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A biological study of Durvillaea antarctica (Chamisso) Hariot and D ...

A biological study of Durvillaea antarctica (Chamisso) Hariot and D ...

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viii<br />

J\BSTRACT<br />

The biology <strong>of</strong> DUl'viUaea <strong>antarctica</strong> <strong>and</strong> D. -wi"lZana, two Ne"J<br />

Zealafld bull,-kelp seaweeds / is discussed <strong>and</strong> the taxonomy <strong>and</strong> Yl0fli~tl,­<br />

clature <strong>of</strong> all DUr1J'illaea species reviev/ed <strong>and</strong> clarified. Four<br />

species a~'e recognis,,:'.d: D. potatorwn (LabilL) l-u-eschoug, D. anta:t'ctica<br />

(<strong>Chamisso</strong>) <strong>Hariot</strong>, D, -wilZana Lindauer <strong>and</strong> D. chatham'ica n.sp"<br />

Morphological var iati on, population .s truc'cure, <strong>and</strong> the effects <strong>of</strong><br />

were studied by sampling primarily D. antarct'ica <strong>and</strong><br />

secondarily D. Ivi"lZa:na. Reproductive periodicity, growth, :mortality<br />

<strong>and</strong> longevity t-lcre 8tudied by regularly monitoring marked plants.<br />

Morphology is extrernoly plastic <strong>and</strong> largely dete:r::mined by loJave<br />

force <strong>and</strong> grazing. Th~re is little seasonal change in the size<br />

structure <strong>of</strong> D. antar>ctiaa populations, although this varies with wave<br />

exposQre. In New Zeal<strong>and</strong> both species have a winter (April-August)<br />

frui ting season, ~'li t'h 'a midwinter peaJc, Evidence suggests a<br />

latitQdinal lengthening <strong>of</strong> the reproductiv~ season. Individual plants<br />

produce one crop <strong>of</strong> concGptacles annually. It takes at least two<br />

yeaL"S for plants to become f erti Ie.<br />

Regrowth <strong>of</strong> D, antaret'iea on experimentally cleared sites<br />

corresponded with 'che period <strong>of</strong> gamete n~leas8. Regro ....'th was primarily<br />

caused by fr0sh recruitment <strong>and</strong> not by rapid growth <strong>of</strong> previously<br />

dormant small or microscopic plants. Regrowth on sites cleared outside<br />

the Dupvillaea f~uiting season was very slow because most available<br />

space became occupied by other algae.<br />

Grmo,rth ro.tes are highly variable. Net growth is fastent in<br />

spring <strong>and</strong> summer p i.e" after the fruiting season. Plant damage <strong>and</strong><br />

mortality was highest in winter. Both species may live ten years or<br />

longer. Culling increases the growth rate <strong>of</strong> underst.orey plants,<br />

although fastest regro\lIth was obta.ined by harves'cing when recruitment<br />

t,>lC"lS<br />

imminent.<br />

Mecl.n st<strong>and</strong>ing crop <strong>of</strong> D. anta:t'ctiaa was 123.5 i.:onnes/k.l1\ ot shore.<br />

Values va:t:ied from 47 tonnes/Jan on s"ceep shores to 190 tonnes/lan on<br />

wide fl

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