Dynamics of Macroalgal Blooms Along the Cape Cod National Seashore

Lyons, Patrick; Thornber, Carol S.; Portnoy, John W.; Gwilliam, Evan

doi:10.1656/045.016.0105

Cited by 17 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Recent studies have revealed more than 37 countries impacted by green tides (Fletcher 1996, Morand and Briand 1996. In the United States, green tide studies have increased in recent years (e.g., Morgan et al 2003, Smith et al 2005, Van Alstyne et al 2006, Nelson et al 2008, Teichberg et al 2008, Lyons et al 2009, Hofmann et al 2010). However, the identity of Ulva species in many of these studies have yet to be confirmed with molecular techniques (but see Hofmann et al 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and morphological diversity of Narragansett Bay (RI, USA) Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) populations

Guidone

Thornber

Wysor

et al. 2013

Journal of Phycology

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Macroalgal bloom-forming species occur in coastal systems worldwide. However, due to overlapping morphologies in some taxa, accurate taxonomic assessment and classification of these species can be quite challenging. We investigated the molecular and morphological characteristics of 153 specimens of bloom-forming Ulva located in and around Narragansett Bay, RI, USA. We analyzed sequences of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 region (ITS1) and the chloroplast-encoded rbcL; based on the ITS1 data, we grouped the specimens into nine operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Eight of these OTUs have been previously reported to exist, while one is novel. Of the eight OTUs, all shared sequence identity with previously published sequences or differed by less than 1.5% sequence divergence for two molecular markers. Previously, 10 species names were reported for Ulva in Rhode Island (one blade and nine tube-forming species) based upon morphological classification alone. Of our nine OTUs, three contained blade-forming specimens (U. lactuca, U. compressa, U. rigida), one OTU had a blade with a tubular stipe, and six contained unbranched and/or branched tubular morphologies (one of these six, U. compressa, had both a blade and a tube morphology). While the three blade-forming OTUs in Narragansett Bay can frequently be distinguished by careful observations of morphological characteristics, and spatial/temporal distribution, it is much more difficult to distinguish among the tube-forming specimens based upon morphology or distribution alone. Our data support the molecular species concept for Ulva, and indicate that molecular-based classifications of Ulva species are critical for proper species identification, and subsequent ecological assessment or mitigation of Ulva blooms.

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confidence: 99%

Molecular and morphological diversity of Narragansett Bay (RI, USA) Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) populations

Guidone

Thornber

Wysor

et al. 2013

Journal of Phycology

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“…The abundance of macroalgae on intertidal flats in the VCR is moderate as compared with other estuaries (Freshwater et al 2006; Lyons et al 2009; Byers et al 2012; Sutula et al 2014), and spatial patterns are related to Diopatra cuprea distributions (Thomsen and McGlathery 2005). D. cuprea are important for macroalgae in soft‐sediment systems as they stabilize thalli and retain algae in the photic zone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Macroalgal mats are distributed in patches on tidal flats, and range in size from < 0.25 m 2 to hundreds of m 2 . Macroalgal abundance on intertidal flats in the VCR is low to moderate compared with other temperate estuaries (Lyons et al 2009; Nejrup and Pedersen 2010; Byers et al 2012; Sutula et al 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Model name Parameters hundreds of m 2 . Macroalgal abundance on intertidal flats in the VCR is low to moderate compared with other temperate estuaries (Lyons et al 2009;Nejrup and Pedersen 2010;Byers et al 2012;Sutula et al 2014). The dominant macroalga in both intertidal and subtidal habitats Gulbransen et al 2012), Agarophyton vermiculophyllum (previously referred to as Gracilaria vermiculophylla) (Gurgel et al 2018) is an invasive species originating from east Asia (Krueger-Hadfield et al 2017).…”

Section: Model Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting benthic macroalgal abundance in shallow coastal lagoons from geomorphology and hydrologic flow patterns

Besterman

McGlathery

Reidenbach

et al. 2020

Limnology & Oceanography

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Macroalgae structure coastal ecosystems affecting metabolism, nutrient dynamics, and food webs. Spatially explicit prediction of macroalgal abundance is critical for understanding coastal ecosystems and trajectories. However, models of macroalgal distribution tend to be mechanistic and generalize poorly, or biogeographic and too coarse to use over spatial scales most appropriate to ecosystem research and management (1-100 km 2). Our objective was to develop spatial distribution models for benthic macroalgae in soft-sediment environments. We compared macroalgal abundance quantified as percent cover, with environmental drivers on 1 ha intertidal flats in a > 900 km 2 lagoon system along the Atlantic Coast of Virginia, U.S.A. Physical drivers of macroalgae (e.g., depth-mediated light availability, exposure to waves) are related to bed morphology. We developed a novel topographic index (τ) to determine whether bed morphology predicts macroalgal abundance. This topographic index described variation in elevation occurring over spatial scales relevant to macroalgae, ranging from smooth to hummocky (τ = 0.01-1.07). Models tested τ along with mean elevation, fetch, and water residence time as predictors of macroalgal abundance. τ, and the interaction with water residence time, were most strongly related to macroalgal abundance. Hummocky flats accumulated less macroalgae than smoother flats, but exceptions occurred with short residence times. Model error (root mean square error) was low, varying between 8% and 18% across models. These models, based on readily measured physical features, are a useful approach for assessing macroalgal abundance in relation to shoreline hardening, species invasions, sea-level rise, and changing sedimentation affecting coastal ecosystems.

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“…Large macroalgal blooms decrease light attenuation and shade seagrass beds and benthic perennial algae [ 13 ]. Blooms have increased worldwide over the years in frequency and intensity [ 14 – 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ploidy Distribution of the Harmful Bloom Forming Macroalgae Ulva spp. in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, Using Flow Cytometry Methods

et al. 2016

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Macroalgal blooms occur worldwide and have the potential to cause severe ecological and economic damage. Narragansett Bay, RI is a eutrophic system that experiences summer macroalgal blooms composed mostly of Ulva compressa and Ulva rigida, which have biphasic life cycles with separate haploid and diploid phases. In this study, we used flow cytometry to assess ploidy levels of U. compressa and U. rigida populations from five sites in Narragansett Bay, RI, USA, to assess the relative contribution of both phases to bloom formation. Both haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes were present for both species. Sites ranged from a relative overabundance of gametophytes to a relative overabundance of sporophytes, compared to the null model prediction of √2 gametophytes: 1 sporophyte. We found significant differences in cell area between ploidy levels for each species, with sporophyte cells significantly larger than gametophyte cells in U. compressa and U. rigida. We found no differences in relative growth rate between ploidy levels for each species. Our results indicate the presence of both phases of each of the two dominant bloom forming species throughout the bloom season, and represent one of the first studies of in situ Ulva life cycle dynamics.

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Dynamics of Macroalgal Blooms Along the Cape Cod National Seashore

Cited by 17 publications

References 22 publications

Molecular and morphological diversity of Narragansett Bay (RI, USA) Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) populations

Molecular and morphological diversity of Narragansett Bay (RI, USA) Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) populations

Predicting benthic macroalgal abundance in shallow coastal lagoons from geomorphology and hydrologic flow patterns

Ploidy Distribution of the Harmful Bloom Forming Macroalgae Ulva spp. in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, Using Flow Cytometry Methods

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