Seasonal and spatial variability in rates of primary production and detritus release by intertidal stands of <i>Laminaria digitata</i> and <i>Saccharina latissima</i> on wave-exposed shores in the northeast Atlantic.

ABSTRACT: Coastal habitats are increasingly recognized as fundamentally important components of global carbon cycles, but the rates of carbon flow associated with marine macrophytes are not well resolved for many species in many regions. We quantified density, rates of primary productivity, and detritus production of intertidal stands of two common intertidal kelp species-Laminaria digitata (oarweed) and Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp)-on four NE Atlantic rocky shores over 22 months. The density of L. digitata was greater at exposed compared to moderately exposed shores but remained consistently low for S. latissima throughout the survey period. Individual productivity and erosion rates of L. digitata did not differ between exposed and moderately exposed shores b

SUBMITTER: Gilson AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10282169 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature