Reproductive strategy of the floating alga Ulva prolifera in blooms in the Yellow Sea based on a combination of zoid and chromosome analysis

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 146; pp. 584 - 590
• Main Authors: Zhao, Xiaohui, Cui, Jianjun, Zhang, Jianheng, Shi, Jinting, Kang, Xinyu, Liu, Jinlin, Wen, Qinlin, He, Peimin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Algae; Algal blooms; Aquatic plants; Chlorophyll; Chromosome; Chromosomes; Dominant species; Eutrophication; Flagella; Floating; Gametophytes; Haploidy; Life history; Macroalgal blooms; Reproductive strategy; Sporophytes; Ulva prolifera; Yellow Sea; Yellow Sea; Chromosome; Life history; Macroalgal blooms; Ulva prolifera; Yellow Sea
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.018

Green algal blooms have occurred in the Yellow Sea for 13 consecutive years since 2007. However, little is known about the reproductive strategy of the dominant species Ulva prolifera in the field. In particular, it is not clear whether the floating Ulva species are sporophytes or gametophytes, and if their life history is sexual or asexual. In this study, the life history type was determined based on the size, phototactic response, and flagella number for the zoids in at least two successive generations. In addition, chromosome observations were conducted to distinguish the gametophytes and sporophytes in the floating Ulva species. The results showed that the floating Ulva species were all sporophytes with sexual reproductive patterns, thereby indicating that this Ulva species always maintains vegetative growth from April to June during the early stage of the blooms. In addition, we found that the chromosome numbers were 18 for the diploid sporophytes and nine for the haploid male and female gametophytes. These results provide useful information to help understand the explosive growth of these green algal blooms. •Chromosome number 18 for diploid Ulva prolifera sporophytes•Chromosome number nine for haploid male and female gametophytes•Floating Ulva species all sporophytes with sexual reproductive patterns•Ulva species maintain vegetative growth from April to June during early blooming.