Factors controlling the lower limits of fucoid algae on the shore

Field and culture studies on fucoid alga of the upper shore showed that their lower limits of distribution were determined largely by interspecific competition. Pelvetia canaliculata (L.) Dcne. et Thur., which is strictly confined to the highest algal zone, grew much more slowly, both in culture and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 1980, Vol.43 (2), p.131-150
Main Authors: Schonbeck, Mark W., Norton, Trevor A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
plant biochemistry
plant physiology
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Summary:Field and culture studies on fucoid alga of the upper shore showed that their lower limits of distribution were determined largely by interspecific competition. Pelvetia canaliculata (L.) Dcne. et Thur., which is strictly confined to the highest algal zone, grew much more slowly, both in culture and on the shore, than did Fucus spiralis L., which occupies the zone immediately below Pelvetia. When transplanted to the Fucus spiralis zone, macroscopic Pelvetia thalli grew normally, but Pelvetia zygotes which germinated within this zone reached macroscopic size only when competing Fucus spiralis was repeatedly removed. Both species required high light levels to grow in culture, yet their embryos remained viable for long periods in total darkness. Thus, Pelvetia cannot grow in the shade of Fucus spiralis, but actual removal of the Pelvetia germlings from the Fucus spiralis zone must be affected by some other factor. F. spiralis grew vigorously when transplanted to M.T.L., a level at which it is normally rare. In culture, its embryos grew more slowly than those of the species found lower on the shore such as F. vesiculosus L. and F. serratus L.; hence interspecific competition may again be involved Young Ascophyltum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. plants grew almost as slowly as those of Pelvetia, yet Ascophyllum dominates the middle shore. In culture it showed only slightly greater tolerance of low light intensity than other fucoids but, unlike Pelvetia, persisted and grew beneath a Fucus canopy in the field. The possibility that differences in life history and palatibility to grazing molluscs contribute to the disparate competitive abilities of Pelvetia and Ascophyllum is discussed.
ISSN:0022-0981
1879-1697
DOI:10.1016/0022-0981(80)90021-0