Primary adhesion of Enteromorpha (Chlorophyta, Ulvales) propagules: Quantitative settlement studies and video microscopy

Abstract

Quantitative methods and associated kinetic analyses have been used for the first time to study detailed aspects of the settlement and adhesion of various types of Enteromorpha propagule. Time course experiments showed that quadri- and biflagellate zoospores and zygotes adhered rapidly, but a proportion within any one population appeared to be incompetent at adhering to the substratum. Kinetic (Scatchard) analysis of adhesion experiments performed at a range of zoospore concentrations revealed density-dependent effects not previously reported, with positive cooperativity at low spore densities and negative cooperativity at high spore densities. High-resolution video microscopy was used for t..