Periphyton community succession in the kelp forest tank

• Main Authors: Yu-Sin Jhange, 張譽馨
• Other Authors: Kwee-Siong Tew
• Format: Others
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/ws96ev

碩士 === 國立東華大學 === 海洋生物多樣性及演化研究所 === 100 === 　　Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, is an ecologically dominant species along the temperate Pacific Coast of America. Due to its complex morphology, M. pyrifera sporophytes can alter abiotic and biotic conditions, providing physical habitat for organisms and fixed carbon (from drift kelp to particulate and dissolved organic carbon). The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) in subtropical Taiwan is the only aquarium that displays giant kelps without them in the vicinity. Report on the effect of microscopic periphyton on the giant kelp has been rare. In this study, we monitored temporal changes of periphytic algal community structure in different depths and different substrates in the kelp forest tank during a 6-month period. Our results showed that the abundance of periphyton on the biotic substrate increased over month, and the abundance at the surface was higher than at the bottom. The abundance of periphyton on abiotic substrate was significantly higher than the others. The Shannon-Wiener diversity of periphyton on different substrates decreased over month, but there was no significant difference between the depths. The community structure of epiphytic algae differed between biotic and abiotic substrates. The algal communities between different substrates at surface were not significantly different, but were significantly different at bottom. Significant positive correlations occurred between water temperature and abundance of periphyton on abiotic substrate. Diatom was the dominant algal group. Light and nutrient concentrations did not affect giant kelp survival. However, temperature above 15℃, coupled with high nutrient concentration, might result in the proliferation of epiphytic diatoms on kelp blades and eventually deteriorate the giant kelp.