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Colonization of subtidal macroalgae in a fucalean-dominated algal assemblage, southwestern Australia

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Abstract

The influence of fucalean canopy species and dominant understory macroalgae on algal colonization was investigated to evaluate whether layering contributes to patterns in algal diversity. Patterns in recruitment were compared among total-clearing, understory-removal, canopy-removal, and undisturbed plots (plot area = 0.25 m2), using a randomized block design in depths <10 m and 10–20 m at Woody Island, Western Australia. To evaluate if propagules were available in the water column above the canopy layer, settlement plates (plate area = 0.04 m2) were deployed in depths <10 m, 10–20 m, and >20 m. A total of 198 macroalgal species was recorded. Biomass of the understory species Osmundaria prolifera Lamouroux and Botryocladia sonderi Silva was similar between canopy-removal and undisturbed plots. Diversity of macroalgae was similar in the presence and absence of a canopy layer. Taxa found in the canopy showed different patterns in recruitment. Cystoseiraceae recruited predominantly in total-clearings in both depth strata. Sargassaceae recruited most abundantly in depths <10 m. Density of canopy taxa on settlement plates was similar with depth (20–30 juveniles per plate), and juveniles were mainly Cystoseiraceae. In contrast to kelp beds or forests, patterns in algal colonization appeared to be maintained by environmental factors or processes other than the direct effects of layering in the subtidal fucoid-dominated assemblages at Woody Island.

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Acknowledgements

I sincerely thank J. Heine for support in the field, and to J. Heine, G. Kendrick, and two anonymous reviewers, whose comments greatly improved the manuscript. Special thanks go to the Mackenzie and Howells families, who donated the use of their facilities on Woody Island and transportation on the ferry Seabreeze, boat captain P. Rose who helped retrieve the subsurface moorings, Department of Conservation and Land Management for use of their depot, the Seimer family, shop technician R Scott, lab technician H. Ngo and Professor D.I. Walker. This work was supported by the University of Western Australia International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and Whitfeld Fellowship, the CSIRO-Western Australian Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment, and School of Plant Biology (UWA).

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  1. School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Nisse A. Goldberg

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  1. Nisse A. Goldberg
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Correspondence to Nisse A. Goldberg.

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Goldberg, N.A. Colonization of subtidal macroalgae in a fucalean-dominated algal assemblage, southwestern Australia. Hydrobiologia 575, 423–432 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0356-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0356-0

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