Functional Geometry of Seaweeds

Résumé du livre

A simple model is proposed that predicts the effects of seaweed morphology on growth rate and competitive ability in environments of high or low light. The model is in large part an elaboration of one proposed by Horn (1971) to explain the geometry of forests trees. In general, the model predicts that monolayered plants should occur primarily in habitats where light is very low. They should also have flattened thalli that are optically dense and grow slower than those of multilayered plants when light levels are high. Multilayered plants should occur primarily in habitats with high light and, under such conditions, should be competitively superior monolayers. Multilayers should have terete thalli, or flattened thalli that are translucent, highly dissected, or supported by midribs. They should grow more rapidly than monolayers when light levels are high and should show large and rapid changes in abundance when growing in habitats where light levels are highly variable throughout the season. Interrelationships among morphologies, distributions, growth rates, seasonal patterns of abundance, and interrelated physiological attributes of Caribbean seaweeds are consistent with these hypotheses. Those patterns support the contention that selection for efficient light capture has been an important factor affecting the external morphology of seaweeds.