Drijvend Zeewier Ais Efemeer Neustonisch Habitat
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miii Fa c u l t y o f S c ie n c e s UNIVERSITEIT GENT fetology«, Vakgroep Biologie Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Gent, BELGIUM F l o a t i n g s e a w e e d a s e p h e m e r a l n e u s t o n i c h a b i t a t Drijvend zeewier ais efemeer neustonisch habitat Sofie Vandendriessche Promotor: Prof. Dr. Magda Vincx Co-promotor: Dr. Steven Degraer Academic year 2006 - 2007 Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Science (Biology) Today I changed course for the first time since departing Gomera because the wind was variable and sometimes calm. Ifirst sailed west by north and then WNW, making 21 or 24 miles.... The sailors caught a little fish, and we saw much weed of the kind I have already mentioned, even more than before, stretching to the north as far as you can see. In a way this weed comforted the men, since they have concluded that it must come from some nearby land. But at the same time, it caused some of them great apprehension because in some places it was so thick that it actually held back the ships. Thursday, 20 September 1492 Christopher Columbus Members of the Reading Committee Prof. Dr. Magda Vincx, promotor (UGent, Belgium) Dr. Steven Degraer, co-promotor (UGent, Belgium) Prof. Dr. Agnar Ingólfsson (University of Iceland, Iceland) Dr. André Cattrijsse (VLIZ, Belgium) Members of the Examination Committee Prof. Dr. Wim Vyverman, chairman (UGent, Belgium) Prof. Dr. Magda Vincx, promotor (UGent, Belgium) Dr. Steven Degraer, co-promotor (UGent, Belgium) Prof. Dr. Agnar Ingólfsson (University of Iceland, Iceland) Dr. André Cattrijsse (VLIZ, Belgium) Prof. Dr. Carlo Heip (UGent, Belgium) Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel (UGent, Belgium) Dr. Marleen De Troch (UGent, Belgium) Thesis defended in public Friday, 15 December 2006 at 4.30 p.m. Ghent University Auditorium Valère Billiet, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Ghent ________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS______________________ Da n k w o o r d Su m m a r y - Samenvatting ..................................................................................................................................... I Summary.....................................................................................................................................................II Samenvatting .............................................................................................................................................VI Ch a p t e r 1. G e n e r a l Introduction a n d Ou t l in e ....................................................................................1 1. The neuston and its inhabitants .............................................................................................................2 2. Floating objects and their potential as rafts ..........................................................................................6 3. Floating seaweeds .................................................................................................................................. 9 4. Objectives and thesis outline ................................................................................................................11 Ch a p t e r 2. F l o a t in g s e a w e e d in t h e n e u s t o n ic environment : a c a se st u d y f r o m B e l g ia n c o a s t a l w a t e r s ..................................................................................................................................... 15 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 17 2. Materials and Methods ......................................................................................................................... 17 3. Results................................................................................................................................................... 20 4. Discussion .............................................................................................................................................25 Ch a p t e r 3. F o o d a n d h a b it a t c h o ic e in f l o a t in g se a w e e d c l u m p s : t h e o b l ig a t e OPPORTUNISTIC NATURE OF THE ASSOCIATED MACROFAUNA.................................................................29 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................31 2. Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................32 3. Results................................................................................................................................................... 34 4. Discussion .............................................................................................................................................40 5. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................42 Ch a p t e r 4. S o u r c e s o f v a r ia t io n in f l o a t in g s e a w e e d -a s s o c ia t e d m a c r o invertebrates ............................................................................................................................................................45 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................47 2. Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................48 3. Results................................................................................................................................................... 51 4. Discussion .............................................................................................................................................59 Ch a p t e r 5. H id in g a n d f e e d in g in f l o a t in g s e a w e e d : f l o a t in g s e a w e e d a s p o s s ib l e REFUGES OR FEEDING GROUNDS FOR FISHES................................................................................................... 63 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................65 2. Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................66 3. Results................................................................................................................................................... 70 4. Discussion ............................................................................................................................................. 80 Ch a p t e r 6. F l o a t in g s e a w e e d s : a s o u r c e o f sm a l l - sc a l e p a t c h in e s s in N o r t h e a s t A t l a n t ic Se a b ir d s ?.................................................................................................................................................87 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................89 2. Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................90 3. Results................................................................................................................................................... 91 4. Discussion .............................................................................................................................................95 Chapter 7. Floating seaweeds and the influences of temperature, grazing and CLUMP SIZE ON RAFT LOGEVITY - A MICROCOSM STUDY........................................................................99 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 101 2. Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................102 3. Results..................................................................................................................................................104 4. Discussion ........................................................................................................................................... 109 Ch a p t e r 8. G e n e r a l d is c u s s io n a n d P erspectives f o r F u t u r e R e s e a r c h ...................... 113 1. General discussion .............................................................................................................................114 2. Perspectives for Future Research .....................................................................................................123 - Ta b l e o f c o n t e n t s - Addendum: Juvenile H ip p o c a m p u s g u t t u l a t u sfrom a neuston tow at the French- BELGIAN BORDER....................................................................................................................................................... 127 R e f e r e n c e s ................................................................................................................................................................ 131 A p p e n d ix : Sp e