Spatial distribution and seasonal variation in Undaria pinnatifida ...
Spatial distribution and seasonal variation in Undaria pinnatifida ...
Spatial distribution and seasonal variation in Undaria pinnatifida ...
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Figure 4: Western Corom<strong>and</strong>el Pen<strong>in</strong>sula coastal survey sites: Green paths <strong>in</strong>dicate no <strong>Undaria</strong> was sighted<strong>and</strong> orange represents sites where <strong>Undaria</strong> plants were present.<strong>Undaria</strong> was found <strong>in</strong> shallow reef habitats with easily colonisable open spaces, it was not found to be present atcomparable sites with dense algal canopies. Plants were seen to be colonis<strong>in</strong>g areas of small to medium boulders orpatches of clear rocky reef <strong>in</strong>side the subtidal algal belt or adjacent to it (low-<strong>in</strong>tertidal or reef-s<strong>and</strong> border). Infestationlevels were low (Category 1) at five of the coastal sites. Between two <strong>and</strong> six plants were recorded at these five sites, ateach site the <strong>Undaria</strong> seen was clustered with<strong>in</strong> one 50m transect only. A medium level of <strong>in</strong>festation (Category 2) wasseen at Kirita Bay where forty-n<strong>in</strong>e plants were counted. This site comprised a relatively large area (~30 x 30m) ofrelatively flat reef at ~mean low water that was dom<strong>in</strong>ated by corall<strong>in</strong>e turf (Corall<strong>in</strong>a offic<strong>in</strong>alis). A sparse mixed algalassemblage, compris<strong>in</strong>g Ecklonia radiata, Carpophyllum maschalocarpum (dom<strong>in</strong>ant) <strong>and</strong> Carpophyllum plumosum,occurred <strong>in</strong> a marg<strong>in</strong>al subtidal fr<strong>in</strong>ge <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong> occurred at about one meter depth.11