Grazing preferences of marine isopods and amphipods on three prominent algal species of the Baltic Sea

Preference tests were performed over a two-week period in September 2001 in which isopods (Idotea baltica) and amphipods (Gammarus oceanicus) were offered choices of three common species of algae from the Baltic Sea: Enteromorpha intestinalis, Cladophora spp., and Fucus vesiculosus. After a 48-hour starvation period, 20 individuals of each grazer species were placed in aquaria containing approximately 1.0 g of each algal species. Fifteen trials for each grazer species were run for 20 hours. We found that G. oceanicus ate significantly more Cladophora spp. and E. intestinalis than F. vesiculosus (p<0.001), with a preference order of: Cladophora spp.>E. intestinalis>F. vesiculosus. Similarly, I. baltica ate significantly more of both the filamentous green algae than F. vesiculosus (p<0.001), with a preference order of: E. intestinalis>Cladophora spp.>F. vesiculosus. Given the preference of isopods and amphipods for filamentous green algae, we might expect these algae to be maintained at low biomass levels. However, this is clearly not the case in the Baltic Sea. Nutrient enrichment (bottom-up effects) is the accepted dominant reason for the non-controlling impact of algal grazers, but other reasons may include cascading trophic effects resulting from the removal of large piscivorous fish (top-down effects).     

Winter colonisation and succession of filamentous macroalgae on artificial substrates and possible relationships to Fucus vesiculosus settlement in early summer

During the reproduction period of Fucus vesiculosus, which occurs only once a year (in May–June) along the Finnish coast of the northern Baltic Sea, a thick carpet of filamentous algae often covers hard substrates suitable for zygote settlement. By placing out artificial substrates into the field, monthly over a period of eight months prior to F. vesiculosus settlement (October 2001–June 2002), we investigated the autumn/winter/spring colonisation and succession of filamentous algae and their possible relationships with the settlement success of F. vesiculosus under naturally variable field conditions. The substrates exposed in October 2001 became covered by filamentous brown algal Pilayella littoralis mats, which persisted over the settlement period of F. vesiculosus, but now also were accompanied by large amounts of the filamentous green alga Cladophora glomerata. The substrates exposed from November 2001 onwards hosted smaller amounts of P. littoralis during the winter and different filamentous algal communities at the time of F. vesiculosus settlement, i.e. less P. littoralis and C. glomerata, but Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus, Ceramium tenuicorne and Ulva intestinalis instead. We observed recruits of F. vesiculosus on all substrates, except on the ones placed out in October 2001. Significantly more P. littoralis and C. glomerata on the October substrates may explain the failed F. vesiculosus recruitment, although we could not establish direct causal or correlational relationships between filamentous algae and F. vesiculosus settlement. We compared the results with a previous un-replicated pilot study in the same area demonstrating similar response patterns.     

Effect studies of human pharmaceuticals on Fucus vesiculosus and Gammarus spp

In two experiments, the human pharmaceutical propranolol negatively affected the physiology of two test organisms, Fucus vesiculosus and Gammarus spp. from a Baltic Sea littoral community in a concentration of 1000 μg l⁻¹. Some effects were also observed for the lower, more ecologically relevant concentrations (10 μg l⁻¹ and 100 μg l⁻¹). The effects on F. vesiculosus not only increased with increasing concentration, but also with exposure time; while the effects on Gammarus spp. were more inconsistent over time. No clear effects of the pharmaceuticals diclofenac and ibuprofen were observed for any of the organisms. Physiological parameters measured were GP:R-ratio, chlorophyll fluorescence and release of coloured dissolved organic matter, respiration and ammonium excretion. Pharmaceutical substances are repeatedly detected in the Baltic Sea which is the recipient for STP effluents from more than 85 million people living in the catchment area, but the knowledge of their effects on non-target organisms is still very limited.     

