Sargassum johnsonii Sargassum johnsonii Sargassum johnsonii Chapman, 1961, is a brown seaweed of the genus "Sargassum" that is endemic to the Three Kings Islands in New Zealand. It is sometimes called totara weed because of the resemblance to the foliage of the NZ native tree totara. Its scientific name derives from its discoverer, Magnus Earle Johnson, Three Kings Islands explorer and captain of the yacht "Rosemary", who landed botanists on the islands on several occasions. "Sargassum johnsonii" grows in rocky intertidal habitats, often extending to the subtidal zone up to a depth of 40 m. It is a foundation species, and being
Sargassum on wave height and current. On the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, backhoes are also used in the process of clean up once the "Sargassum" weed reaches the shorelines. Researchers say that the "Sargassum" outbreak started in 2011, but it has become worse over the years. As it is cleaned up on the shorelines, in a matter of a week, the shorelines are once again filled in masses. It is still a recurring problem to this date. Several factors could explain the proliferation of "Sargassum" in the area in recent years. These include the rise of sea temperature and the