Skip to main content
Log in

Growth rates of Corallina officinalis (Rhodophyta) at different temperatures

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Specimens of Corallina officinalis L. were grown in the laboratory for 6 and 8 weeks at temperatures of 6°, 12°, 18°, and 25°C. After 6 weeks, the mean growth rates of main axes were 2.8 mm at 18°C, 2.9 mm at 12°C, and 0.2 mm at 5°C; no growth occurred at 25°C. At 6°C, growth increased with lower light intensities. The mean total increase in length of branchlets present when the plants were collected did not vary significantly at 12° and 18°C. At 12°C, axial intergenicula formed in culture produced more new branchlets than did field-grown intergenicula. Also, the production of these branchlets on cultured intergenicula was higher at 12°C than at 18°C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Adey, W. H.: The genus Phymatolithon in the Gulf of Maine. Hydrobiologia 24, 377–420 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The genus Clathromorphum (Corallinaceae) in the Gulf of Maine. Hydrobiologia 26, 539–573 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The effects of light and temperature on growth rates in boreal-subaretic crustose corallines. J. Phycol. 6, 269–276 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • — and D. L. McKibben: Studies on the Maerl species Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) nov. comb. and Lithothamnium coralloides Crowan in the Ria de Vigo. Botanica mar. 13, 100–106 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover, J. T.: Seasonal growth in benthic marine plants as related to environmental factors in an estuary. Inst. mar. Sci. 5, 97–147 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, D. B.: Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometries 11, 1–42 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas, P., T. G. Hill and W. R. H. Karstens: The metabolism of calcareous algae. II. The seasonal variation in certain metabolic products of Corallina squamata Ellis. Ann. Bot. 49, 609–619 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansen, H. W. and L. F. Austin: Growth rates in the articulated coralline Calliarthron (Rhodophyta). Can. J. Bot. 48, 125–132 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, I. M. and M. H. Zimmermann: Marine vegetation of Cape Ann, Essex County, Massachusetts. Rhodora 66, 217–254 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, V. B.: Radioisotopic study of calcification in the articulated coralline alga Bossiella orbigniana. J. Phycol. 8, 88–97 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, W. R.: Marine algae of the eastern tropical and subtropical coasts of the Americas, 870 pp. Ann. Arbor: University of Michigan Press 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Department of Commerce: Surface water temperature and density, Atlantic Coast, North and South America, 102 pp. Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office 1968.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami

Based on a dissertation completed at Clark University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Arts degree by B. J. Colthart.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Colthart, B.J., Johansen, H.W. Growth rates of Corallina officinalis (Rhodophyta) at different temperatures. Marine Biology 18, 46–49 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347919

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347919

Keywords

Navigation