Local distribution patterns of macroalgae in relation to environmental variables in the northern Baltic Proper

The relationship between macroalgal assemblages and abiotic factors was quantified by gradient analyses in an area where long-term changes in macroalgal depth distributions have previously been documented. Biomass data from 4, 6, 8 and 10 m depth in an area of similar salinity (5) and substrate (rock) in the northern Baltic Proper was constrained by a set of environmental variables defining different aspects of abiotic control of species distributions (sediment cover, effective fetch, clarity index, the curvature and slope of the bottom, and direction of exposure) in multivariate analyses at different scales. Fucus vesiculosus dominated the biomass at 4, 6 and 8 m depth, and Furcellaria lumbricalis at 10 m. The applied models explained 30.7–53.3% of the total variance in community structure, and 49.3–60.9% when analysed separately for each depth. A separate analysis of species depth distributions demonstrated that effective fetch was most strongly related to upper limits of the algal belts, sediment cover to the lower limit and density of the F. vesiculosus belt, and clarity index to the lower limits of F. vesiculosus, perennial red algae, and of the red algal and Sphacelaria spp. belts. The results show a strong correlation between environmental variables and vegetation structure even on a small, local scale in the northern Baltic Proper, indicating a high suitability of the phytobenthic zone for environmental monitoring. The results add to previous studies that show a strong importance of abiotic factors on large-scale variation in phytobentic community composition in the Baltic Sea.     

Arsenic in seawater and brown algae of the Baltic and the North Sea

A long-term study within the pilot environmental specimen bank programme of the Federal Republic of Germany on arsenic levels in coastal and open seawater and their reflection in the brown seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus) has been performed. Dissolved arsenic was on average 0.76 (range 0.45–1.11) μgl⁻¹ for 17 sampling stations in the Baltic Sea, whereas contents of dissolved arsenic are somewhat higher in shallow waters of the coastal zone of the North Sea. Total arsenic levels in algae ranged up to 40 mg kg⁻¹ (dry weight) and showed for the four locations studied obvious seasonal variations for comparatively nonpolluted or nondisturbed locations only. However, probably due to biological influences, the results obtained so far indicate that composite samples integrating a one year period are supposed to be the best strategy for future environmental specimen banking. Using a new efficient speciation technique the percentage of chemically stable organoarsenic compounds in the investigated algae has been found to be 95% of the total arsenic content and thus somewhat lower than in teleost fish. For comparison, typical data for a few other algae species from the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea are also shown.     

Differential recruitment of introduced Pacific oysters and native mussels at the North Sea coast: coexistence possible?

Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg 1793) have been introduced into the Wadden Sea (North Sea), where they settle on native mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.), which represent the only extensive insular hard substrata in this soft-sediment environment. As abundances of C. gigas rose, some mussel beds became increasingly overgrown with oysters, whereas others did not. Field experiments revealed that recruitment of C. gigas was higher in the lower intertidal than in the upper subtidal zone, that it was higher on conspecifics than on mussels, and that it was not affected by barnacle epigrowth except when settling on mussels. Mussel recruitment is known from inter- and subtidal zones. It occurred equally on oyster and mussel shells but showed a clear preference for barnacle epigrowth over clean shells. Assuming that settlement and recruitment are key processes for species abundances on the North Sea coast, it is predicted that the positive feedback in oyster settlement will lead to rapid reef formation of this invader at the expense of mussel beds. Mussels, however, may escape competitive exclusion by settling between or on the larger oysters especially when barnacles are abundant. Experimental patches with mussels were more often covered by fucoid algae (Fucus vesiculosus forma mytili Nienburg) than patches with oysters, and oyster recruitment was poor underneath such algal canopies. Thus, fucoids may provide the native mussels with a refuge from the invading oysters and the two bivalves may coexist, provided food is not limiting.     

Consumption and feeding preference of Echinogammarus marinus on two different algae: Fucus vesiculosus and Ulva intestinalis

Echinogammarus marinus constitutes the most abundant amphipod species in Fucus spp. assemblages from many North Atlantic estuaries. However, there are some doubts about the real use of fucoids by the amphipod. Whilst some studies report the ingestion of Fucus vesiculosus by E. marinus, others suggest that the amphipod preference for fucoids is mostly related to sheltering rather than feeding, due to the high phlorotannin content of brown algae. The purpose of the present work was to disentangle this issue by checking the consumption rate and feeding preference of E. marinus on F. vesiculosus, its preferential habitat, and on Ulva intestinalis, a green algae abundant in the Mondego estuary (Western Coast of Portugal) and usually considered as highly palatable for herbivores.In a 2-stage laboratorial setup, fresh disks of the two types of algae were offered to E. marinus for three days. Consumption rates were estimated from differences between algal and animal initial and final fresh weights using a control correction factor, while preference was tested by differences in algal consumption rates when no choice was offered (stage 1) and when the two algae were offered simultaneously (stage 2).Results showed that E. marinus effectively consumed fresh F. vesiculosus in much higher amounts than U. intestinalis and significantly preferred to consume F. vesiculosus over U. intestinalis. Therefore, feeding habits must be one of the factors related to the close association of the amphipod with F. vesiculosus, although other factors may also be involved (e.g. sheltering).     

