The range is one of: up to 50%, 30-40%, 40-90%, 40-80%, 40-70%, 40-60%, 40-50%, 50-90%, 50-80%, 50-70%, 50-60%, 60-90%, 60-80%, 60-70%, 70-90%, 70-80%, 80-90% (inclusive), and 25% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, and 90% or more.

[0420] In addition to the remarks made above regarding presenting a cord having low and / or high tortuosity material to an aquatic environment during a growth period to promote the growth of seaweed appressoria on and within the cord surface, it will be understood that the timing required to achieve such growth can be defined to correspond to various growth cycles and stages of seaweed plant maturity. For example, the growth period may be at least 7 days, at least 1 month, or at least 3 months, or the growth period may be a period of time sufficient to constitute a suitable season for the cultivation of seaweed plants. In other examples, the growth period may be defined by a spore stage of the seaweed plant, a seeding stage of the seaweed plant, a juvenile stage of the seaweed plant, or a period of time sufficient to achieve the growth of mature seaweed plants. [Example]

[0421] In this example, a length of ePTFE was used as the cultivation substrate, and a length of polyester was used as the control substrate. The ePTFE and polyester substrates had similar widths. Each was inoculated with spores of Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) and placed in a laboratory hatchery under appropriate light, seawater, and temperature conditions to induce germination and fertilization of the spores into young seedlings. After six weeks in the laboratory hatchery, one-meter-long samples of each substrate were removed from the seawater tank, and surface water on each substrate was removed using an absorbent cloth. The one-meter-long samples were then weighed. Seaweed was then removed from each substrate by passing the substrate through a small orifice, effectively stripping the seaweed from the substrate surface. Each one-meter-long sample of substrate was then reweighed, and the difference between the original weight and the final weight was calculated to represent the weight of total plant growth on each substrate per meter of substrate length.

[0422] Referring now to Figure 16, two images are presented of the same aquatic plant growing on ePTFE (141) and polyester (142) over the same length of time. As shown in Figure 16, the mass per unit length of the aquatic plant seeding growing on and into the ePTFE material (141) was found to be 1.97 grams / meter, while the mass per unit length of the aquatic plant seeding growing on and into the polyester material (142) was found to be 0.13 grams / meter. As can be seen, the growth density observed for the ePTFE material (141) is approximately 15 times greater than the growth density observed for the polyester material (142). This example demonstrates that the use of ePTFE as a seaweed growth medium is associated with stronger growth at the adult stage of the aquatic plant's growth cycle compared to the same growth cycle observed on a polyester growth medium.

[0423] The foregoing examples are illustrative of various concepts discussed in connection with aspects of the present disclosure and are meant to be read together with those concepts.

[0424] The scope of the invention of this application has been described above both generally and with respect to specific embodiments and examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of the present invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A seaweed cultivation substrate for fixing the appressoria of seaweed plants in an aquatic environment, a first cord extending over a first length and defining an outer first cord surface configured to face an aquatic environment, the first cord including a plurality of first polymer fibers arranged adjacent to one another along the first length and defining a first cross-sectional thickness of the first cord, each of the plurality of first polymer fibers further defining a first spacing between adjacent first polymer fibers, the plurality of first polymer fibers and the first spacing together defining a first natural path length extending from the outer first cord surface and navigating around adjacent first polymer fibers to a first midpoint of the first cross-sectional thickness, the plurality of first polymer fibers and the first spacing together further defining a first twist ratio of the first cord defined by the length of the first natural path compared to a first linear length measured from the outer first cord surface to the first midpoint; a second cord engaging the outer first cord surface, extending over a second length and defining the outer second cord surface configured to face an aquatic environment, the second cord including a plurality of second polymer fibers arranged adjacent to one another along the second length and defining a second cross-sectional thickness of the second cord, each of the plurality of second polymer fibers further defining a second spacing between adjacent second polymer fibers, the plurality of second fibers and the second spacing together defining a second natural path length extending from the outer second cord surface and navigating around adjacent second polymer fibers to a second midpoint of the second cross-sectional thickness, the plurality of second polymer fibers and the second spacing together further defining a second twist ratio of the second cord defined by the second natural path length compared to a second linear length measured from the outer second cord surface to the second midpoint; The seaweed cultivation substrate, wherein the second twist ratio is at least 5 times greater than the first twist ratio.

2. 2. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 1, wherein the second twist ratio is at least 50 times greater than the first twist ratio.

3. 2. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 1, wherein the second twist ratio is at least 500 times greater than the first twist ratio.

4. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second cord comprises a microfiber material comprising a network of connected fibers having an inter-fibril distance of about 1 μm to about 200 μm.

5. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first cord comprises a bundle of unconnected fibers.

6. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first cord comprises a bundle of connected fibers.

7. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first cord and the second cord have different hydrophilicities.

8. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first cord absorbs more water by weight than the second cord.

9. The second cord has a strength of 1.0 gcm －３ and the first cord has a density of 1.0 gcm －３ The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, having a density of at least 10 ...

10. The second cord has a density of 0.1 to 1.0 g / cm －３ The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 9, having an average density of

11. The second cord has an average density (gcm) of about 1 to about 2000 average interfibril distance (μm). －３ The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 10, having a ratio of to.

12. The second cord has a strength of 1 gcm －３ The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 11, having an area having the following density:

13. The second cord has a strength of 1.7 gcm －３ The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 12, having a region having a density of at least 10 ...

14. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the second cord comprises at least one expanded fluoropolymer.

15. 15. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 14, wherein the expanded fluoropolymer is one of expanded fluorinated ethylene propylene (eFEP), porous perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), expanded ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (eETFE), expanded vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene polymer (eVDF-co-(TFE or TrFE)), or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

16. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the cultivation substrate comprises at least one expanded thermoplastic polymer.

