Frond Dynamics and Reproductive Trends of Amphiroa Beauvoisii (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from Isla Asunción, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Abstract

Amphiroa beauvoisii (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) is distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, but little information is available about its demographics. We examined variation in wet weight, cover, frond size, length/width relation and proportion of life history stages in a study conducted at Isla Asunción, Mexico, from April 1998 to December 1998. The population of A. beauvoisii showed seasonal variation in cover, frond length and width, frond length frequency and percentage of reproductive fronds. These variations could not be associated with variation in temperature, daylength or nitrate concentration. Reproduction took place by production of tetrasporangia and bisporangia; no gametangial reproduction was observed. Recruitment by germination of bispores and re-growth from the holdfast are believed to play a major role in the persistence of the population.