The role of gametes of the macroalgae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascophyllum nodosum</Emphasis> (L.) Le Jolis and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fucus vesiculosus</Emphasis> L. (Fucales,Phaeophyceae) in summer nanoplankton of the White Sea coastal waters

Studies of macrophytes in the coastal zone of the Artic Seas, including the White Sea, have shown the essential role of these algae in the activity of the coastal half-latitude ecosystems. In summer, during the macrophyte reproduction period, a great number of reproduction products are released into the water. For a short time, this considerably affects the ratio of the nanoplankton in the populations that inhibit the vast and shallow coastal areas. At different coastal sites in Chernorechenskaya Inlet, Kadalaksha Bay, during the period of intensive reproduction of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus, 42 plankton samples were collected in 2005. During this period the concentration of antherozoids in the water reached 55000 cells/ml (216 mg C/m³). The number of eggs was within the range of 0.05–0.7 cells/ml. The proportion of antherozoids in the total biomass of nanoplankton varied at different coastal sites from 0.37 to 99%, with a mean of 46% for the reproduction period of A. nodosum, and only 7% for the reproduction period of F. vesiculosus. As was shown by counts of F. vesiculosus female gametes in sedimentation traps, 1 m² of the macrophyte bed (assuming 100% coverage) produces 18000–108000 eggs per day (0.33–2 mg C). The calculated flux of the reproductive material from the brown algae beds to the coastal water shows good agreement with the sample counts.     

Tissue Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations in different-aged and different functional thallus regions of three brown algae from western Ireland

Copper and iron concentrations in three brown algae, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus and Laminaria digitata (and additionally Mn in L. digitata) from the Irish west coast were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Metal concentrations in the three species were indicative of prevailing bioavailable metal concentrations in situ but varied greatly between functional tissue parts, between sites and over time. Cu concentrations in actively growing tips of A. nodosum decreased over a 4-month period during autumn/winter, while Fe concentrations increased. Both Fe and Cu concentrations in different thallus sections of A. nodosum and F. vesiculosus increased with increasing age of thallus part in a clean site, but there was no consistent trend for F. vesiculosus from an industrialized site. Within sites, concentrations of all Cu and Fe were similar in both fucoids, but concentrations at the industrialized site were about twice as high as at the pristine site. In L. digitata, all three metals were highest in holdfasts, but had distinctly different distribution patterns in stipes and blade sections, which were most likely related to growth pattern and tissue function. Fe was lowest in meristematic and young blade regions, suggesting small-scale Fe limitation in actively growing tissue. Mn concentrations were higher in distal blade sections than in stipes, and Cu concentrations were highest in meristematic and young thallus parts.     

In situ experimental decomposition studies in estuaries: A comparison of Phragmites australis and Fucus vesiculosus

The decomposition rates of Phragmites australis and Fucus vesiculosus were experimentally determined in an estuarine system using the leaf-bag technique. The study was conducted in fifteen sites arranged in five areas, extending from freshwater, outside the tidal range, to the marine environment, near the mouth of the estuary. The leaf-bags (5 mm mesh), were set up with 3.0 g of dried substrate, submerged in the experimental sites at day 0 and collected at days 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60, to follow biomass loss. The biomass loss through the leaching phase (day 3) was about 16% for Phragmites australis and 33% for Fucus vesiculosus and was independent of salinity for both substrates. The difference in the remaining biomass between the two species increased with time and the decomposition rates differed along the salinity gradient. For F. vesiculosus, the decomposition rate was highest near the mouth of the estuary, corresponding to the preferential distribution area of the algae, and decreased towards freshwater. For Phragmites australis, the fastest decay was observed in the mid estuary, where Phragmites australis occurs naturally, confirming previous studies. The decomposition rates measured at different time intervals (0–15, 0–30 and 0–60 days) were always higher for the algae and decreased with time for both species. These results indicate that the use of decomposition rates as a measure of ecosystem integrity or quality status in transitional waters will not be straightforward and must take into account, among others, the test species, the study area positioning along the estuarine gradient, and the time interval for the calculation of the decomposition rate.     

