Environmental tolerances of free-living coralline algae (maerl): implications for European marine conservation

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 120; no. 2; pp. 279 - 289
• Main Authors: Wilson, Sian, Blake, Charmaine, Berges, John A, Maggs, Christine A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Burial; Conservation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Corallinaceae; Corallinales; Fish farm waste; Fragmentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Light; Maerl; Marine; Metal contamination; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry; Salinity; Sewage discharge; Temperature; ANE, British Isles; Europe; Burial; Fish farm waste; Maerl; Temperature; Pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry; Light; Conservation; Sewage discharge; Metal contamination; Salinity; Fragmentation; Environmental factor; Metal; Marine environment; Habitat; Thallophyta; Rhodophyta; Algae; Interspecific association; Tolerance; Vulnerability; Contamination; Stress; Pollutant; Wastes; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0006-3207
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2004.03.001

Maerl is a general term used for loose-lying subtidal beds of nodular coralline red algae. Maerl beds support high associated invertebrate and algal biodiversity, and are subject to European and UK conservation legislation. Previous investigations have shown European maerl to be ecologically fragile...