Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Marine Ecology-Progress Series

Publication Date

2-1-1995

First Page

193

Last Page

206

Issue Number

40546

Volume Number

117

Abstract/ Summary

Morphological variation within and among many species of algae show correlated life history traits. The trade-offs of Life history traits among different morphs are presumed to be determined by morphology. Form-function hypotheses also predict that algae of different morphological groups exhibit different tolerances to physiological stress, whereas algae within a morphological group respond similarly to stress. We tested this hypothesis by comparing photosynthetic and respiratory responses to variation in season, light, temperature, desiccation and freezing among the morphologically similar fronds of Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus and the alternate stage crust of M. stellatus. Physiological differences between fronds of the 2 species and crusts and fronds were consistent with their patterns of distribution and abundance in the intertidal zone. However, there was no clear relationship between algal morphology and physiological response to environmental variation. These results suggest that among macroalgae the correlation between Life history traits and morphology is not always causal. Rather, the link between life history traits and morphology is constrained by the extent to which physiological characteristics codetermine these features.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Dudgeon SR, Kubler JE, Vadas RL,Davison IR. Physiological Responses to Environmental Variation in Intertidal Red Algae: Does Thallus Morphology Matter?. Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 1995;117: 193-206.

Publisher Statement

Copyright 1995 Inter-Research.

DOI

10.3354/meps117193

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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