A field and cultural investigation of the horizontal and seasonal distribution of estuarine red algae of New Jersey

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Abstract
Bostrychia radicans Mont., Caloglossa leprieurii (Mont.) J. Ag. and Polysiphonia subtilissima Mont., were widely distributed in the Mullica River estuary, with Bostrychia more abundant near the mouth, and Caloglossa and Polysiphonia towards the head of the estuary. All 3 spp. grew during the warmer months of the year and were apparently absent in winter. Bostrychia and Caloglossa had ''Polysiphonia''-type life histories in culture, despite the infrequent occurrence of male plants in the field. Polysiphonia could not be induced to undergo sexual reproduction in culture, which corresponded with the rare occurrence of sexual reproductive organs in nature. The growth of sporelings and adults in culture in the laboratory in crossed gradients of salinity and temperature was correlated with their distribution in the field. The salinity optimum of Bostrychia was higher than that of Caloglossa and Polysiphonia, although all 3 spp. were euryhaline. The seasonal occurrence of the 3 spp. during the warmer months of the year correlated with their temperature growth optima in culture, which suggests that they are warm-water eurythermal algae of tropical Caribbean affinity.