title: Effects of thermal stress on the growth of an intertidal population of Ellisolandia elongata (Rhodophyta) from N-W Mediterranean Sea.
abstract: Coralline algae are calcareous algae able to build biogenic structures, thus playing a key-role as marine biodiversity promoters and calcium carbonate producers. The aim was to estimate the growth of Ellisolandia elongata under thermal stress. E. elongata were cultured for 2, 4 and 6 months under "natural" temperature (Tc) and increased temperature (Ti = Tc + 3 °C). In order to determine a possible culturing effect, growth in the field was also measured. For the first time, Alizarin Red S dye was used in high energy shallow water environments. Thallus linear extension was higher in the cultured specimens (Tc and Ti) compared to the field specimens. The carbonate mass in the field was higher than in Ti and Tc after 2, 4 months but decreased after 6 months. Partly unknown in situ environmental factors could have affected growth and calcification rates in the field while thermal adaptation could explain growth rates in the culturing experiment.
authors.affiliation: Environment Research Centre ENEA Via Santa Teresa, 19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici, La Spezia, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Association For-Mare for Applied Ecological Sciences, Via Lovati 33, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: mattetametsi@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nannini
authors.affiliation: Association For-Mare for Applied Ecological Sciences, Via Lovati 33, 27100 Pavia, Italy; Istituto di Scienze Marine-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-ISMAR), Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici, La Spezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Marchi
authors.affiliation: Environment Research Centre ENEA Via Santa Teresa, 19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici, La Spezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ragazzola
mesh_terms: D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000378:metabolism; D057232:Global Warming; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000254:growth & development*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: 6 month experiment; Calcium carbonate mass; Climate changes; Coralline algae; Linear extension; Temperature