Abstract
Sporelings of the red algae Gigartina stellata (Stackh. in With.) Batt. and Chondrus crispus Stackh. showed reduced survival rates and growth inhibitions in the presence of the diatoms Stauroneis constricta (W. Sm.) Cleve and Nitzschia closterium (Ehr.) W. Sm., with both effects more marked at 15°C than at 10°C when the diatoms were grown both as epiphytes and in the immediate vicinity of the sporelings. The tolerance of the Gigartina sporelings to the harmful effects of the diatoms increased with ageing. Diatom population sizes could not be directly equated with their deleterious effects on the sporelings. A Nitzschia population 14 × the size of a Stauroneis population was less harmful to the Gigartina sporelings than the latter diatom, but individual Stauroneis cells are ≈ 10 × the size of those of Nitzschia closterium. When Gigartina sporelings were grown with two or more of the diatom species, the harmful effects of Stauroneis on the sporelings were alleviated whilst there were accompanying interactions between the diatoms.
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