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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
The effects of harvesting of the South African kelp (Ecklonia maxima) on kelp population structure, growth rate and recruitment
Journal of Applied Phycology, Volume 18, No. 3-5, Year 2006
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Description
Ecklonia maxima is an economically important kelp in South Africa. The harvested kelp is used mainly as feed for cultured Haliotis midae (abalone) on farms all along the South African South and West Coast. The effects that different harvesting methods have on the growth of sub-canopy kelps, kelp population structure and kelp recruitment were tested in a kelp bed at Bordjies Rif near Cape Town. Two 30 x 10 m sites were set up, about 100 m apart, in near monoculture stands of E. maxima. Each 30 x 10 m area was subdivided into three treatments. In treatment 1 (T1) the whole 'head' of each kelp sporophyte that reached the surface was cut off between the bulb and the primary blade ('lethal' method). In treatment 2 (T2) ('non-lethal' method), the secondary fronds of all sporophytes that reached the surface were cut 20-30 cm from their junction with the primary blade, and removed. In the control plot, the kelp plants were not treated. Harvesting treatments were done approximately every four months, at low spring tide, from 3 March 2003 to 3 November 2003 (three treatments). The effects of harvesting on the kelps depend largely on the size of plant and the time the fronds were removed; however, no seasonal pattern could be observed. The different treatments had no effect on the growth rate, population structure or recruitment of the kelp. This means that factors other than light play an important role in the growth, structure and recruitment of the kelp beds in False Bay. Results are discussed in relation to current commercial harvesting practices. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Rothman, Mark D.
South Africa, Cape Town
Marine and Coastal Management
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
South Africa, Durban
University of Kwazulu-natal
Anderson, Robert J.
South Africa, Cape Town
Marine and Coastal Management
Smit, Albertus J.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
South Africa, Durban
University of Kwazulu-natal
Statistics
Citations: 41
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s10811-006-9036-8
ISSN:
09218971
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
South Africa