BIOTIC Species Information for Fucus ceranoides
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| Researched by | Nicola White | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | Dr Graham Scott | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Fucus ceranoides | Common name | Horned wrack | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZR377 | Recent Synonyms | None | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Chromophycota | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Phaeophyceae | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Fucales | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Fucaceae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Fucus | Species | ceranoides | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | No text entered | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Fish & Fish, 1996, Howson & Picton, 1997, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Foliose |
Feeding method | Photoautotroph |
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| Mobility/Movement | Permanent attachment |
Environmental position | Epifloral |
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| Typical food types | Not relevant | Habit | Attached | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not relevant | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Large(>50cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Up to 60 cm | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | None | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Fucus ceranoides is physiologically adapted to brackish conditions. Suryono & Hardy (1997) found that growth rate was highest between 5 and 25 psu and growth was depressed at 0 and 35 psu. When cultured in high salinity they found that plant tissue decayed within 5 to 6 weeks. Khjafi & Norton (1979) recorded similar results but Baeck et al. (1992) found that Fucus ceranoides grew at full salinity for 11 weeks. | ||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Suryono & Hardy, 1997, Lein, 1984, Khfaji & Norton, 1979, Fish & Fish, 1996, Baeck et al., 1992, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | All coasts of Britain and Ireland | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Spitsbergen, Iceland, Norway, Heligoland, Netherlands, Ireland, Britain, N. France, Portugal and Azores. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | Not relevant | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | The species is commonly found in the upper reaches of estuaries. It appears to be physiologically adapted to living in reduced salinity and exhibits its maximum growth rate at 11 psu. It is thought to be absent from fully saline sites due to an inability to compete with the faster growing fucoids, such as %Fucus vesiculosus% and a physiological intolerance of fully saline conditions. In areas of estuaries where salinity varies between 11 and 25 psu, Fucus ceranoides and %Fucus vesiculosus% can be found living together. | ||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Bedrock Large to very large boulders Small boulders Cobbles Pebbles Gravel / shingle |
Physiographic preferences | Estuary Strait / sound Sealoch Ria / Voe Open coast |
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| Biological zone | Upper Eulittoral Mid Eulittoral |
Wave exposure | Sheltered Very Sheltered |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible) |
Salinity | Reduced (18-30 psu) Low (<18 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Suryono & Hardy, 1997, Lein, 1984, JNCC, 1999, Norton, 1985, Hardy & Guiry, 2003, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | Insufficient information |
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| Reproductive Season | Insufficient information | Reproductive Location | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 3-5 years | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Insufficient information | Fertilization type | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | The species is usually dioecious but monoecious plants have been recorded, although it has been suggested that these are hybrids. Well developed gametangia are present on plants in southern Norway from the end of May to December. Gametes are released on daytime high tides at about full and new moon. Germlings are found from the end of May to the beginning of August. Receptacles usually drop off by October or November. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Lein, 1984, Brawley, 1992, Baeck et al., 1992, | ||||||||||||||
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