Algal biomass and diversity in the upper subtidal at a pack-ice disturbed site in eastern Newfoundland

Over a 5 yr period, the effect of physical disturbance by ice-scour on biomass, diversity and community composition in the shallow macro-algae zone of eastern Newfoundland was examined. In the absence of ice-scour, Alaria exculenta formed a canopy which shaded the substratum; few species co-existed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 1985-01, Vol.25 (2), p.151-158
Main Authors: Keats, D. W., South, G. R., Steele, D. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alaria esculenta
Algae
Aquatic communities
Biomass
Coasts
Ecological zones
Marine
Marine ecology
Perennials
RESEARCH PAPERS
Seaweeds
Species diversity
Synecology
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Summary:Over a 5 yr period, the effect of physical disturbance by ice-scour on biomass, diversity and community composition in the shallow macro-algae zone of eastern Newfoundland was examined. In the absence of ice-scour, Alaria exculenta formed a canopy which shaded the substratum; few species co-existed and diversity was low. Winter and spring ice-scour, which was temporally and spatially patchy, removed the A. esculenta and made well-lighted rocky substratum available for colonization. Scoured patches were colonized by annual algae, resulting in an increase in species diversity. Diversity was greater when patchy scouring occurred throughout the winter-spring period, than when scouring was more restricted. Several species of annual algae persisted in patches among the unscoured A. esculenta, so diversity remained high during the summer following scouring.
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps025151