Observations on the life history of Bangia fuscopurpurea

Abstract

Populations of Bangia fuscopurpurea occurring in intertidal regions of the Northeastern Pacifie at Glacier Point, British Columbia, were examined at different times of the year. Three distinct types of multiscriate filaments have been identified and the further development of the spores has been examined in culture under two light regimes. Asexual filaments occurred in the autumn and produced only asexual spores which developed into bipolar sporelings. Easily distinguishable asexual, female and male filaments occurred in the spring. Under both short and long day conditions bipolar sporelings developed in dishes containing asexual filaments; conchocelis in dishes with female only, or both male and female filaments; and bipolar sporelings and conchocelis in dishes containing a mixture of the three filaments. There was no germination of β spores in dishes containing male filaments alone. These results are discussed in relation to previous studies on culture isolates. The haploid chromosome number is four. © 1972 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.