Marine Ecology Progress Series 411:17
Vol. 411: 17–32, 2010 MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Published July 29 doi: 10.3354/meps08643 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Capturing the dynamics in benthic structures: environmental effects on morphology in the macroalgal genera Halimeda and Dictyota Aletta T. Yñiguez1, 2,*, John W. McManus1, Ligia Collado-Vides3 1Coral Reef Ecology and Management (CREM) Laboratory/Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries/National Center for Coral Reef Research (NCORE), Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, Florida 33149, USA 2Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Velasquez St., Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines 3Department of Biology, and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, OE 167, Miami, Florida 33199, USA ABSTRACT: Macroalgae are modular organisms that can express different morphologies depending on the environment to which they are exposed. Their growth under varying light, temperature, and nutrient regimes, interacting with disturbance factors such as herbivory and hydrodynamics, leads to particular morphological types. The present study illustrates the potential of using morphological variations of benthic modular and/or clonal organisms as indicators of the factors and processes influ- encing them in their particular location. The morphogenetic agent-based model SPREAD (spatially explicit reef algae dynamics) was used to determine the range of potential morphological types in 3 dominant macroalgal species (Halimeda tuna, H. opuntia, and a species of Dictyota) in the Florida Reef Tract. Simulations of growth under a range of light, nutrient, and disturbance conditions simi- larly found at inshore patch and offshore bank reefs led to 6 potential morphological types for H.
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