Biotic Interactions between Different Species of Algae

Abstract

Species of green algae seldom grew as well in two-species cultures with other green algae, or with blue-green algae, as when cultured alone. Several species of algae apparently excreted one or more substances into the medium which inhibited the growth of the second species. Inhibition of growth of green algae was particularly great in two-species cultures with the blue-green algae,Oscillatoria rubescensDecandolle,Anabaena flos-aquae(Lyngbye) Breb.,Microcystis aeruginosaKutz., andCoccochloris peniocystis(Kutz.) Dr. and Daily. Green algae also failed to grow at normal rates in media prepared from filtrates of water from ponds which contained blooms of blue-green algae. Inhibitory substances are apparently an important factor in the development and persistence of relatively unialgal blooms of various species.