Abstract:
The morphology, thallus length, biomass and reproductive pattern of green seaweed Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) Nees (now it is recognized as Ulva intestinalis L.) was studied from clean (Station1) and polluted (Station 2) sites in the Sandspit backwaters, Karachi. It was collected for seven months at St.1 and all the year around at St. 2 during the study period. The thalli at St.1 were light green, mature having minute holdfast whereas, at St.2 thalli were dark green, young , profusely branched, and studded with numerous hair-like branches, without holdfast found floating on water surface. The cells in young thalli were rectangular to polygonal in shape compactly packed in longitudinal rows with no sign of vegetative division and sporulation. In mature thalli the cells were polygonal showing vegetative division and sporulation. The chloroplast was parietal, cup-shaped with 1-3 pyrenoids at St.1 and 3-4 pyrenoids at St. 2. Variability in biomass, length, and cell diameters between populations of two stations was observed. At St. 1 sporulation was observed in most of the thalli and at St. 2 reproduction was by means of vegetative fragmentation throughout the year. At St. 1 blooms occurred during period of high sporulation whereas at St. 2 such blooms were common during peak of vegetative propagation.
Page(s):
561-573
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Volume: 14, Issue: 4, Year: 2017
Keywords:
blooms
,
Ulva intestinalis
,
Sporulation
,
Sandspit
,
young thalli