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PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF THE MARINE ALGA ACROCYSTIS NANA
Author(s) -
MNTANGI M. J.,
FARRAR J. F.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1978.tb02282.x
Subject(s) - thallus , seawater , botany , biology , ecology , subtropics , rocky shore , algae , chemistry , intertidal zone
SUMMARY Acrocystis nana is a tropical and subtropical red alga confined to areas of the shore emersed for between 3 and 9 h per tide. In the laboratory, it becomes unhealthy if immersed constantly but retains its original weight if dried for 3 h out of each 24 h and is aerated during the immersion period. Weight loss in various regimes in the light and in the dark is largely confined to material soluble in 0.1 N HC1 and is greatest from an 80% ethanol‐soluble fraction tentatively identified as floridoside. The thalli contain an extracellular sap with an ionic composition distinct from seawater. Results are discussed in relation to the zonation of A. nana on the shore and the concept of physiological buffering.