Zonation, vesicle pressure and gas composition in Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum at Kristineberg (West Coast of Sweden)

Abstract

Features of fucoid zonation (Fucus spiralis, F. vesiculosus, Ascophyllum and F. serratus) in a vertical range of 60 cm at Kristineberg (Gullmar Fjord, W. Coast of Sweden) are described. In contrast to identical species occupying areas with wider tidal ranges, these plants are smaller in size and inhabit narrow, overlapping zones. Investigation into the magnitude of pressure and gas composition in vesicles of F. vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum revealed an average positive pressure equivalent to 1.7 and 7 cm of water for the 2 plants in succession. These small values compare favourably with the pressure head to which such vesicles are subjected at Kristineberg. O2-percentage amounts to 28.5% and 32.7% in vesicles of both plants in succession. O2-values increase in daytime and decrease at night or when plants are maintained in the dark. CO2-content in the two plants fluctuates between 0 to 2.6% and bears no correlation to the oxygen values. It is suggested that the pressure produced in the vesicles is due mainly to oxygen. Comparison of these results with those by other authors are made whenever possible. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.