Combined effects of temperature and salinity on growth rates of germlings of three Fucus species from iceland, helgoland and the north adriatic sea

Abstract

The growth rate of germlings of three Fucus species (F. distichus subsp. edentatus from Iceland, F. vesiculosus from Helgoland, North Sea, and F. virsoides from the North Adriatic Sea) has been investigated under different temperature and salinity conditions. The highest growth rate and the maximum elongation factor were found at 9° C for F. distichus; in the other two species growth increased with increasing temperature. Growth decreases with dilution in the three species under consideration. A rather low tolerance to dilution was observed in F. vesiculosus germlings. In view of the overall distribution of the latter species the opposite was expected. It seems likely, however, that susceptible strains have developed at Helgoland, where salinity rarely drops below 30‰. © 1977 Biologischen Anstalt Helgoland.