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Nutrient Limitation in Macroalgae ( Ulva and Enteromorpha ) from the Rías Baixas (NW Spain)
Author(s) -
Villares Ruben,
Carballeira Alejo
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2004.00027.x
Subject(s) - nutrient , micronutrient , algae , fucus vesiculosus , biology , phosphorus , photosynthesis , ulva lactuca , ecology , botany , environmental science , chemistry , organic chemistry
. Photosynthesis and growth rates in samples of two green seaweeds ( Ulva and Enteromorpha ) were monitored in the laboratory. The macroalgae were collected every 15 days from four coastal embayments in Galicia (NW Spain). Ulva samples were found to be nutritionally limited, particularly in summer. The physiological activity of Enteromorpha did not appear to be as affected by nutrient scarcity, although it may have suffered from phosphorus limitation. The subsistence quotas, critical concentrations and storage capacity for N and P in Ulva were comparable to those obtained by other investigators in similar studies. The trace metals analysed apparently did not negatively affect the macroalgae at the measured concentrations; one explanation is that many of these metals function as essential micronutrients. The complex physiological interactions between metals and nutrients, however, may complicate interpretation of the results.