Does the zooplankton prey availability limit the larval habitats of pike in the Baltic Sea?

The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate whether the availability of suitable zooplankton prey limits the distribution of the coastal larval areas of pike (Esox lucius) in two archipelago areas of the northern Baltic Sea and (2) compare the availability of zooplankton prey in spring between different types of coastal littoral habitat. According to the results, reed belt habitats formed by Phragmites australis constitute hot spots for zooplankton prey in the coastal ecosystem. During the spring, reed-covered shores of the inner archipelago maintained more than 10 times higher densities of copepods and cladocerans, the preferred prey for larval pike, compared to the other studied shores. Temperature conditions were also most favourable in the reed belt habitat. Thus, the reed belts of the inner and middle archipelago were shown to form the best habitat for larval pike in the coastal area of the northern Baltic Sea, and this was also the only habitat where pike larvae were found. Our results suggest that the poor survival and recruitment of pike in the outer archipelago, however, cannot exclusively be explained by sub-optimal feeding conditions of the larvae. There are also other important factors, presumably connected to the exposure to the open sea, that affect the distribution of the pike larvae. Our results, however, highlight the importance of sheltered coastal reed belt shores as reproduction habitat for spring-spawning fish in the northern Baltic Sea. Further, this study disproves the assumption that the seaweed bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) forms a reproduction habitat for pike in the coastal area.     

细弱红翎菜(Solieria tenuis)的物种鉴定及其在青岛市琅琊台湾海域的生长调查研究

2021年7月末至10月初,位于黄海沿岸的青岛市西海岸新区琅琊台湾贡口拦海坝处出现大量悬浮生长的大型红藻。为明确该类群的分类地位,探究其生物学特征,对该处红藻群体展开了实地调研,并采集相关样本开展了形态鉴定和分子系统发育分析。该群体主要由一种红藻组成,藻体紫红色、圆柱形,质软多肉,高度可达20cm,不规则互生分枝,分枝基部强烈缢缩、顶端尖细;藻体主轴横截面观可见较小的含色素外皮层细胞以及较大的近圆形假薄壁细胞和分布在髓层中央的散乱、疏松的丝状细胞。结合分子标记rbc L和cox I基因的系统发育分析结果,该物种被鉴定为细弱红翎菜(Solieria tenuis Zhang et Xia)。与历史研究记录不同,贡口拦海坝处的细弱红翎菜群体缺乏固着器和繁殖结构,悬浮性营养生长,所在海域丰富的氮磷营养可能为其快速生长提供了物质基础,在生长高峰期该群体总生物量约6 t (干重),是一次局部区域性小规模“藻华”。细弱红翎菜的悬浮生态型和暴发性增殖现象表明该物种可能具有较强的环境适应性,其生理特征和潜在的生态风险需进一步关注。     

秦皇岛海域秋季石花菜(Gelidium amansii)附生大型海藻的实验分类学研究

秦皇岛海域属于我国渤海区域典型的大型海藻分布区,该海区资源丰富,在我国大型海藻区系中占有较为重要的位置。于2021年秋季在该海域采集石花菜(Gelidium amansii)样品进行活体培养,对其藻体附生的其他季节大型海藻的状况加以观察研究。通过实验生物学方法对石花菜附生藻生殖特征和生态习性进行了观察,结合附生藻形态特征进行物种分类鉴定。经过培养与鉴定,确定该水域石花菜的附生大型海藻共有7种,其中红藻4种,即丛出旋体藻(Audouinelladaviesii)、旋体藻(Auduinella sp.)、茎丝藻小枝变型(Stylonema alsidii f. ramosum)和日本新管藻(Neosiphonia japonica);绿藻2种,即苍白刚毛藻(Cladophora albida)和浒苔[Enteromorpha (Ulva) prolifera];蓝藻1种,即丝状鞘丝藻(Lyngbya confervoides);丛出旋体藻、茎丝藻小枝变型和苍白刚毛藻为河北海域的新记录物种。研究结果表明,室内人工培养可作为个体微小的附生大型海藻分类鉴定的有效补充方法,也能为分子鉴定提供纯净的...     

