Effects of periodic air-exposure and nutrients on the competition of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus germlings

To examine the relationship between competition and environmental factors, the germlings of Ascophyllum nodosum (L) Le Jolis and Fucus vesiculosus L. were cultured in monocultures and mixtures of the two species under two different exposure and nutrient levels. Both intra- and inter-specific competition were examined in comparison of the mortality and growth of germlings in monocultures and mixtures of the two species. The mortality of germlings increased with increasing density and emergence periods both in the monoculture and mixtures of the two species, and the mortality of Ascophyllum was significantly higher than that of Fucus both in submerged and emerged treatments. The growth of germlings of both species reduced with increasing density but F. vesiculosus always grew faster than Ascophyllum. The values of log output ratio were more than 0.1, indicating that Fucus 'won' in the competitive battles with Ascophyllum under two nutrient- and air-exposure levels. Log output ratio was greater in high than in low nutrients, indicating that the growth of Fucus is more enhanced than that of Ascophyllum in high nutrients. In the present study, the outcome of inter specific competition between germlings of Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum was slightly altered by duration of emergence and nutrient concentration, but not to such an extent as to change the outcome.