Field testing of inter- and intraspecific coalescence among mid-intertidal red algae
2003; Inter-Research; Volume: 250; Linguagem: Inglês
10.3354/meps250091
ISSN1616-1599
AutoresB. Santelices, Diego Aedo, M. Hormazábal, Verónica Flores,
Tópico(s)Cephalopods and Marine Biology
ResumoMEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 250:91-103 (2003) - doi:10.3354/meps250091 Field testing of inter- and intraspecific coalescence among mid-intertidal red algae Bernabé Santelices*, Diego Aedo, Marcela Hormazábal, Verónica Flores Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile *Email: bsanteli@bio.puc.cl ABSTRACT: Although spores, sporelings and juveniles of many ecologically important and competitively dominant seaweed species inhabiting intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats may coalesce, it is unknown whether coalescence among holdfasts of well-established clumps occurs naturally in the field. Using a combination of field and ultrastructural studies, we evaluate if inter- and intraspecific coalescence occurs between clumps of Mazzaella laminarioides and Nothogenia fastigiata and, if so, whether such a process modifies clump shapes and sizes. Interspecific encounters always resulted in cell compression and destruction of the contacting tissues and in the eventual mortality of 1 of the partners (in this case N. fastigiata). In contrast, intraspecific encounters in both species always resulted in coalescence. In these field populations, coalescence seems to be frequent and dynamic and is probably modulated by other community structuring mechanisms such as grazing, abiotic extremes, and mussel recruitment. This field demonstration of coalescence suggests that many intertidal and subtidal populations of coalescing Rhodophyta might be chimeric. KEY WORDS: Chimerism · Coalescence · Competition · Algae shape · Intertidal habitats · Mazzaella · Nothogenia · Red seaweeds Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 250. Online publication date: March 26, 2003 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2003 Inter-Research.
Referência(s)