Same species, different population dynamics: Spatio‐temporal differences of Undaria pinnatifida (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) in the intertidal of North Patagonia, Argentina

ARCÁNGEL, ANDREA EVANGELINA; RODRÍGUEZ, EMILIANO ALEXIS; SAAD, JUAN FRANCISCO; DE LA BARRA, PAULA; NARVARTE, MAITE ANDREA; STORERO, LORENA PÍA; PEREYRA, PATRICIO JAVIER

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2023

0022-3646

Population dynamics can be influenced by physical and biological factors,particularly in stressful environments. Introduced species usually have greatphysiological plasticity, resulting in populations with different traits. Undariapinnatifida, a macroalga originally described from northeast Asia, was introducedin Northern Patagonia, Argentina (San Matías Gulf) around 2010. Todescribe the spatio-temporal variability in population structure and morphometryof U. pinnatifida, we conducted monthly field samplings for 2 years atthe intertidal area of two contrasting sites in the San Matías Gulf. Individualsof U. pinnatifida were classified by developmental stage, and their morphogravimetricvariables were measured. In both intertidal sites juveniles werefound in higher proportion during austral autumn and grew and matured duringthe autumn-winter months (from May onwards), and individuals senescedduring early austral summer (December and January). Conversely, densityand biomass were largely different between sites, and individuals showedslight morphological variability between sites. Environmental (e.g., nutrientconcentration, available substrate) and biological factors (e.g., facilitation,competition) may explain the observed differences. Since there is not a macroalgawith U. pinnatifida morphometrical characteristics in the intertidal environmentsof San Matías Gulf, studying this recent introduction gives us abetter understanding of its potential ecological effects