A Biological Study of Fucus Vesiculosus L. and F. Serratus L.

Abstract

A certain variation in level of the fucoid zone with latitude is demonstrated. The belt of Fucus vesiculosus and F. serratus lies lower on the Devon coast than on either the Manx or the Argyll coast.The conditions for the optimum germination of fertilized eggs are dissimilar to those for maximum rate of frond-extension.Normal growth-rates have been established for both species for the first 3 years of life. In F. vesiculosus the average rate of elongation per week is 0·48 cm. on the Devon coast, 0·45 cm. on the Manx coast and 0·68 cm. on the Argyll coast. In F. serratus the average rate of elongation per week is 0·49 cm. on the Devon coast, 0·68 cm. on the Manx coast and 0·85 cm. on the Argyll coast. The rate of growth is shown to vary with the conditions of the environment. Shelter from rough water tends to enhance growth-rate, and there is an indication that greater stature is achieved by the plants from the Argyll station than from either of the other stations.