Abstract
Eight species of the brown alga Sargassum have been recorded from Tung Ping Chau Marine Park in Hong Kong and the phenology of four of these was monitored from 1996 to 2000. All four species followed a typical growth cycle of Sargassum species reported elsewhere but with some annual variations. For S. hemiphyllum, the maximum mean (±SD) plant length, ranging from 38.5 ± 10.5 to 61.9 ± 19.9 cm, was recorded in January to March. The peak reproductive season was also mainly in February to March with up to 89% of the plants being reproductive. Some plants, however, remained reproductive until May. For. S. henslowianum, the maximum mean plant length, ranging from 45.5 ± 25.5 to 77 ± 24.8 cm, was recorded mainly in November to January. The peak reproductive season was in November to February with up to 100% of the plants being reproductive. For S. siliquastrum, the maximum mean plant length, ranging from 48.2 ± 29.9 to 63.4 ± 22.1 cm, was also recorded mainly in January. The reproductive plants were found mainly between late December and mid February with up to 98% of the plants being reproductive. For. S. patens, the maximum mean plant length ranging from 87.6 ± 62.4 to 118.7 ± 41.3 cm was recorded in January to March. Reproduction of this species was not monitored. Changes in water temperature over seasons were likely to be critical in affecting the phenological patterns of these species.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ang, PO (1985) Phenology of Sargassum siliquosum Ag J. and S. paniculatum J. Ag. (Sargassaceae, Phaeophyta) in the reef flat of Balibago (Calatagan, Philippines). Proceedings of the 5th International Coral Reef Congress 5: 51–57.
Ang, PO (2005) Studies on marine algae in Hong Kong. In Critchley AT, Ohno M (eds), Seaweed Resources of the World. Second Edition, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Yokosuka, Japan (in press).
Chan, WY (2002) Phenology and the Cost of Reproduction of Sargassum siliquastrum (Turn.) Ag. in Tung Ping Chau, Hong Kong. M. Phil. Thesis. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
De Wreede, RE (1976) The phenology of three species of Sargassum (Sargassaceae, Phaeophyta) in Hawaii. Phycologia 15: 175–183.
De Wreede, RE (1978) Growth in varying culture conditions of embryos of three Hawaiian species of Sargassum (Phaeophyta, Sargassaceae). Phycologia 17: 23–31.
Hodgkiss, IJ (1984) Seasonal patterns of intertidal algal distribution in Hong Kong. Asian Marine Biology 1: 49–57.
Huang Z, Li C, Zheng D, Lin S, Zheng C, Wang J, Yan S, Lin N (1990) Population dynamics of Sargassum from the west nearshore waters of Daya Bay. Collection of Papers on Marine Ecology in Daya Bay II. China Ocean Press, Beijing: 305–314.
Kendrick GA (1993) Sargassum beds at Rottnest Island: Species composition and abundance. In Wells FE, Walker DI, Kirkman H., Lethbridge R (eds), Proceedings of the 5th International Marine Biology Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Western Australian Museum 2: 455–472.
Largo DB, Ohno M (1992) Phenology of two species of brown seaweeds, Sargassum myriocystum J. Agardh and Sargassum siliquosum J. Agardh (Sargassaceae, Fucales) in Liloan, Cebu, in Central Philippines. Bulletin of Marine Science and Fisheries of Kochi University 1: 17–27.
McCourt RM (1984) Seasonal patterns of abundance, distributions, and phenology in relation to growth strategies of three Sargassum species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 74: 141–156.
Taniguchi K, Yamada Y (1978) Ecological study on Sargassum patens C. Agardh and S. serratifolium C. Agardh in the sublittoral zone at Iida Bay of Noto Peninsula in the Japan Sea. Bulletin of Japanese Sea Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory 29: 239–253.
Wong CL, Phang SM (2004) Biomass production of two Sargassum species at Cape Rachado, Malaysia. Hydrobiologia 512: 79–88.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ang, P.O. Phenology of Sargassum spp. in Tung Ping Chau Marine Park, Hong Kong SAR, China. J Appl Phycol 18, 629–636 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-006-9071-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-006-9071-5