title: The expansion of Ulva prolifera O.F. Müller macroalgal blooms in the Yellow Sea, PR China, through asexual reproduction.
abstract: Since 2007, Ulva macroalgal blooms have occurred along the coastal areas of the Yellow Sea, China. These blooms are dominated by fragments of Ulva prolifera in the early stages of development. The objectives of this study were to identify the primary mode of asexual reproduction for U. prolifera and to evaluate the contribution of these thalli fragments to the formation of blooms. Four different growth and reproductive strategies of U. prolifera segments were found including: 1) tubular diameter becoming larger; 2) formation of new branches; 3) release of zoids; and 4) polarized growth. This is the first report showing the development of numerous blade-lets from a single segment, which is remarkably different from previous studies on other Ulva species. The results in the present study provide critical information to understand how this species is able to support its explosive growth during a bloom.
authors: College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT 06901, USA.
authors: Jianheng
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Marine Science, School of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT 06901, USA.
authors: Jang Kyun
authors: JK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT 06901, USA. Electronic address: charles.yarish@uconn.edu.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Yarish
authors: College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: pmhe@shou.edu.cn.
authors: Peimin
authors: P
authors: He
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D005068:Eutrophication; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D012624:Seaweed / Q000254:growth & development*; D044445:Ulva / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Eutrophication; Fragmentation; Macroalgae blooms; Polarized growth; Ulva prolifera; Yellow Sea