Research on and Culture of Calcareous Green Algae
Abstract
Four genera of coral reef Siphonales, Halimeda, Penicillus, Rhipocephalus and Udotea were grown in laboratory aquaria under light intensities of 650, 200-375 and 125-200 ft-candles. The commercial preparation 'Instant Ocean' was tested for use with plants. Penicillin and Lindane were tested for their effect on epiphytes and other nuisances. The growth and development of all 4 genera from tiny protuberances above the sand to white, dying and disintegrating was followed. All produced new individuals from rhizoidal-like filaments that extended outwards through the sand from the holdfast of an older plant. I demonstrated how vegetative reproduction might occur with partial burying of individuals by shifting sands in a reef, or from portions of plant broken off by grazing or other natural activities. Plants produced vegetatively are not initially epiphytized and so may be a source of clean plants for laboratory experiment. Insight into the role of calcareous plants in a reef was obtained by a productivity study which combined a census of such plants in a reef and a laboratory measure of oxygen changes in an entire aquarium.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 11, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0738885
Entities
People
- Llewellya Hillis-colinvaux
Organizations
- Ohio State University