Table Of ContentRHODORA,
Vol. 100, No. 904, 333-379, 1998
pp.
AND
ZONATION OF SEAWEEDS
FLORISTIC STUDIES
FROM MOUNT
DESERT
ISLAND, MAINE:
AN
COMPARISON
HISTORICAL
Arthur Mathieson
C.
Department of Plant Biology and Jackson Estuarine Laboratory,
NH
New
University of Hampshire, Durham, 03824
Dawes
Clinton
J.
FL
Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33620
Edward Hehre
J.
Department of Plant Biology and Jackson Estuarine Laboratory,
NH
New
Durham, 03824
Hampshire,
University of
abstract. Based upon recent collections at 28 sites plus historical data
from Mount
the century, the macroalgal flora of Desert Island consists
last
of 41 Chlorophyceae, 50 Phaeophyceae, and 55 Rhodophyceae. Previously,
121 seaweeds were recorded from Mount Desert Island and 113 taxa were
A
found during present sampling. comparison of the two time periods shows
common 75%
88 taxa in or a similarity. Varying percent similarity patterns
when
are evident historical and present collections at Otter Cliffs (68%), Seal
Harbor (43%), and the Seawall-Southwest Harbor areas (54%) are compared.
may
The
reduced values for Seal Harbor reflect anthropogenic effects, while
may taxonomic
the other values represent varying levels of characterization
Mount
Pronounced on
and/or temporal of habitat diversity
variability floras.
low
Desert Island probably causes the relatively intra-island similarity pat-
=
terns (x 36.8 ± 7.6%), while interisland comparisons of other Northwest
=
Atlantic islands are much higher (ca. 51.0-92.0%, x 72.3% ± 6.0%). In
Mount numbers
comparing species richness around Desert Island, the largest
of taxa occur on the exposed coasts at Otter Cliffs and Seawall that experience
intense wave while the lowest numbers occur at several sheltered
activity,
sites.
Zonation patterns three representative sites (exposed Otter Cliffs, pro-
at
Thompson show pronounced
tected Otter Cove, and sheltered Island) local-
mean am-
ized differences. The biological zones at Otter Cliffs exceed tidal
plitude, and patterns of species richness there are also higher than at the other
two Mount show most conspicuous decrease
Desert Green algae the in
sites.
Of com-
species richness with increasing shelter. the 32 intertidal species in
mon
showed conspicuous
with a 1928 zonation study Otter Cliffs, 13 a
at
limits
an
general warming trend in the Gulf of Maine or the effects of air pollution
during
exposure.
intertidal
Key
Words: Mount Desert Maine, Gulf
seaweeds, ecology, Island,
history,
of Maine MISSOURI
BOTANICAL
333
FEB
2 1999
Hnrii
A
f*
Rhodora 100
334 [Vol.
t
Mount Desert Island, which the largest insular habitat (Fig-
is
on Maine's extensive and indented coastline (Piatt 1996;
ure 2)
1,
Rand
Simpson has a long and unique phycological history.
1987),
produced an catalogue of plants
and Redfield (1894) initial its
(phanerogamic and cryptogamic), as well as a synopsis of the
upon
based
ecology, geology, and postglacial history
island's
k
Two
noted phycologists,
during the early 1880s.
studies initiated
Frank Shipley Collins and Isaac Holden, studied the algae, re-
•
cording approximately 100 taxa from the exposed, eastern shore-
new
and nearby Cranberry (Collins 1894). Several other
Isles
line
v
taxa were recorded in Phycotheca Boreali-Americana, the largest
Taylor
exsiccata of seaweeds ever published Setchell 1925;
(cf.
upon
few seaweeds based
1957). Taylor (1921) listed a additional
summer during 1915 and 1920. Johnson and Skutch
collections
'
and
(1928a, b, c) described the species composition, zonation,
promontory
an exposed
ecology of algae Otter
intertidal at Cliffs,
on the eastern side of the island (site Figure 2, 3 A). It is still
1
1 ;
one of the most significant studies of kind for any part of the
its
s
Maine (Mathieson
coastline et 1991).
al.
composition and zonation of
In the present study, the
floristic
Mount
seaweeds from Desert Island, Maine, are described utiliz-
i
and from century plus
ing recent historical collections the last
detailed zonation comparisons Otter Cliffs (Johnson and Skutch
at
1928a, The seaweed zonation also compared with recent
b,
c). is
Bald Head York, Maine (Femino and Mathieson
studies
at Cliff,
New
and Newcastle, Hampshire (Mathieson
1980), Jaffrey Point,
As
et 1981). noted by Barry et (1995), the diverse impacts
al. al.
man
on
of coastal resources are often difficult (impossible) to
assess because few detailed "baselines" exist for comparisons.
Mount
With
Desert's long phycological history and the fact that
now
contains one of the most popular national parks in the
it
United States (Acadia), such comparisons can be used to assess
macroalgal communities The
shifts in the in the future. specific
num-
objectives of our field studies are fourfold: to assess the
(1)
ber and types of seaweeds at diverse sites around the island; (2)
compare and documented
to present previously patterns of species
richness and composition three compare present
at sites; (3) to
among Mount
patterns of zonation three Desert as well as
sites,
New
two others southern Maine and Hampshire with variable
in
wave
exposure; and to compare present and previous patterns
(4)
seaweed
of zonation Otter Bar Harbor.
at Cliffs,
Mathieson Mount
1998] 335
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Rhodora
336 [Vol. 100
TZJ
r
FRENCHMAN
44°26'N
'.
44°16'30"N
BLUE BAY
HILL
Cranberry Isles
68°23'30"W
I 1
Figure 2. Mount Desert Island showing the location of 28 recent collect-
ing
sites.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
on
Floristic studies. In assessing present patterns
floristic
Mount
Desert Island, extensive year-round collections and obser-
made
vations of and shallow seaweeds were
intertidal subtidal at
28 locations (Figure Table Appendix). The were estab-
2; sites
1;
Thompson
lished clockwise around the island, starting Island
at
#H
Mount
on
Desert Narrows and ending Indian Point
(site at
Western
Thomp
were
ations important in establishing these study acces
sites: (1)
1
—
Mount
1998] Mathieson et Desert Island Seaweeds 337
al.
B
were
con-
where zonation studies
Mount
Figure Three Desert habitats
3.
showing Johnson and
exposed
ducted an site
during 1996. (A) Otter Cliffs:
Cove:
pool. (B) Otter
Skutch's (1928a) bench mark (arrow) plus a large tide
CJD
holding a stadia
a sheltered with a dense growth of fucoid algae. is
site
Thompson
a pro-
rod near the extreme lower intertidal region. (C) Island:
Ascophyllum nodosum, a
abundant
tected habitat with scattered boulders,
standing)
etation.
Rhodora
338 [Vol. 100
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