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OBSERVATIONS ON THE TIDEPOOL ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF PERIDINIUM GREGARIUM 1, 2
Author(s) -
Lombard Eugene H.,
Capon Brian
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1971.tb01500.x
Subject(s) - tide pool , dinoflagellate , biology , ecology , habitat , diel vertical migration , morning , intertidal zone , evening , neutral buoyancy , botany , fishery , physics , astronomy
SUMMARY Dense populations of a new species of dinoflagellate, Peridinium gregarium , have been found in a limited number of small rock tidepools on the coast of southern California. The organism is present throughout the year, but during periods of low temperatures and heavy tides it remains on the bottom of the pools in small aggregations. At other seasons P. gregarium leaves the aggregations during the morning hours and collects around the upper surface of small rocks in masses held together by a mucous matrix. Oxygen bubbles accumulated in the matrix eventually float the mass to the surface of the tidepool. During the afternoon or evening, the individuals return to the bottom aggregations leaving the matrix behind. Field and laboratory studies have attempted to define the nature of this organism's tidepool habitat and factors involved in the regulation of its diurnal movements.