Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington
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The Distribution and Influence of the Introduced Alga Colpomenia Bullosa in the Rocky Intertidal

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posted on 2021-11-11, 20:53 authored by McNaughtan, Daniel Francis

The brown alga Colpomenia bullosa was first observed in New Zealand more than 20 years ago, yet very little is known about its current intertidal distribution or possible effects it may be having on native communities. This study addresses some of these issues. Surveys indicate little spatial variation in abundance around the Wellington region, however, the sporophytic crustose phase is restricted to pools high in the littoral zone while the gametophytic upright has a low- to sub-littoral distribution. Physiology experiments indicate that C. bullosa can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, but the crustose phase has a poor desiccation tolerance. A series of tranplant and competition experiments confirmed this and suggested that the crustose phase requires some level of facilitation by molluscan herbivores in order to become established. These experiments also revealed that crustose C. bullosa does not compete well against more upright macroalgal species. The effects of this introduced algae on native communities are likely to be minimal given its restricted intertidal distribution and its inability to compete against more upright species.

History

Copyright Date

2007-01-01

Date of Award

2007-01-01

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Marine Biology

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Level

Masters

Degree Name

Master of Science

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Language

en_NZ

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Biological Sciences

Advisors

Zuccarello, Joe