Production and Biomass of Cladophora prolifera (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales) in Bermuda

Abstract

A bloom of the macroalga Cladophora prolifera (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales) has recently been reported in Bermuda. The present study summarizes results of experiments conducted in June, 1977, designed to measure rates of primary production and to determine biological, physical and chemical factors controlling the rapid spread of the plant. Productivity was measured using three different methods: 14 C uptake, growth and biomass accumulation. Production values for the alga as estimated by these three methods were 3.1, 2.7 and 0,7 gC/m 2 /day, respectively. Production in June, 1977 was identical to that in December, 1976. Growth of the alga appears to be controlled largely by light intensity and nutrient availability. It is also likely that C prolifera is responding to elevated levels of nutrients in Bermudas' inshore waters. The possible roles of nutrient availability, algal morphology and natural selection in structuring marine benthic macroalgal communities are discussed,

Macrophyte Abundance in Waquoit Bay: Effects of Land-Derived Nitrogen Loads on Seasonal and Multi-Year Biomass Patterns

“…and Gracilaria sp. (Conover 1958;Bach and Josselyn 1979;McComb et al 1979;Thorne-Miller et al 1983;Thybo-Christiansen et al 1993). This may be evidence that such ceilings as we posit do exist.…”

Characterization of a large-scale ephemeral bloom of the green alga Cladophora sericea on the coral reefs of West Maui, Hawai’i

“…Bach & Josselyn (1979) demonstrated that light limitation occurred around 10 m, thus explaining algal depth distribution. Schramm & Booth (1981) suggested that excessive growth of C. prolifera was not the result of nutrient enrichment per se but was due to its competitive advantages, namely the ability to tolerate H 2 S and anaerobic conditions.…”

“…In the tropics, specifically on the reefs around Bermuda, C. prolifera has formed nuisance blooms for several decades, but these are generally persistent and occur in protected, shallow, nearshore environments (Bach & Josselyn 1978, 1979, Lapointe & O'Connell 1989. In southeast Florida the green alga Codium isthmocladum has been growing excessively in deep water for some time; proliferation of this species has been blamed on deep offshore sewage seeps (Lapointe 1997).…”

“…The reefs of Bermuda have experienced large-scale blooms of the alga Cladophora prolifera since 1966 in shallow protected embayments to a depth of 10 m. Re- ; values are means ± 1 SE, n = 3 search conducted on the bloom in the 1970s and 1980s demonstrated that the alga was nutrient limited (Bach & Josselyn 1978, 1979, Lapointe & O'Connell 1989 and various nutrient enrichment treatments led to increased growth and productivity. Bach & Josselyn (1979) demonstrated that light limitation occurred around 10 m, thus explaining algal depth distribution.…”

“…Schramm & Booth (1981) suggested that excessive growth of C. prolifera was not the result of nutrient enrichment per se but was due to its competitive advantages, namely the ability to tolerate H 2 S and anaerobic conditions. Many other studies indicate that the blooms result from enhanced growth due to nutrient-enriched groundwater; it has also been suggested that the alga may be a cryptic non-indigenous species (Bach & Josselyn 1978, 1979, Lapointe & O'Connell 1989. In general, these studies lack more direct links between groundwater and algal abundance such as stable isotope analysis or other indicator nutrients such as silicate and/or salinity levels.…”