Fate of Enteromorpha flexuosa (Wulfen) J. Agardh and its spores in darkness: Implications for ballast water management

Abstract

Effects of darkness on the filaments and spores of a marine alga, Enteromorpha flexuosa (Wulfen) J. Agardh was evaluated through incubation experiments. Sporulation in the algal filaments was observed even after dark exposure of 108 days and their effective period of release ranged from 1 to 7 days. Spores incubated in the dark for 51 days displayed a linear decrease in the survival and germination rate. This is coupled with a linear increase in the effective period of germination for example, 35% of spores survived after exposure to 51 days and these required 21 days for germination. These results indicate the potential of their successful translocation through ballast water of ships, a major vector initiating marine bioinvasion.