Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Values of Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient and the coefficient of determination (r2) for morphometric parameters of U_ flexuosa thalli and macroalgal mats with physicochemical factors
| pH | Depth | N-NH4 + | P-PO4- | O2 | Temperature | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average length of a thallus | -0.45ns | 0.90 P < 0.001, ns − not significant, coefficient of determination − r2 in brackets | -0.45 ns | 0.10 ns | 0.68 P < 0.05 | -0.38 ns |
| - | (0.82) | - | - | (0.45) | - | |
| Average width of a thallus | -0.18 ns | -0.03 ns | -0.23 ns | -0.40 ns | -0.08 ns | -0.63 P < 0.05 |
| - | - | - | - | - | (0.39) | |
| Surface of mats | -0.73 P < 0.01 | 0.43 ns | -0.62 P < 0.05 | -0.75 P < 0.01 | -0.20 ns | -0.47 ns |
| (0.54) | - | (0.39) | (0.56) | - | - | |
| Density of thalli per m-2 of mats | -0.48 ns | 0.89 P < 0.001, ns − not significant, coefficient of determination − r2 in brackets | -0.53 ns | 0.06 ns | 0.82 P < 0.01 | -0.42 ns |
| - | (0.80) | - | - | (0.67) | - | |
| Percentage of branched thalli per m2 of mats | 0.54 ns | 0.10 ns | 0.59 P < 0.05 | 0.59 P < 0.05 | 0.14 ns | 0.16 ns |
| - | - | (0.35) | (0.35) | - | - | |
| Percentage of unbranched thalli per m2 of mats | -0.76 P < 0.01 | 0.31 ns | -0.46 ns | -0.67 P < 0.05 | -0.15 ns | -0.31 ns |
| (0.58) | - | - | (0.45) | - | - | |
| Percentage of young thalli per m2 of mats | 0.60 P < 0.05 | -0.48 ns | 0.70 P < 0.01 | 0.30 ns | -0.31 ns | 0.52 ns |
| (0.36) | - | (0.50) | - | - | - | |
| Percentage of mature thalli per m2 of mats | -0.82 P < 0.001, ns − not significant, coefficient of determination − r2 in brackets | 0.43 ns | -0.84 P < 0.001, ns − not significant, coefficient of determination − r2 in brackets | -0.59 P < 0.05 | 0.05 ns | -0.34 ns |
| (0.68) | - | (0.71) | (0.35) | - | - | |
| Percentage of submerged thalli per m2 of mats | -0.66 P < 0.05 | 0.89 P < 0.001, ns − not significant, coefficient of determination − r2 in brackets | -0.58 P < 0.05 | -0.14 ns | 0.50 ns | -0.43 ns |
| (0.44) | (0.80) | (0.33) | - | - | - | |
| Percentage of free-floating thalli per m2 of mats | 0.73 P < 0.01 | -0.86 P < 0.001, ns − not significant, coefficient of determination − r2 in brackets | 0.70 P < 0.05 | 0.22 ns | -0.48 ns | 0.40 ns |
| (0.54) | (0.74) | (0.49) | - | - | - |
Results of the Mann-Whitney U test of the difference in mean values of physicochemical factors under and outside of Ulva mats (n = 12)_ Results where P < 0_05 are statistically significant and given in bold_
| Parameters | Unit | Mann-Whitney U test | Statistical significance | Sign | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pH | - | 66.0 | P = 0.75 | UMM | OMM | > |
| Conductivity | µS cm-1 | 31.0 | P = 0.01 | > | ||
| N-NH4+ | mg l-1 | 64.0 | P = 0.66 | > | ||
| N-NO3- | 32.5 | P = 0.02 | < | |||
| P-PO43- | 49.0 | P = 0.19 | > | |||
| Fetotal | 63.0 | P = 0.62 | > | |||
| NaCl | 67.5 | P = 0.85 | > | |||
| Cl- | 67.5 | P = 0.81 | > |
Comparison of anatomical features of Ulva flexuosa (n =30) and average values of morphometric features of Ulva mats (n =12)_
| Features | Units | Mean | Min. | Max | SD – standard deviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of thalli | cm | 20.00 | 4.2 | 66.40 | 0.53 |
| Width of thalli | 0.59 | 0.15 | 1.15 | 0.14 | |
| Length of cells | µm | 11.15 | 8.10 | 15.5 | 1.99 |
| Width of cells | 8.09 | 4.96 | 10.78 | 1.39 | |
| Number of pyrenoids | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.75 |
| Perimeter of pyrenoids | µm | 3.19 | 2.40 | 3.90 | 0.38 |
| Surface of mats | m2 | 12.83 | 1.0 | 30.0 | 11.17 |
| Density of thalli per m2 of mats | m-2 | 75.92 | 10.0 | 250.0 | 66.16 |
| Percentage of branched thalli per m2 of mats | % | 49.58 | 10.0 | 90.0 | 26.67 |
| Percentage of unbranched thalli per m2 of mats | 22.92 | 5.0 | 75.0 | 24.07 | |
| Percentage of young thalli per m2 of mats | 37.50 | 5.0 | 95.0 | 32.72 | |
| Percentage of mature thalli per m2 of mats | 55.92 | 1.0 | 95.0 | 31.74 | |
| Percentage of submerged thalli per m2 of mats | 35.25 | 0 | 95.0 | 38.78 | |
| Percentage of free-floating thalli per m2 of mats | 59.58 | 10.0 | 100 | 32.71 |
Average values of physicochemical factors of water for the examined site of Ulva flexuosa (n =12)
| Parameter | Units | Mean | Min. | Max | SD – standard deviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | ºC | 17.3 | 14.10 | 22.0 | 2.16 |
| Depth of water | m | 2.4 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 0.37 |
| pH | - | 7.2 | 6.03 | 8.4 | 1.37 |
| Conductivity | μS cm-1 | 1044.7 | 655.0 | 1421.0 | 196.38 |
| O2 | mg O2 l-1 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 8.07 |
| N-NH4 + | mg N l-1 | 1.2 | 0.18 | 4.0 | 1.26 |
| N-NO3 - | mg N l-1 | 0.2 | 0.06 | 0.4 | 0.09 |
| P-PO4 3- | mg PO4 l-1 | 0.5 | 0.12 | 0.8 | 0.25 |
| Total Fe | mg Fe l-1 | 0.2 | 0.06 | 0.3 | 0.07 |
| NaCl | mg NaCl l-1 | 91.1 | 61.05 | 143.6 | 25.27 |
| Cl- | mg Cl l-1 | 55.2 | 37.0 | 87.0 | 15.32 |