17. 17. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 16, wherein the expanded thermoplastic polymer is one of expanded polyester sulfone (ePES), expanded ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (eUHMWPE), expanded polylactic acid (ePLA), or expanded polyethylene (ePE).

18. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the cultivation substrate comprises at least one expanding polymer.

19. 19. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to claim 18, wherein the expanded polymer is expanded polyurethane (ePU).

20. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the cultivation substrate comprises at least one polymer formed by expanding chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

21. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the cultivation substrate comprises expanded polyparaxylylene (ePPX).

22. The first cord is at least one material selected from the group consisting of spun / filament polyester, spun / filament nylon, spun HEMP, and natural fibers. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

23. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the second cord comprises at least one material comprising interconnected fibers.

24. The first cord comprises at least one material, has a plurality of fibers, and has at least one end that is not connected to another fiber in the material. A seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

25. The cultivation substrate is at least one selected from the group consisting of braided cord, knitted fabric, yarn, covered yarn, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, cloth, microparticle dispersion, beads, stitch-bonded cloth, and laminated body. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the surface of the cultivation substrate has relatively highly hydrophilic areas and relatively less hydrophilic areas.

27. 27. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 26, wherein the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the cultivation substrate are randomly spaced apart.

28. 27. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 26, wherein the relatively highly hydrophilic regions on the surface of the cultivation substrate are uniformly spaced apart.

29. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the relatively highly hydrophilic regions are separated from each other by any distance within a range of about 0.9 to about 1.0 mm.

30. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the relatively highly hydrophilic regions are spaced apart from each other by an average of about 1.0 mm or more.

31. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the second cord forms a core having a surface that engages with the first cord.

32. 32. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 31 , wherein the first cords form bands, each band being defined by a single wrap of the first cord around the second cord, and the band being attached to at least a portion of a surface of the second cord.

33. 33. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 32, wherein the bands are spaced apart from each other by any distance selected from the range of about 0.9 mm to about 10 mm.

34. 33. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 32, wherein the bands are spaced apart from each other by more than about 10 mm.

35. 32. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 31, wherein the first cords are in the form of regularly or irregularly spaced bands, the bands being uniformly or randomly attached to the surface of the core, each band being defined by a single wrap of the first cord around the second cord.

36. 32. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 31 , wherein the first cord is in the form of at least one rope, and the at least one rope is wound around at least a portion of the surface of the core.

37. 32. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 31 , wherein the first cord is in the form of at least one ribbon, and the at least one ribbon is wrapped around at least a portion of the surface of the core.

38. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 31 to 37, wherein the core is in at least one form selected from the group consisting of a rope, a sheet, a support, a layer, and a rod.

39. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the cultivation substrate is in the form of a braided cord including at least one second cord and at least one first cord.

40. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the cultivation substrate is in the form of a covered yarn comprising the at least one first cord and at least one second cord.

41. 41. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 40, wherein the first cord is wound around the second cord.

42. 42. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to claim 41, wherein a repeating portion of about 0.9 mm to about 1.1 mm on the surface of the second cord is not covered by the first cord.

43. 42. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 41, wherein a repeating portion of the surface of the second cord that is greater than about 1.0 mm is not covered by the first cord.

44. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 43, wherein the first cords are attached to the surface of the second cords at intervals that promote capture of the seaweed on the composite.

45. 45. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 44, wherein the cultivation substrate comprises at least one nutrient that promotes the attachment and / or growth of macroalgae.

46. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 45, wherein the second cord comprises a microfiber material, and the microfiber material has at least one higher porosity area and at least one lower porosity area.

47. 47. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 46, wherein the microfiber material comprises portions with larger inter-fibril distances and portions with smaller inter-fibril distances.

48. 48. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 47, wherein the interfibrillar distance portion defines an axial orientation of the interfibrillar distance portion.

49. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 48, further comprising one or more structural elements selected from the group consisting of rods, backer layers, hollow tubes, solid shafts, ropes, cages, boards, bars, growth modules, linear frames, and circular frames.

50. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 49, further comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, natural fibers, plastics, wood, metals, coated metals, and combinations thereof.

51. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 50, wherein the cultivation substrate is configured to promote spore capture, development, and growth.

52. The cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture, development, and growth of at least one form of the seaweed growth cycle selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, young plants, and mature plants. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 50.

53. 53. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 52, wherein the cultivation substrate is configured to promote direct seeding of macroalgae in at least one form selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, young plants, and mature plants.

54. 54. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 53, further comprising at least one exogenous binder selected from the group consisting of adhesives and bioglues.

55. 54. The seaweed cultivation substrate of claim 53, wherein the composite is substantially free of exogenous binders.

56. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 55, wherein the second cord is configured to allow ingrowth and / or development of seaweed appressoria.

57. 56. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 55, wherein the first cord is configured to facilitate capture of one or more elements of seaweed growth and reproduction selected from the group consisting of sporophytes, gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes, young plants, and mature plants.

58. 58. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 57, wherein the cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group of genera consisting of red algae, brown algae, and green algae.

59. 58. The seaweed cultivation substrate of any one of claims 1 to 57, wherein the cultivation substrate is configured to promote the capture and / or growth of at least one species of macroalgae selected from the group consisting of: palmaria palmata, porphyra, pyropia, and saccharina latissima.

60. 60. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 59, wherein the first cord is configured to promote capture of at least one form of the macroalgae growth cycle, and the high tortuosity second cord is configured to promote growth, development, and attachment of seaweed appressoria.

61. The seaweed cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 60, wherein the second cord is configured to firmly fix seaweed plants.

Images