Skip to main content

The Importance of Propagule Dispersal in Maintaining Local Populations of Rare Algae on Complex Coastlines: Padina pavonica on the South Coast of England.

Herbert, R. J.H., Willis, J. and Baugh, J., 2021. The Importance of Propagule Dispersal in Maintaining Local Populations of Rare Algae on Complex Coastlines: Padina pavonica on the South Coast of England. Phycology, 1 (1), 1 - 13.

Full text available as:

[img]
Preview
PDF (OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE)
phycology 2021 Padina.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

4MB

DOI: 10.3390/phycology1010001

Abstract

On dynamic coastlines, populations of protected algal species with poor dispersal might be especially vulnerable to infrequent recruitment events and local extinction. As a model, we here consider the dispersal of the alga Padina pavonica from the largest remaining and physically isolated enclaves on the south coast of England. A bio-physical model was used to investigate the likely importance of local propagule dispersal in maintaining populations. Dispersal kernels that simulate the position of propagules at different time steps over 5 days were examined from five release sites. Exceptionally steep declines in model propagule density were observed over the first few hours from release, yet over the first day, 75–85% of model propagules remained close to their source but had not reached other enclaves. After five days, the dispersal from source populations ranged from 0 to 50 km, with only ~5% remaining within the source 1 km2 area. Although distances of modelled propagule dispersal might be adequate for maintaining a regional population network, vegetative perrenation also appears to be important for persistence of P. pavonica. For rare and protected species on isolated and energetic coastlines, local conservation efforts, rather than a reliance on a wider meta-population network, remain very important to ensure long-term protection and survival.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:2673-9410
Additional Information:the manuscript. Funding: The work was supported through a grant received from the Porcupine Marine Natural History Society and SITA.
Uncontrolled Keywords:Padina pavonica ; Connectivity ; biogeography ; bio-physical model ; Marine Protected Area
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:35695
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:28 Jun 2021 14:07
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 14:28

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...
Repository Staff Only -