Abstract
This paper describes the macroflora and macrofauna associated with two bull kelp species,Laminaria hyperborea andL. digitata, at the island of Helgoland, North Sea. During a study period of seven months (March–September 1987), 29 macroflora species and 125 macrofauna species were found. The dominant taxonomic groups were Polychaeta (25 species), Bryozoa (17), Amphipoda (14), Hydrozoa (10) and Ascidiae (8). The species maximum was in July. In general,L. hyperborea was preferred as a substrate for settlement toL. digitata. Composition of the communities associated with kelp changed during the season according to exposure to wave action, and according to location on the kelp thallus. The rhizoid community of both kelps bore more species at exposed locations. Wave-exposedL. digitata lacked obvious faunal settlement on both phylloid and cauloid. Phylloid and cauloid ofL. hyperborea were chosen as an attractive substrate at both sheltered and wave-exposed locations, showing an association of encrusting bryozoan and hydrozoan colonies.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Boaden, P. J. S., O'Connor, R. J. & Seed, R., 1975. The composition and zonation of aFucus serratus community in Strangford Lough, Co. Down. — J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.17, 111–136.
Boaden, P. J. S., O'Connor, R. J. & Seed, R., 1976. The fauna of aFucus serratus L. community: Ecological isolation in sponges and tunicates. — J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.21, 249–267/
Braun-Blanquet, J., 1964. Pflanzensoziologie. Springer, Wien, 865 pp.
Colman, J. M. A., 1940. On the fauna inhabiting intertidal seaweeds. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.24, 129–183.
De Burgh, M. E. & Fankboner, P. V., 1978. A nutritional association between the bull kelpNereocystis luetkeana and its epizooic bryozoanMembranipora membranacea. — Oikos31, 69–72.
Dixon, J., Schroeter, S. C. & Katendiek, J., 1981. Effects of the encrusting bryozoan,Membranipora membranacea, on the loss of blades and fronds by the giant kelp,Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales). — J. Phycol.17, 341–345.
Ebling, F. J., Kitching, J. A., Purchon, R. D. & Bassindale, R., 1948. The ecology of the Lough Ine rapid with special reference to water currents. 2. The fauna of theSaccorhiza canopy. — J. Anim. Ecol.17, 223–244.
Fretter, V. & Graham, A., 1976. The prosobranch molluscs of Britain and Denmark. I. Pleurotomariacea, Fissurellacea and Patellacea. — J. moll. Stud. (Suppl.)1, 1–38.
Ghelardi, R. J., 1971. Species structure of the animal communities that live inMacrocystis pyrifera holdfast. — Nova Hedwigia32, 381–420.
Gillandt, L., 1979. Zur Ökologie der Polychaeta des Helgoländer Felssockels. — Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters.32, 1–35.
Haage, P. & Jansson, B. O., 1970. Quantitative investigations of the BalticFucus belt macrofauna. 1. Quantitative methods. — Ophelia8, 187–195.
Hagerman, L., 1966. The macro- and microfauna associated withFucus serratus L. with some ecological remarks. — Ophelia3, 1–43.
Hartmann-Schröder, G., 1971. Annelida, Borstenwürmer, Polychaeta. — Tierwelt Dtl.58, 1–594.
Hiscock, K., 1985. Aspects of the ecology of rocky sublittoral areas. In: The ecology of rocky coasts. Ed. by P. G. Moore & R. Seed. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 290–328.
Janke, K., 1986. Die Makrofauna und ihre Verteilung im Nordost-Felswatt von Helgoland. —Helgoländer Meeresunters.40, 1–55.
Janke, K., 1987. Die Makrofauna im Felswat von Helgoland. — Natur Mus., Frankf.117, 89–98.
Keough, M. J., 1986. The distribution of a bryozoan on the seagrass blades: settlement, growth, mortality. — Ecology67, 846–857.
Kitching, J. A., Macan, T. T. & Gilson, H. C., 1934. Studies in sublittoral ecology. I. A submarine gully in Wembury Bay. South Devon. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.19, 677–705.
Krüß, A., 1988. Die benthische Fischfauna des Helgoländer Felssockels-ein Beitrag zur Biologie und Ökologie der häufigsten Arten. Dip. Arb. Karlsruhe, 172 pp.
Lüning, K., 1985. Meeresbotanik. Thieme, Stuttgart, 375 pp.
Moore, P. G., 1973. The larger crustacea associated with holdfast of kelp (Laminaria hyperborea) in North-East Britain. — Cah. Biol. mar.14, 493–518.
Nishihira, M., 1967. Observation on the selection of algal substrate by hydrozoan larvaeSertularella miurensis in nature. — Bull. mar. biol. Stn Asumushi13, 34–48.
Norton, T. A., 1971. An ecological study of the fauna inhabiting the sublittoral marine algaSaccorhiza polyschides (Lightf.) Batt. — Hydrobiologia37, 215–231.
Norton, T. A., 1973. Orientated growth ofMembranipora membranacea (L.) on the thallus ofSaccorhiza polyschides (Lightf.) Batt. — J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.13, 91–95.
Oswald, R. C. & Seed, R., 1986. Organisation and seasonal progression within the epifaunal communities of coastal macroalgae. — Cah. Biol. mar.27, 29–40.
Ryland, J. S., 1976. Physiology and ecology of marine bryozoans. — Adv. mar. Biol.14, 285–443.
Seed, R., 1985. Ecological pattern in- the epifaunal communities of coastal macroalgae. In: The ecology of rocky coasts. Ed. by P. G. Moore & R. Seed. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 22–35.
Seed, R. & Harris, S., 1980. The epifauna of the fronds ofLaminaria digitata Lamour in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. — Proc. R. Ir. Acad.80, 91–106.
Seed, R. & O'Connor, R. J., 1981a. Epitaunal associates ofFucus serratus at Dale, south-west Wales. — Holarct. Ecol.4, 1–11.
Seed, R. & O'Connor, R. J., 1981b. Community organization in marine algal epifaunas. — A. Rev. Ecol. Syst.12, 49–74.
Seed, R., Elliott, M. N., Boaden, P. J. S. & O'Connor, R. J., 1981. The composition and seasonal changes amongst the epifauna associated withFucus serratus in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. — Cah. Biol. mar.22, 243–266.
Sloane, J. F., Ebling, F. J., Kitching, J. A. & Sylvia, J. L., 1957. The ecology of the Lough Ine Rapids with special reference to water currents. V. The sedentary fauna of theLaminarian algae in the Lough Ine area. — J. Anim. Ecol.26, 197–211.
Stebbing, A. R. D., 1972. Preferential settlement of a bryzoan and serpulid larvae on the younger parts ofLaminaria fronds. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.52, 765–772.
Stebbing, A. R. D., 1973. Competition for space between the epiphytes ofFucus serratus L. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.53, 247–261.
Steinhausen, D. & Langer, K., 1977. Clusteranalyse. De Gruyter, Berlin, 206 pp.
Wing, B. L. & Clendenning, K. A., 1971. Kelp surface and associated invertebrates. — Nova Hedwigia32, 319–341.
Yoshioka, P. M., 1982. Predator-induced polymorphism in the bryozoanMembranipora membranacea (L.). — J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.61, 233–242.
Ziegelmeier, E., 1966. Die Schnecken (Gastropoda/Prosobranchia) der deutschen Meeresgebiete und brackigen Küstengewässer. — Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters..13, 1–64.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schultze, K., Janke, K., Krüß, A. et al. The macrofauna and macroflora associated withLaminaria digitata andL. hyperborea at the island of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea). Helgolander Meeresunters 44, 39–51 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02365430
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02365430