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Seasonal growth, erosion rates, and nitrogen and photosynthetic ecophysiology of Undaria pinnatifida (Heterokontophyta) in southern New Zealand

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 01:56 authored by Dean, PR, Catriona HurdCatriona Hurd
The goal of this study was to examine growth, erosion rates, and the photosynthetic and nitrogen ecophysiology of the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (Harv.) Suringar. Sporophytes of U. pinnatifida that appeared in Otago Harbour, southeastern New Zealand, in late autumn (May) 1996 were tagged, and their growth rates followed until the onset of senescence in early summer (November 1996). Blade growth rates were maximal between May and August when they ranged from 0.77 ± 0.05 to 0.93 ± 0.05 cm · d−1 and declined from September onward. In laboratory experiments, U. pinnatifida took up nitrate and ammonium simultaneously at rates ranging from 21.3 ± 2.1 to 179.3 ± 65.1 μmol · g−1 dry weight (dwt) · h−1. When monthly patterns of growth rate, seawater inorganic nitrogen, nitrogen uptake kinetics, soluble tissue nitrate, % tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and C:N ratio were considered together, there was no evidence that N limited the growth of U. pinnatifida. Furthermore, the photosynthetic parameters Pmax, α, Ek, Ec, and Rd derived from P versus E curves indicated that the growth of U. pinnatifida was not light limited, and that the population could potentially grow deeper than its observed location at 4 m depth. Nitrogen and light ecophysiological parameters of U. pinnatifida more closely resemble those of small, ephemeral seaweeds, such as Ulva, than other members of the Laminariales. We suggest that a “plastic” physiology may allow U. pinnatifida sporophytes to match their physiology to a range of environments, which is one reason for its success as an invasive seaweed.

History

Publication title

Journal of Phycology

Volume

43

Issue

6

Pagination

1138-1148

ISSN

0022-3646

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Inc

Place of publication

350 Main St, Malden, USA, Ma, 02148

Rights statement

Copyright 2007 Phycological Society of America

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in coastal and estuarine environments

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