BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Lithothamnion glaciale
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Angus Jackson	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
General Biology
Growth form	Algal gravel Crustose hard	Feeding method	Photoautotroph
Mobility/Movement	Not relevant	Environmental position	Epifloral Epilithic
Typical food types	Not relevant	Habit	Bed forming
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Medium(11-20 cm)
Height		Growth Rate	13 µm/day
Adult dispersal potential	10-100m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	Maerl has been found in densities of up to 22,000 thalli per square metre. The proportion of live to dead nodules varies considerably (Birkett et al., 1998). In the British Isles, Lithothamnion glaciale is found in relative abundances of up to 36 % of coralline red algae and up to 80 % further north (Adey & Adey, 1973) Individual thalli of this species may occur as male female, asexual or non-breeding plants depending on the development of the various types of reproductive conceptacles. Crustose plants adhere strongly to the substratum and reach 20 cm in diameter at least (Suneson, 1943; Irvine & Chamberlain, 1994). Unattached plants probably reach 4-5 cm in diameter. Little is known about growth rates of this species. Maerl is amongst the slowest growing species in the North Atlantic (Birkett et al., 1998). Adey, (1970) recorded rates of up to 13 microns per day in the lab. This is fast in comparison to other sub-arctic maerl species which may explain why Lithothamnion glaciale is often the most abundant North Atlantic crustose coralline alga. Mobility and sociability is not applicable to algal species. Maerl beds in general are known as a particularly diverse habitat with over 150 macro algal species and 500 benthic faunal species recorded (Birkett et al., 1998(a)). The loose structure of these beds permits water circulation and oxygenation to considerable depth. As a consequence of this loose structure, maerl provides shelter for an astonishing variety of fauna e.g. molluscs (Hall-Spencer, 1998) and amphipods (Grave De, 1999).
Biology References	Adey et al., 1976, Suneson, 1943, Rosenvinge, 1917, Adey & Adey, 1973, Cardinal et al., 1979, Adey, 1966, Adey, 1970, Irvine & Chamberlain, 1994, Birkett et al., 1998(a), Hall-Spencer, 1998, Grave De, 1999,