Sub-canopy light conditions only allow low annual net productivity of epiphytic algae on kelp Laminaria hyperborea

Abstract

MEPS 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 516:163-176 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11019 Sub-canopy light conditions only allow low annual net productivity of epiphytic algae on kelp Laminaria hyperborea Morten F. Pedersen1,*, Lars B. Nejrup1, Troels M. Pedersen1, Stein Fredriksen2 1Department for Environmental, Social and Spatial change (ENSPAC), Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, PO Box 260, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark 2University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, PO Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway *Corresponding author: email: mfp@ruc.dk ABSTRACT: The stipes of older Laminaria hyperborea individuals are heavily covered by epiphytic assemblages that are dominated by macroalgae, and we hypothesized that the production of these algae may contribute significantly to total primary production of the kelp forest ecosystem. The epiphytic assemblages on the stipes of Laminaria were dominated by potentially fast-growing red algae with total biomass ranging from 25 to 120 g dry weight (DW) m-2 seafloor depending on season and site. Sub-canopy light conditions were poor and averaged only ~10% of the surface irradiance in summer. Photosynthetic profiles of the epiphytic assemblages indicated that they were acclimated to shade, and the poor sub-canopy light conditions were nevertheless sufficient to ensure positive net photosynthesis for at least 2 to 3 h daily throughout the year. Photosynthetic efficiency at low light and dark respiration varied seasonally, which led to a threefold increase in minimum light requirements in early fall, simultaneously with high water temperatures and declining surface irradiance. This resulted in low productivity and net carbon loss from September throughout winter. Net productivity became positive in February-March and rose through spring as surface irradiance increased. Annual net productivity was relatively low, ranging from 42 to 96 g DW m-2 seafloor depending on site. We conclude that the net productivity of these macroalgal epiphytes is insignificant relative to that of kelp itself, and that the large observed biomass needs several years to accumulate. KEY WORDS: Epiphytes · Species composition · Primary production Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Pedersen MF, Nejrup LB, Pedersen TM, Fredriksen S (2014) Sub-canopy light conditions only allow low annual net productivity of epiphytic algae on kelp Laminaria hyperborea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 516:163-176. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11019 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 516. Online publication date: December 03, 2014 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2014 Inter-Research.