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Publicly Available Published by De Gruyter October 19, 2012

Seasonal variation in floating persistence of detached Durvillaea antarctica (Chamisso) Hariot thalli

  • Angelika Graiff , Ulf Karsten , Steffi Meyer , David Pfender , Fadia Tala and Martin Thiel EMAIL logo
From the journal Botanica Marina

Abstract

Several large kelp species are capable of long-distance dispersal via rafting. However, seasonal changes in environmental conditions at the sea surface may variably affect the physiological status of the floating thalli; challenging conditions during summer may accelerate disintegration and cause rapid sinking. We used the bull kelp Durvillaea antarctica from northern-central Chile (30°S) to test seasonal variation in floating persistence. Experiments with tethered specimens were conducted in all seasons to assess how variable environmental conditions influence the morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of floating D. antarctica. Floating specimens stayed afloat at the surface for more than 1 month during moderate environmental conditions that prevailed in winter, spring, and fall. However, higher water temperatures and intense solar radiation in summer resulted in significant biomass losses and rapid disintegration of the floating kelps; consequently, they sank within <1 month. These strong seasonal effects were reflected in decreasing maximal quantum yield as well as in maximum relative electron transport rates of photosynthesis. Understanding physiological responses of floating algae is important because increasing global temperatures and shifts in solar radiation may strongly affect the survival of floating algae, potentially reducing the distances and frequencies of rafting dispersal.


Corresponding author: Martin Thiel, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile

Received: 2012-8-15
Accepted: 2012-9-22
Published Online: 2012-10-19
Published in Print: 2013-02-01

©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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