Table Of ContentAN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF
Bota~y
Chris Kelvin Kjeldsen for the Doctor of Philosophy in (Phycology)
(Name) (Degree) (Major)
/.:1
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Date thesis is presented
Title EFFECTS OF VARIATONS IN SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE
ON SOME ESTUARINE MACRO-ALGAE
Redacted for Privacy
Abstract a pproved
~ y
YJ.afor professor),
Yaquina Bay, an estuary on the central Oregon Coast was stud
ied to determine the factors limiting the seasonal occurrence and spa
tial distribution of the macro-algae. The. physical and chemical prop
erties of the waters, in Yaquina Bay and estuary, are strongly in
£luenced by the prevailing climatological conditions. Temperature
and salinity were studied as ecological parameters in the field and
in the laboratory. Field studies involved determination of algal spe
cies, their habitats, location within the intertidal zone, spatial dis
tribution, seasonal occurrence, and tolerance to variations in salin
ity and temperature as determined from the physical-chemical re
gime of the estuary. The majority of the species had optimum growth
in, or were limited to, salinities of 35 to 30%0 and temperatures of
lO to 13 C.
Four zones were defined in the estuary: zone one, extending
one and one-half kilometers into the estuary, where the flora con
sisted primarily of open coast forms; zone two, a transitional area
extending nine kilometers into the estuary occupied by brackish wa
ter species and a few of the more tolerant forms also found in zone
one; zone three, a brackish water area extending 21 kilometers into
the estuary to the town of Toledo with typical brackish water inhabi
tants; and zone four, above the town of Toledo inhabited by fresh wa
ter forms.
Eight species, Ulva expansa, Enteromorpha linza, Laminaria
saccharina, Sargassum muticum, Alaria marginata, Odonthalia floc
~I Iridaea splendens and Gigartina californica, were used in lab
oratory studies to determine the effect of variations in temperature
and salinity on rates of respiration and photosynthesis, thus deter
mining the control these ecological factors may exert in nature. Two
methods were employed to detect changes in concentration of oxygen
in the medium during respiration and photosynthesis. These were
manometric methods uSing a Gilson differential respirometer, and
Winkler titration of water samples froIn a 50 -liter photosynthesis
respiration chamber. The experiments determined hourly rates of
respiration and photosynthesis in decreased salinities at 10, 15, and
20 C. A series of experiments were also undertaken to determine the
the effect of adaptive exposure upon the metabolic rates of macro
algae in media of various salinities.
In laboratory experiments it was found: a) rates of respiration
increased with increasing temperatures, however, in experiments in
the Gilson respirometer, uSing tissues from Laminaria, Sargassum,
Odonthalia, and Iridaea, there was an inhibition of respiration at 20 C
resulting in rates below those at 15 C; b) rates of respiration in
creased in reduced salinities down to 11%0; c) rates of photosynthesis
were markedly reduced in salinities of less than 11%0; d) in several
experiments the rates of photosynthesis were enhanced in salinities
of 22%c; e) rates of photosynthesis, with three exceptions, were higher
with increasing temperatures; f) photosynthesis was more sensitive
to extreme dilutions than respiration, but respiration was more sen
sitive to temperature change s than photosynthesis, and g) adaptation
to salinities above 11%0 does not alter the mode of protoplasmic re
sponse to variations of salinity, but does reduce the magnitude of the
response.
Ulva expansa, Laminaria saccharina, Sargassum muticum,.
Alaria marginata, and Gigartina californica showed tolerances to
variations in salinity and temperature in laboratory experiments
correlating with their distribution in the estuary, and with its physi
cal-chemical regime. In laboratory experiments, Enteromorpha
linza, Odonthalia floccosa, and Iridaea splendens showed tolerance
to variations of salinity and temperature exceeding the variations they
encountered in nature and therefore, their distribution must be lim
ited by some other factors.
EFFECTS OF VARIATIONS IN SALINITY
AND TEMPERATURE ON SOME
ESTUARINE MACRO-ALGAE
by
CHRIS KELVIN KJELDSEN
A THESIS
submitted to
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the
degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
June 1967
APPROVED:
Redacted for Privacy
In Charge of Major
Redacted for Privacy
Redacted for Privacy
Dean of Graduate School
Date thesis is presented August 12, 1966
Typed by Opal Grossnicklaus
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wishes to express his sincere appreciation to his
major professor, Dr. Harry K. Phinney, for suggestion of the prob
lem. His guidance and inspiration throughout the investigation and
editorial efforts in preparation of this thesis are gratefully acknowl
edged.
The writer is indebted to Dr. C. David McIntire, Assistant
Professor of Botany, and to Dr. Charles E. Warren, Professor of
Fisheries and Wildlife, for their encouragement, guidance, and
financial assistance in preparation of the P-R chamber at the Oregon
State Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon. Appreciation is ex
pressed to Dr. McIntire for his constructive criticism of this manu
script. Thanks are also given to Mr. Wilbur Breese, Associate
Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University Marine
Science Center, for his cooperation and assistance.
Special thanks go to Messers. Waldemar Seton and Raymond
Jones of the Georgia Pacific Corporation for making available unpub
lished hydrographic data. Thanks are given to Dr. Kenneth Chew,
Associate Professor of Fisheries, who provided data concerning
daily temperatures, collected by the Invertebrate Section of the Col
lege of Fisheries, University of Washington.
