Abstract
The biomass distribution of frondose algae on a Hawaiian reef varied from a period of minimum biomass (635 g wet weight m-2) during July–September to a period of maximum biomass (1,554 g m-2) during February–May. The pattern of variation had no significant correlation with any of the 4 environmental parameters measured (light intensity, temperature, water movement and salinity), although the decrease in wet biomass in winter was observed at the time of maximum water movement. When the biomass distribution of individual species was correlated with environmental parameters, 4 groups of ecological species emerged. One group had positive correlations with light intensity and negative correlations with water movement, while a second group of species had the opposite trend. Species in a third group had an irregular pattern of distribution throughout the year. Those in the fourth group had a regular annual cycle which did not correlate with any physical parameters, but did correlate negatively with the biomass distribution of another species of the same genus. The horizontal distribution of all species studied changed throughout the year, expanding or retracting across the reef in a manner correlating with the horizontal changes of water movement in many cases.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Bernatowicz, A.J.: Seasonal aspects of the Bermuda algal flora. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. 36, 3–8 (1950)
Conover, J.T.: The ecology, seasonal periodicity, and distribution of benthic plants in some Texas lagoons. Botanica mar. 7, 4–41 (1964)
—: The importance of natural diffusion gradients and transport of substances related to benthic plant metabolism. Botanica mar. 11, 1–9 (1968)
Croley, F.C. and C.J. Dawes: Ecology of the algae of a Florida key. I. A. preliminary checklist, zonation and seasonality. Bull. mar. Sci. 20, 165–185 (1970)
Dawes, C.J., A.C. Mathieson and D.P. Cheney: Ecological studies of floridian Eucheuma (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales). I. Seasonal growth and reproduction. Bull. mar. Sci. 24, 235–273 (1974)
Dayton, P.: Competition, disturbance and community organization: the provision and subsequent utilization of space in a rocky intertidal community. Ecol. Monogr. 41, 351–389 (1971)
—: Experimental evaluation of ecological dominance in a rocky intertidal algal community. Ecol. Monogr. 45, 137–159 (1975)
DeWreede, R.: The phenology of three species of Sargassum (Sargassaceae Phaeophyta) in Hawaii. Phycologia 15, 175–184 (1976)
Doty, M.S.: Acanthophora, a possible invader of the marine flora of Hawaii. Pacific Sci. 15, 547–552 (1961)
—: Measurement of water movement in reference to benthic algal growth. Botanica mar. 14, 32–35 (1971a)
—: Antecedent event influence on benthic marine algal standing crops in Hawaii. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 6, 161–166 (1971b)
—: Physical factors in the production of tropical benthic marine algae. In: Fertility of the sea, Vol. 1. pp 99–121. Ed. by J.D. Costlow. New York, London and Paris: Gordon & Breach Science Publishers 1971c
Earle, S.A.: Phaeophyta of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Phycologia 7, 71–254 (1969)
Fitzgerald, G.P.: Some factors in the competition or antagonism among bacteria, algae and aquatic weeds. J. Phycol. 5, 351–359 (1969)
Gessner, F.: Hydrobotanik: die physiologischen Grundlagen der Pflanzenverbreitung im Wasser, Vol. 1. 517 pp. Berlin: VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften 1955
— und L. Hammer: Die litorale Algenvegetation an den Küsten von Ost-Venezuela. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 52, 657–692 (1967)
Harger, B.: Studies on the benthic algal flora seaward from the reef flat Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii, 185 pp. Master Thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 1972
Haxo, F. and P. Stround: Nitrogen deficiency and coloration in red algae. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 99, 360–361 (1950)
John, D.H.: An ecological study on Laminaria ochroleuca. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 49, 175–187 (1969)
Kain, J.M.: The biology of Laminaria hyperborea. V. Comparison with early stages of competitors. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 49, 455–473 (1969)
Kershaw, K.A.: Quantitative and dynamic ecology, 183 pp. London: Edward Arnold Publishing Co. Ltd. 1964
Kraft, G.: The red algal genus Eucheuma in the Philippines, 358 pp. Master Thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1970
Lawson, G.W.: Seasonal variation of intertidal zonation on the coast of Ghana in relation to tidal factors. J. Ecol. 45, 831–860 (1957)
—: The littoral ecology of West Africa. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. A. Rev. 4, 405–448 (1966)
Matsumoto, F.: Studies on the effects of environmental factors on the growth of “nori” (Porphyra tenera Kjellm.) with special reference to the water current. J. Fac. Fish. Anim. Husb. Hiroshima Univ. 2, 249–333 (1959)
Misra, J.N.: The ecology, distribution and seasonal succession of the littoral algae on the west coast of India. In: Proceedings of Symposium on Algology, 1959, pp 187–203. New Delhi, India: Indian Council of Agricultural Research 1960
Nienhuis, P.H.: The use of permanent sample plots in studying the quantitative ecology of algae in salt marshes. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 7, 251–254 (1972). (Ed. by K. Nisizawa, Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press)
Russell, G. and A.H. Fielding: The competitive properties of marine algae in culture. J. Ecol. 62, 689–698 (1974)
Santelices, B.: Ecological studies on Hawaiian Gelidiales, 547 pp. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 1975
Schumacher, G.J. and L.A. Whitford. Respiration and P-32 uptake in various species of fresh water algae as affected by a current. J. Phycol. 1, 78–80 (1965)
Schwenke, H.: Vergleichende Resistenzuntersuchungen an marinen Rotalgen aus Nord-und Ostsee (Salzgehaltsresistenz). Kieler Meeresforsch. 16, 201–213 (1960)
—: Water movement: plants. In: Marine ecology, Vol. 1. Part 2. pp 1091–1121. Ed. by. O. Kinne. London: Wiley-Interscience 1971
Southward, A.J.: The population balance between limpets and seaweeds on wave beaten rocky shores. Rep. mar. biol. Stn Port Erin 68, 20–29 (1956)
Svedelius, N.: Über die Algenvegetation eines Ceylonischen Korallenriffes, mit besonderer Rücksicht auf ihre Periodizität. In: Botaniska Studier, tillaegnade F. R. Kjellman, pp 184–220. Ed. by R. Sernander, N. Svedelius and R.O. Noren. Uppsala: Almquist and Wiksells Boktrycherie 1906
Taylor, W.R. and A.J. Bernatowicz: Distribution of marine algae about Bermuda. Spec. Publs Bermuda biol. Stn Res. 1, 1–42 (1969)
Umamaheswararao, M. and T. Sreeramulu: Vertical zonation and seasonal variation in the growth of Porphyra on Visakhapatnam coast. Curr. Sci. 32, 2–3 (1963)
——: An ecological study of some intertidal algae of the Visakhapatnam coast. J. Ecol. 52, 595–616 (1964)
Vidaver, W.: Dissolved gases: plants. In: Marine ecology, Vol. 1. Part 3. pp 1471–1489. Ed. by O. Kinne. London: Wiley-Interscience 1972
Whitford, L.A. and C.S. Kim: The effect of light and water movement on some species of marine algae. Revue algol. 8, 251–255 (1966)
— and E.J. Schumacher: Effect of current in mineral uptake and respiration by freshwater algae. Limnol. Oceanogr. 6, 423–425 (1961)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J.M. Lawrence, Tampa
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Santelices, B. Water movement and seasonal algal growth in Hawaii. Mar. Biol. 43, 225–235 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402315
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402315