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Summary: HABITAT DIFFERENCES IN THE TIMING OF REPRODUCTION OF THE
INVASIVE ALGA SARGASSUM MUTICUM (PHAEOPHYTA, SARGASSACEAE)
OVER TIDAL AND LUNAR CYCLES1
Carla Monteiro, Aschwin H. Engelen, Ester A. Serr~ao, and Rui Santos2
CCMAR, CIMAR-Laborato´rio Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt is an inva-
sive species that is firmly established on intertidal
and subtidal rocky shores of Europe and the Paci-
fic coast of North America. Local success and
spread of S. muticum is thought to rely on its
reproductive potential that seems dependent on
exogenous factors like tidal and lunar cycles. This
study is the first to compare the reproductive pat-
terns (periodicity of egg expulsion and embryo
settlement) of this invader in two different habi-
tats: the middle and low intertidal. The combina-
tion of monthly, daily, and tidal samples at
triplicate sites within each habitat showed a semi-
lunar periodicity of egg expulsion and embryo set-
tlement coincident with increasing tidal amplitude
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