Adaptive significance of asexual pathways in the life cycles of brown algae

Abstract

In addition to sexual reproduction pathways (zygote formation and meiosis), asexual pathways such as parthenogenesis and vegetative reproduction have been reported in the life cycles of many brown algae. However, most of these asexual pathways have been described based on observations made under laboratory culture conditions, and their significance in field populations remains unclear. In this paper, I describe the life cycles of several species of brown algae and outline how asexual pathways may impact the species’ reproduction, distribution range, maintenance of sexual reproduction, and alternation of generations.