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Epiphytism in a subtidal natural bed of Gracilaria gracilis of southwestern Atlantic coast (Chubut, Argentina)

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Abstract

The diversity of epiphytes, their temporal abundance variation and the anatomical structure of host–epiphyte interfaces were studied in the agarophyte Gracilaria gracilis from a natural bed in Bahía Bustamante, Chubut Province, Argentina. Twenty-nine algal species were recorded as epiphytes during 2 years of monthly sampling (March 2006–February 2008). Total epiphyte density ranged between 0.037 ind. cm−2 (November 2006) and 39.37 ind. cm−2 (April 2007), with higher density values throughout the second sampling year. Ceramiales species were the most abundant epiphytes. The density of Ceramium rubrum ranged from 0.09 ind. cm−2 (52 % of the total amount) in September 2006 to 17.4 ind. cm−2 (44.18 % of the total amount) in April 2007. Epiphyte infection was more dependent on spore recruitment and sporeling development, especially on thalli derived from fragmentation, than on seasonal environmental variations. The different infections were analysed, taking into account the epiphytic attachment strength and invasiveness and the degree of damage inflicted on the host. Calothrix confervicola was one of the most abundant species. This epiphyte, weakly attached to the host surface, generated no host tissue damage. In contrast, C. rubrum, Polysiphonia abscissa and other Ceramiales were the species that caused more damage to the host because their rhizoids penetrated the cortical portion of the host thallus, sometimes reaching the medullary tissue. Some generalisations and characterisations of the different epiphyte groups in relation to their consequences to Gracilaria spp. are presented.

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Acknowledgments

This study is part of the PhD thesis of LAM in the Universidad Nacional del Sur, República Argentina (UNS). Funds have been provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), grant PIP 5045 and by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, grant BID 1728/OC-AR-PICT 632. We would like to thank Soriano S.A. for their logistic assistance during our work in the field. ALB and PIL are research members of CONICET.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Estudios Básicos y Biotecnológicos en Algas y Hongos, 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

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

    Lucas A. Martín, Alicia B. Miravalles & Patricia I. Leonardi

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

    Alicia L. Boraso de Zaixso

  4. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María C. Rodríguez

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  1. Lucas A. Martín
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  2. Alicia L. Boraso de Zaixso
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  3. Alicia B. Miravalles
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  4. María C. Rodríguez
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  5. Patricia I. Leonardi
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Correspondence to Patricia I. Leonardi.

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Martín, L.A., de Zaixso, A.L.B., Miravalles, A.B. et al. Epiphytism in a subtidal natural bed of Gracilaria gracilis of southwestern Atlantic coast (Chubut, Argentina). J Appl Phycol 25, 1319–1329 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9961-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9961-7

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