条斑紫菜栽培过程中有害藻类的分离与鉴定

针对条斑紫菜栽培过程中出现的有害藻类问题,进行了叶状体和丝状体有害藻类分离与鉴定等相关研究。通过形态学分析和分子生物学鉴定,发现叶状体中的杂藻主要有大型绿藻(浒苔、曲浒苔)、大型红藻(红毛菜)以及微型绿藻和硅藻,丝状体中的杂藻主要为褐藻、微型绿藻和硅藻。针对部分微型杂藻进行了抑制剂处理实验,结果表明低浓度的抗生素可以有效抑制部分硅藻和绿藻的生长,二氧化锗对硅藻生长具有显著的抑制效果。研究结果为系统、全面认识条斑紫菜栽培过程中的有害藻类提供了科学依据。     

小球藻对不同盐度海水养殖尾水的净化效果研究

微藻处理养殖尾水已成为热点研究方向,有关一定盐度范围内海水养殖尾水的微藻处理研究较少。本试验调配了两种盐度(16和26)的海水养殖尾水,以空白组作对照,设置小球藻(Chlorella salina)初始接种密度梯度(5×10⁵、1×10⁶、2×10⁶和3×10⁶个/mL),研究小球藻对海水养殖尾水中不同形态氮和磷的去除效果。结果表明,小球藻在海水养殖尾水中生长良好,可有效去除尾水中的氮磷营养盐,16盐度组中各初始藻密度组对NH₄⁺、NO₃^-和总溶解态氮(total dissolved nitrogen,TDN)的去除率分别为85.03%~85.87%、60.87%~63.70%和54.53%~57.64%,组间无显著差异(P>0.05);26盐度组中除5×10⁵组外,其余藻密度组对NH₄⁺、NO₃^-和TDN的去除率分别为87.23%~88.16%、56.70%~57.79%和53.31%~54.62%,且组间无显著差异(P>0.05),表明小球藻初始接种密度对尾水中氮盐的去除无显著影响。除5×10⁵个/mL组外,16与26盐度组中对TDN的去除率无显著差异,表明盐度变化对氮的去除无影响。随着初始藻密度的升高,16和26处理组对总溶解态磷(total dissolved phosphorus,TDP)的去除率均上升,分别为76.13%~99.53%和63.72%~96.83%,表明藻初始接种密度的升高可促进尾水中磷的去除,且盐度升高没有影响小球藻对磷的去除。本研究获得了不同初始接种密度小球藻对一定盐度范围的海水养殖尾水的吸收利用特点,可为海水养殖尾水的生态化处理提供一定的理论基础。     

Chelation of divalent metal ions by brown algal polyphenols

High-molecular-weight, nondialyzable polyphloroglucinols from the marine brown algae Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) chelate the divalent metal ions Sr²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Be²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in weakly acidic aqueous solution. Values of the relative selectivity coefficients k have been calculated relative to Mn²⁺; the ionotropic series with the algal polyphenols are similar to those with catechol and pyrogallol. These studies may serve as a guide for the examination of metal chelation by brown algal polyphenols both in situ and after exudation into seawater.     

Ship-of-opportunity based phycocyanin fluorescence monitoring of the filamentous cyanobacteria bloom dynamics in the Baltic Sea

Distribution of cyanobacteria cannot be evaluated using chlorophyll a (Chla) in vivo fluorescence, as most of their Chla is located in non-fluorescing photosystem I. Phycobilin fluorescence, in turn, is noted as a useful tool in the detection of cyanobacterial blooms. We applied phycocyanin (PC) fluorometer in the monitoring of the filamentous cyanobacterial bloom in the Baltic Sea. For the bloom forming filamentous cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Nodularia spumigena, PC fluorescence maximum was identified using the excitation–emission fluorescence matrix. Consequently, the optical setup of our instrument was noted to be appropriate for the detection of PC, and with minor or no interference from Chla and phycoerythrin fluorescence, respectively.During summer 2005, the instrument was installed on a ferryboat commuting between Helsinki (Finland) and Travemünde (Germany), and data were collected during 32 transects providing altogether 200 000 fluorescence records. PC in vivo fluorescence was compared with Chla in vivo fluorescence and turbidity measured simultaneously, and with Chla concentration and biomass of the bloom forming filamentous cyanobacteria determined from discrete water samples.PC fluorescence showed a linear relation to the biomass of the bloom forming filamentous cyanobacteria, and the other sources of PC fluorescence are considered minor in the open Baltic Sea. Estimated by PC fluorescence, cyanobacterial bloom initiated late June at the Northern Baltic Proper, rapidly extended to the central Baltic Proper and the Gulf of Finland, and peaked in the mid-July with values up to 10 mg l⁻¹ (fresh weight). In late July, bloom vanished in most areas.During single transects, or for the whole summer, the variability in Chla concentrations was explained more by PC fluorescence than by Chla fluorescence. Thus, filamentous cyanobacteria dominated the overall variability in phytoplankton biomass. Consequently, we show that during the cyanobacterial blooms, the estimation of Chla concentration using only Chla in vivo fluorescence is not applicable, but PC in vivo fluorescence is required as a predictor as well.     

