Overwintering Strategies of Bloom-Forming Ulva Species in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA

Authors

Shelby Rinehart
Michele Guidone
Amanda Ziegler
Tanja Schollmeier
Carol S. Thornber, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-7-2014

Department

Biological Sciences

Abstract

Temperate coastal estuaries worldwide, such as Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, are influenced by seasonal macroalgal blooms (e.g., Ulva) during warm months, whereas bloom-forming macroalgae are rarely encountered during winter. We assessed the ability of distromatic Ulva to overwinter through fragments, recruits, and/or microscopic propagules. We documented (a) small tissue fragments in sediment cores and the water column, (b) recruits and microscopic propagules on field-based settlement tiles, and (c) production of reproductive propagules, throughout the winter months. Laboratory culturing experiments indicated that both fragments and propagules are viable. Our data indicate that bloom-forming overwintering Ulva simultaneously use multiple reproductive strategies.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Rinehart, Shelby; Guidone, Michele; Ziegler, Amanda; Schollmeier, Tanja; Thornber, Carol. (2014). "Overwintering strategies of bloom-forming Ulva species in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA." Botanica Marina. 57(4): 337-341. Available at: 10.1515/bot-2013-0122