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Biomass variation and reproductive phenology of Gracilaria gracilis in a Patagonian natural bed (Chubut, Argentina)

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Abstract

The biomass variation and the reproduction of the natural Gracilaria gracilis bed in Bahía Bustamante (Patagonia, Argentina) were analyzed for 2 years, with the aim of determining the present situation of the population for an updated status overview; establishing the relevant features of the temporal variation in both biomass and reproductive states in relation to environmental factors, epiphytes and associated algae; and assessing carpospore availability for future spore-culture development. Field measurements and sampling were performed monthly between March 2006 and February 2008. In both years, G. gracilis biomass presented marked seasonal variations, with a minimum in winter and a maximum in late spring and in summer. During both years, coexistence of the three life-cycle phases was found, with dominance of tetrasporophytes. Two data sets from individuals originated from sexual reproduction (tetraspores and carpospores) and from asexual reproduction by thallus fragmentation were analyzed separately. In the fragmentation fraction, tetrasporophyte frequencies remained higher than those for gametophytes. However, in the spore-originated fraction, a generation ratio close to 0.5 was observed. Female gametophytes bearing cystocarps were always present, with a maximum in summer and autumn. Biological data were related to environmental factors by means of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The first year was characterized by higher biomass values of G. gracilis and Undaria pinnatifida, lower epiphytism, larger Gracilaria thalli and greater proportion of mature tetrasporophytes and gametophytes. The second year was characterized by a high proportion of Gracilaria vegetative thalli and high epiphyte density. The best time to obtain spores from cystocarpic thalli would be in summer and early autumn.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET): PIP 5045 and Agencia Nacional Argentina para la Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT): BID 1728/OC-AR-PICT 632. We thank Soriano S.A. for their logistic assistance during our work in the field and Christophe Destombe for his valuable suggestions that contributed to manuscript improvement. LAM is a Fellow Member of CONICET. ALB and PIL are Research Members of CONICET.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ficología y Micología. Departamento de Biología Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Lucas A. Martín & Patricia I. Leonardi

  2. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), CONICET, Camino de La Carrindanga, Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Lucas A. Martín & Patricia I. Leonardi

  3. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, CONICET, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

    Alicia L. Boraso de Zaixso

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  1. Lucas A. Martín
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Correspondence to Patricia I. Leonardi.

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Martín, L.A., Boraso de Zaixso, A.L. & Leonardi, P.I. Biomass variation and reproductive phenology of Gracilaria gracilis in a Patagonian natural bed (Chubut, Argentina). J Appl Phycol 23, 643–654 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-010-9555-1

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