Kurzfassung
Zur Zeit kennt man in Neufundland drei Arten der Braunalgen-GattungAlaria: A. esculenta (L.)Grev.,A. grandifolia.J. Ag. undA. pylaii (Bory)J. Ag. Da neuere Untersuchungen jedoch gezeigt haben, daß viele der neufundländischenAlaria-Exemplare nicht mit Sicherheit zu identifizieren sind, muß die Artbestimmung experimentell erfolgen. Es wird eine Tankkultur von Sporophyten derAlaria esculenta in fließendem und filtriertem Meerwasser bei künstlicher Beleuchtung beschrieben. Die Algen, die als Zoosporen in die Kulturbecken eingebracht wurden, wuchsen innerhalb von 6 Monaten zu Sporophyten von einer Länge bis zu ca. 30 cm heran; sie blieben jedoch steril und bildeten keine Sporophylle. Für weitere experimentelle-taxonomische Untersuchungen ist es notwendig, Sporophyten zu kultivieren, welche die für die Artbestimmung wichtigen Sporophylle tragen. Möglicherweise ist das Licht ein wichtiger Faktor bei der Induktion und/oder Differenzierung der Sporophyllentwicklung.
Summary
1. In Newfoundland (Canada) the Phaeophycean genusAlaria presents difficult taxonomic problems, best approached by an experimental culture technique in which plants can be grown to maturity in the laboratory.
2. A method is described for growingAlaria esculenta (L.)Grev. in a tank supplied with filtered, free-flowing sea water and artificial illumination.
3. Starting from zoospores, sporophytes up to 30 cm long were obtained in a six months' period of growth. Although completely developed vegetatively, plants did not produce sporophylls and remained sterile.
4. Until fertile sporophytes bearing the taxonomically important sporophylls can be grown in the laboratory, experimental taxonomic work with the genus will be hampered.
5. Evidence did accumulate to indicate that sporophyll initiation, once it occurs in the field, will continue in culture. Light is considered an important factor possibly controlling sporophyll production.
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Studies in Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, No. 165; Contribution No. 36 from the Marine Sciences Research Laboratory. Supported by N.R.C. grant A-4648.
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South, G.R. Experimental culture ofAlaria in a sub-arctic, free-flowing sea water system. Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters 20, 216–228 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01609901
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01609901