Standing crop, growth and production of calcareous Siphonales (Chlorophyta) in a south Florida lagoon
Bach SD. 1979. Standing crop, growth and production of calcareous Siphonales (Chlorophyta) in a south Florida lagoon. Bulletin of Marine Science. 29(2):191-201
Production estimates of four genera of calcareous algae, Halimeda, Penicillus, Rhipocephalus and Udotea, were made in Card Sound, a lagoon 64 km south of Miami, Florida. Growth was measured directly in the field by periodically harvesting plants which emerged through rectangular strips of monofilament staked on the bottom. Production was measured directly by collecting 1-m squared samples of algae which grew through the net and indirectly by combining standing crop and life span data. Production by all four genera averaged 8.6 g ash-free dry weight/m squared/year (4.2 g Ca CO3) as estimated by the direct method and 38.4 g ash-free dry weight/m squared/ year (16.8 g CaCo3/m squared/year) as estimated by the indirect method. Halimeda incrassata accounted for more than half the total production by all four genera. Growth of H. incrassata was maximal in late summer and lowest in midwinter. Sediment production is probably the most important function of these plants in Card Sound. Abstract provided by author.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Bach, Steven
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Algae, Calcareous siphonales, calcium carbonate, Card Sound, Caribbean Sea, Ecology, Florida lagoon, Growth, Halimeda incrassata, Newman-Keuls procedure, Penicillus, Primary Productivity, Reproduction, Rhipocephalus, Salinity, Seasonal variation, sediment production, Solar Radiation, spatial variation, standing crop, Temperature, Udotea