Aspects of growth and production of Laminaria pallida (Grev.) J. Ag. off the Cape Peninsula

Growth rates, chemical composition and annual production by sporophytes of Laminaria pallida at different localities and depths have been investigated. Growth of L. pallida fronds measured as rates of frond elongation was seasonal and showed similar trends at Robben Island and Oudekraal and at different depths. Frond elongation rates of up to 1,3 cm dayˉ¹ were recorded in spring and early summer, whilst slow rates of 0,2 cm dayˉ¹ were measured in late autumn and winter at all stations. The seasonal cycle of frond elongation rates appeared to be regulated by more than one abiotic factor, with light probably being the most important one. Differences in stipe elongation rates of sporophytes growing 50 m apart, but at different depths, confirmed that light was an important factor in determining growth rates; at 8 m depth stipes attained a length of approximately 240 cm within five years, whereas stipes growing at 14 m depth only grew to a length of approximately 200 cm in nine years.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

1978

Author dc:creator

• Dieckmann, Gerhard Stephan

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17787

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17787