Growth allocation in Laminaria hyperborea (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) in relation to age and wave exposure

Abstract

Morphological development of Laminaria hyperborea was examined at localities with different degrees of wave exposure. Biomass data were converted to estimates of annual growth of lamina, stipe and hapteron. Allocation of annual growth to the hapteron constituted a small amount of the total production, but increased with increasing wave exposure. At the most sheltered locality, lamina growth amounted to between 80 and 95% of total growth in all age groups, and lamina to stipe ratios (fresh weight) were about 10. A higher portion of the annual growth was allocated to the stipe at the more wave-exposed localities. -from Authors