An autecological study of Blidingia minima var. subsalsa (Chlorophyceae) in the Squamish estuary (British Columbia)

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Abstract
The autecology of the estuarine alga, Blidingia minima var. subsalsa (Kjellman) Scagel (Chlorophyceae) was considered with regard to its distribution and abundance in the Squamish River estuary, British Columbia, Canada, by integrating a multifactorial laboratory study and field data.Increases in abundance of Blidingia were associated with brackish waters, high light intensity, high air temperature, moderate desiccation, and possibly, favourable ion ratios. The upper limit of vertical distribution appeared to be associated with unfavourable osmotic conditions, e.g., heavy rain or extreme desiccation, and the lower limit with low light intensities. Horizontal distribution was limited by absence of seawater on the freshwater side and high salinities on the marine side.The periods of highest and lowest field abundance of Blidingia compared favourably with the laboratory combinations which produced the highest (20‰, 20 °C, 50 μg-at ℓ−1 N and 5.0 μg-at ℓ−1 P) and the lowest photosynthetic rates (0.25‰, 5 °C at all N and P concentrations) respectively.