Finally, the author wishes to express his sincere appreciation
to his wife, Beverly, for her encouragement and patience.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1
Description of Survey Area .....•....•. 3
Physical Factors Operating in Yaquina Bay. 5
Precipitation •• 6
Temperature. 9
Wind ••. .12
Turbidity . 12
...
Salinity .• •• 15
Currents .19
MATERIALS AND METHODS .21
Laboratory Studies ............................ 21
Studies Using the Gilson Differential Respirometer •••. 22
Studies Using the Photosynthesis -Respiration Chamber•• 26
Studies of the Effects of Adaptation ••• 31
Field Studies ................................ 33
.... . . . . . .. .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. .
RESULTS •••••• .35
Tolerance of Sele~ted Species to Variations of Salinity and
Temperature as Revealed Through Gilson Respirometer
and P-R Chamber Studies of Their Rates of Photosynthesis
and Respiration ............... ., .......... . .35
Results of Gilson Differential Respirometer Studies . .35
Ulva expansa .•••••• • • • 36
Laminaria saccharina .36
Sargassum muticum • .39
Odonthalia floccosa • • .. 39
Iridae.a splendens ..• .42
Gigartina californica .42
..
Results of P-R Chamber Studies ••. .45
Ulva expansa .••..•• .47
Enteromorpha linza .•• . .47
Laminaria saccharina .• .47
.
. . .
Sargassum muticum . • 51
Alaria marginata •••• 51
Odonthalia floccosa .54
Iridaea splendens .54
Gigartina californica .54
Results of Adaptation Studies .58
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
U1va expansa •••...• 58
.
. .
Laminaria saccharina 60
Sargassum muticum 60
A1aria marginata . 63
Iridaea sp1endens 65
Field Studies ..•...... •. 67
Species Present and Their Habitats 68
Distribution of Species and Seasonal Occurrence. 69
Temperature and Salinity Tolerance of the Macro
Algae of Yaquina Bay .........•....•. 72
DISCUSSION 84
U1va expansa .•....• 90
Enteromorpha linza 90
Laminaria saccharina 90
A1aria marginata 91
Sargassum muticum . 91
Odonthalia floccosa 91
Iridaea sp1endens 91
.
. .
Gigartina californica 92
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 124
BIBLIOGRAPHY 128
APPENDICES .. 133
APPENDIX A. Tables 1 to 8 133
APPENDIX B. Species Present in Yaquina Bay and
Their Habitat .....•.•......• 141
APPENDIX C. Key to the Macro-Algae in Yaquina Bay 148
APPENDIX D. Collecting Areas in Yaquina Bay. . . • . 157
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
1. Location map showing Yaquina Bay, Oregon. 4
2. Drainage basin of the Yaquina estuary. 7
3. Correlation between precipitation and runoff. 8
4. Temperature regime at six stations in Yaquina Bay. 11
5. Turbidity regime at six stations in Yaquina Bay. 13
6. Salinity regime at six stations in Yaquina Bay. 18
7. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Ulva 37
expansa at various temperatures and salinities
as measured in the Gilson differential respir
ometer.
8. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Laminaria 38
saccharina at various temperatures and salinities as
measured in the Gilson differential respirometer.
9. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Sargassum 40
muticum at various temperatures and salinities as
measured in the Gilson differential respirometer.
10. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Odonthalia 41
floccosa at various temperatures and salinities as
measured in the Gilson differential respirometer.
11. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Iridaea 43
splendens at various salinities and temperatures
as measured in the Gilson differential respirometer.
12. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Gigartina 44
californica at various salinities and temperatures as
measured in the Gilson differential respirometer.
13. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Ulva 48
expansa at various salinities and temperatures as
measured in the P-R chamber.
LIST OF FIGURES (Continued)
Figure
14. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in 49
Entermorpha linza at various salinities and
temperatures as measured in the P-R chamber.
15. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in 50
Laminaria saccharina at various salinities and
temperatures in the P- R chamber.
16. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in 52
Sargassum muticum at various salinities and
temperatures as measured in the P-R chamber.
1 7. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Alaria 53
marginata at various salinities and temperatures
as measured in the P-R chamber.
18. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Odonthalia 55
floccosa at various salinities and temperatures as
measured in the P-R chamber.
19. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Iridaea 56
splendens at various salinities and temperatures as
measured in the P-R chamber.
20. Rates of respiration and photosynthesis in Gigartina 57
californica at various salinities and temperatures as
measured in the P-R chamber.
21. Comparison of the rates of respiration and photo' 59
synthesis at 15 C by adapted and non-adapted Ulva
expansa.
22. Comparison of the rates of respiration and photo 61
synthesis at 15 C by adapted and non-adapted
Sargas sum muticum.
23. Comparison of the rates of respiration and photo 62
synthesis at 15 C by adapted and non-adapted
Laminaria saccharina.
Description:typical brackish water inhabi tants; and zone four, above the town of Toledo inhabited by fresh wa ter forms. Eight species, Ulva expansa, Enteromorpha linza, Laminaria saccharina, Sargassum muticum, Alaria marginata, Odonthalia floc. ~I Iridaea splendens and Gigartina californica, were used in la
