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Growth of the kelp Ecklonia radiata near the northern limit of its range in Western Australia

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Abstract

The length, growth and survivorship of mature sporophytes of Ecklonia radiata (C.Ag.) J. Agardh were measured on two patch reefs within the lagoon of a high-latitude, coralreef atoll (Easter Group, Houtman Abrolhos; 28° to 29° S; 113°35 to 114°03′E) for 1 yr (1982–1983). The sites differed in their proximity to the perimeter reef, but had similar regimes of temperature, light, nutrient concentration and water movement. Kelp length, growth rate and survivorship differed significantly between sites, although plant density was similar (less than l m-2). At the site near the lagoon perimeter, the central lamina averaged 381 mm in length, grew at an annual mean rate of 1.28 mm d-1, and 56% of tagged individuals had died after one year. The corresponding values for the site near the centre of the lagoon were: 257 mm, 0.75 mm d-1 and 92%. Three other sites on the coastal limestone reefs near Perth (400 km to the south) were studied for various intervals over a 5 yr period (April 1979 to August 1984). The kelp from the low-latitude sites were smaller, grew more slowly, and suffered similar or greater mortality than their southern counterparts. Latitudinal comparisons were confounded by differences in kelp density between sites, but there is no evidence for density-dependent effects on the measured parameters across the range of natural densities observed. Growth rates at all sites were negatively correlated with ambient sea temperatures when these were above 20°C. There was no evidence of adaptation to the higher sea temperatures experienced at the Abrolhos, and temperature cannot be dismissed as a factor controlling the growth of the species near the northern limit of its distribution on the Western Australian coast. Other factors however must be involved in determining the latitudinal position of that limit.

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Author notes

  1. B. G. Hatcher & W. F. Wood

    Present address: Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 20, 6020, North Beach, Western Australia, Australia

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  1. CSIRO Marine Laboratories, Division of Fisheries Research, P.O. Box 20, 6020, North Beach, Western Australia, Australia

    B. G. Hatcher, H. Kirkman & W. F. Wood

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  1. B. G. Hatcher
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Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney

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Hatcher, B.G., Kirkman, H. & Wood, W.F. Growth of the kelp Ecklonia radiata near the northern limit of its range in Western Australia. Mar. Biol. 95, 63–73 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00447486

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