Genotyping of Rhodopirellula baltica organisms using multispacer sequence typing

Rhodopirellula baltica is a ubiquitous Planctomycetes organism isolated from marine environments worldwide. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) has been the only method used to assess the diversity of R. baltica organisms. Here, we developed multispacer sequence typing (MST) genotyping and applied it to four R. baltica isolates from the French Mediterranean Sea and R. baltica DSM10527^T type strain. While MLSA yielded interpretable sequences for two of nine genes in three R. baltica isolates, MST based on sequencing two intergenic spacers yielded an unambiguous, strain‐specific profile for each one of the four R. baltica isolates under investigation. We propose that MST could be used as an alternative R. baltica genotyping method to assess the diversity of these Planctomycetes organisms.     

Facilitation of macroalgae by the sedimentary tube forming polychaete Diopatra cuprea

Marine foundation organisms such as seagrasses, corals, and kelps facilitate the distribution of numerous organisms by creating refuges from environmental stressors and by providing food and substrate for settlement and growth. Barren soft-sediment systems often have faunal organisms that facilitate other species by habitat modification. We investigated how an abundant (21 m⁻²) tube cap forming polychaete, Diopatra cuprea, facilitates macroalgal distribution in Hog Island Bay, a turbid shallow tidal lagoon in Virginia (USA). Seventy percent of the number of mudflat macroalgae were found incorporated into protruding D. cuprea tube caps and field experiments showed that D. cuprea facilitates algal persistence by providing a stable substrate retaining algae against hydrodynamic forces such as tidal flushing and storm surge. If tube caps were removed, simulating storm-induced erosion, they were rebuilt within days and new drift algae incorporated. Also, D. cuprea facilitated the algal assemblage by fragmenting thalli in the attachment process, thereby ensuring a constant fragment supply for vegetative re-growth if storm-induced pruning occurs. On a species-specific level, Gracilaria verrucosa and Ulva curvata benefited more from tube cap construction compared to Fucus vesiculosus, Agardhiella subulata and the alien Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides. This was partly because G. verrucosa and U. curvata were incorporated and fragmented more readily, and partly because they probably have physiological, morphological and biomechanical traits that enable them to better co-exist with D. cuprea. These results suggest that macroalgal distribution throughout Hog Island Bay to a large extent is linked to the distribution of D. cuprea. The processes of algal attachment, retainment, recovery, re-growth and fragmentation, can have important ecosystem implications because of the sheer abundance of the Diopatra-Gracilaria/Ulva association.     

Trace metal concentrations in brown seaweeds, Cardigan Bay, Wales

Concentrations of zinc, cadmium, copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and molybdenum are examined in brown algae, Fucus serratus and F. vesiculosus, from Cardigan Bay, Irish Sea, Great Britain. In both species a seasonal variation in metal content was observed. Zinc, cadmium, copper, iron nickel and cobalt concentrations were highest in the spring and lowest in the autumn, probably reflecting levels of metabolic activity and climatic factors. All the studied elements, except nickel, reached highest concentrations in harbour specimens from Aberystwyth and Aberaeron where rivers draining mineralized areas enter the sea. Outside harbours, marked regional variations were observed in most of the studied elements. Zinc values were highest in the Aberystwyth area while copper and manganese were highest in the northeast part of the bay.Trace-element concentrations varied among different species from the same locality and also varied according to position on the shore.Marine algae may be used to monitor coastal-water trace-metal concentrations, provided a careful sampling procedure is adopted.