Journal of Phycology
Department or Program
The dynamics of annual species are strongly tied to their capacity for recruitment each year. We examined how competition and propagule availability influence recruitment and appearance and tracked survivorship of an annual species of marine macroalgae, the bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), which serves as major biogenic habitat in the Salish Sea of Washington State. We hypothesized that 1) juvenile N. luetkeana would exhibit a seasonal appearance as a cohort in the spring and 2) competition for space would be more limiting than propagules (spores) to recruitment at sites adjacent to established N. luetkeana beds. We tagged N. luetkeana recruits in the field to track appearance and survivorship across seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter), using a two‐factor crossed design to assess effects of competition and propagule availability on appearance of new N. luetkeana sporophytes. Survivorship of N. luetkeana recruits was low and, while most new individuals arose in the spring, some appeared in every season. New N. luetkeanarecruits also appeared the earliest (median 8 weeks vs. >20 weeks) after experimental “seeding” in the spring as compared to other seasons. Eliminating macroalgal competitors (“clearing”) influenced the appearance of recruits more than enhancement of propagules in the spring. An improved understanding of factors regulating the seasonal appearance of new N. luetkeana sporophytes furthers our understanding of this crucial foundation species’ appearance and persistence across seasons, which is increasingly important as global ocean conditions change, and highlights the importance of studying organisms with complex life histories across multiple stages and geographical regions.
Dobkowski, K. A., Flanagan, K. D. and Nordstrom, J. R. (2018), Factors influencing recruitment and appearance of bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana (phylum Ochrophyta). J. Phycol.. Accepted Author Manuscript. . doi:10.1111/jpy.12814
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Required Publisher's Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Dobkowski, K. A., Flanagan, K. D. and Nordstrom, J. R. (2018), Factors influencing recruitment and appearance of bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana (phylum Ochrophyta). J. Phycol.. Accepted Author Manuscript. . doi:10.1111/jpy.12814, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12814. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.