Abstract
The autecology of Fucus distichus L. ssp. distichus was investigated at several sites on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, throughout a 2-year period. This species is confined to high-littoral rock pools at exposed sites, where there appears to be little competition from other organisms. Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and hydrogen-ion concentrations underwent both considerable seasonal and short-term variation. Pools with extremes of salinity did not contain F. distichus ssp. distichus. Receptacles are formed during winter, and by late spring they are cast. Sporelings were first visible during September; their development was slow, and these plants did not become reproductive until the second year. During the period February to May, rapid growth of new fronds occurred; an increase in both length and bulk of the plants resulted from this growth. Fronds of mature plants continued to elongate slowly throughout the summer and the early autumn with the formation of receptacles in winter. Plants were frequently damaged, which resulted in regeneration of new fronds from the wounded surface.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Baardseth, E.: Synopsis of biological data on Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis. F.A.O. Fish. Synopses 38, 1–40 (1968)
Bérard-Therriault, L. et A. Cardinal: Importance de certains facteurs écologiques sur la résistance à la dessiccation des fucacées (Phaeophyceae). Phycologia 12, 41–52 (1973)
Bird, N.L.: Survival of Fucus edentatus zygotes in relation to humidity of exposure, 50 pp. B. Sc. thesis, University of New Brunswick 1973
Burrows, E.M.: Ecological experiments with species of Fucus. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 4, 166–170 (1964)
— and S.M. Lodge: Autecology and the species problem in Fucus. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 30, 161–176 (1951)
Cotton, A.D.: Clare Island survey Pt. 15, Marine algae. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 31, 1–178 (1912)
David, H.M.: Studies in the autecology of Ascophyllum nodosum Le Jol. J. Ecol. 31, 178–198 (1943)
Ganning, B.: Biological conditions in Swedish rock-pool ecosystems. Ophelia 9, 51–105 (1971)
Johnson, D.S. and A.F. Skutch: Littoral vegetation on a headland of Mt. Desert Island, Maine. II. Tide-pools and the environment and classification of submersible plant communities. Ecology 9, 307–338 (1928)
Klugh, A.B.: Factors controlling the biota of tide-pools. Ecology 5, 192–196 (1924)
Knight, M. and M. Parke: A biological study of Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus serratus. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 29, 439–514 (1950)
Lodge, S.M.: Algal growth in the absence of Patella on an experimental strip of foreshore, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man. Proc. Trans. Lpool biol. Soc. 56, 78–83 (1948)
MacFarlane, C.: Observations on the annual growth of Ascophyllum nodosum. Proc. Trans. Nova Scotian Inst. Sci. 18, 27–33 (1932)
McLachlan, J.: Effects of temperature and light on growth and development of embryos of Fucus edentatus and F. distichus subsp. distichus. Can. J. Bot. 52, 943–951 (1974)
—, L.C-M. Chen and T. Edelstein: The culture of four species of Fucus under laboratory conditions. Can. J. Bot. 49, 1463–1469 (1971)
Moss, B. and A. Sheader: The effect of light and temperature upon germination and growth of Halidrys siliquosa (L.) Lyngb. (Phaeophyceae, Fucales). Phycologia 12, 63–68 (1973)
Powell, H.T.: Studies in the genus Fucus L. 1. Fucus distichus L. emend. Powell. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 36, 407–432 (1957)
Printz, H.: Investigations of the failure of recuperation and repopulation in cropped Ascophyllum nodosum. Skr. norske Vidensk-Akad. 3, 1–15 (1959)
Pyefinch, K.A.: The intertidal ecology of Bardsey Island, North Wales, with special reference to the recolonization of rock surfaces and the rock-pool environment. J. Anim. Ecol. 12, 82–104 (1943)
Strickland, J.D.H. and T.R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seaweed analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 21–26 (1968)
Taylor, W.R.: Marine algae of the northeastern coast of North America, 2nd ed. 509 pp. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press 1957
Welch, A.M.: An autecology study of Fucus vesiculosus L. at Beaufort, North Carolina, 65 pp. Master Thesis, Duke University 1960
Wilce, R.T.: The marine algae of the Labrador Peninsula and northwest Newfoundland (ecology and distribution). Bull. natn. Mus. Can. 158, 1–103 (1959)
Zhyubikas, I.I.: Ecological characteristics of some animals inhabiting the tide pools on the east Murman Coast. Zool. Zh. 48, 635–641 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by T.R. Parsons, Vancouver
Issued as NRCC No. 14510
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Edelstein, T., McLachlan, J. Autecology of Fucus distichus ssp. distichus (Phaeophyceae: Fucales) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Marine Biology 30, 305–324 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390636
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390636