Seasonality of the invasive seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla along the southeastern coast of North Carolina.

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Wilson Freshwater, Research Specialist (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )

Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Abstract: Gracilaria vermiculophylla is a red alga that has recently invaded the coastal waters of North Carolina. It has become abundant in the sounds and estuaries of southeastern North Carolina and is a nuisance for commercial fishing operations and industries drawing water from the lower Cape Fear River. Seasonal growth and abundance of G. vermiculophylla was studied along transects on an intertidal flat in Masonboro Sound, New Hanover County, using a modified Braun-Blanquet scale. Percentage of potential substrates with attached thalli was also recorded at this site. Highest Braun-Blanquet scores were found during May thru July when both water and air temperatures were warming, and were lowest during January thru April, when temperatures were coldest and the majority of thalli were observed to dieback to their bases. The percentage of potential substrates with attached thalli showed no seasonal variation and was high (.94%) throughout the year indicating that the Braun-Blanquet measured changes in cover/ abundance of G. vermiculophylla were because of changes in the size of thalli.

Seasonality of the invasive seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla along the southeastern coast of North Carolina.
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Additional Information

Publication

Freshwater, D., Greene, J. K., Hamner, R. M., & Montgomery, F. (2006). Seasonality of the invasive seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla along the southeastern coast of North Carolina. The Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science, 122(2), 49-55. Retrieved from http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/jncas/id/3844/rec/2

Language: English

Date: 2006

Keywords

Gracilaria, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Invasive species, Seasonality

Subjects

Gracilaria

Marine algae

Marine algae--Ecology

Red algae--North Carolina

Gracilaria--Seasonal variations--North Carolina

Gracilaria--North Carolina

Introduced organisms--North Carolina

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