Seasonal and spatial compositional variation of the red algae Mastocarpus stellatus from the Northern coast of Portugal

Abstract This study focusses on the valorization of red seaweed Mastocarpus stellatus, collected in Northern coast Portugal, as a natural source high value compounds due to its beneficial properties. An annual monitoring was performed by determining lipids, ash, carbohydrates, phycobiliproteins, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and carrageenan from three different rocky shores located north Portugal. The results showed seasonal spatial variability studied between October 2018 September 2019 depending climatic variables temperature, precipitation, solar radiation. most productive season coincided with warmest months, except for carbohydrates which were promoted colder season. variation also could be explained proximity water channel discharges at sampling sites. Complementary studies fraction conducted one biopolymer content, determine their proportion summer winter period establish rheological capabilities formulation gelling matrices. extracted biopolymers exhibited typical structural viscoelastic characteristics kappa/iota -hybrid carrageenans, suggesting notably differences harvest season, is critically relevant define future applications.