Recent changes in the seaweed community of Western Prince Edward Island: implications for the seaweed industry
✍ Scribed by G. J. Sharp; C. Têtu; R. Semple; D. Jones
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1993
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 480 KB
- Volume
- 260-261
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1573-5141
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Prior to 1980, seaweed beds of western Prince Edward Island, Canada, were dominated by Chondrus crispus Stackhouse, associated with 37 other species of common algae. Furcellaria lumbricalis (Huds.) Lamour. occurred in 4.6% of the samples from the Pleasant View bed but never reached measurable levels of cover. By 1991 F. lumbricalis was reported in 67% of the samples from this bed. Furcellaria lumbricalis biomass was negatively correlated with C. crispus biomass and positively correlated with Phyllophora Grev. spp. biomass. F. lumbricalis biomass and cover peaked in subtidal areas below 4 m at 359 + 299 SD fresh g 0.25 m -2 . Harvesters avoid concentrations ofF. lumbricalis, resulting in a < 5% content of this species in the commercial harvest. Systematic harvesting located concentrations of F. lumbricalis in seven of 10 commercial beds. Proposed causes for change in species dominance from C. crispus to F. lumbricalis range from general environmental change, natural succession to excessive human perturbation.