Blade abandonment/proliferation: a novel mechanism for rapid epiphyte control in marine macrophytes

The strategy of blade abandonment and simultaneous rapid proliferation (via protoplasmic translocation) is unique to siphonaceous macroalgae owing to their lack of restrictive crosswalls. Siphonalean green algae often dominate the standing stocks and productivity of Caribbean mangrove island environs and are also abundant in virtually all calm-water reef habitats. The experimental organism Avrainvillea longicaulis is particularly abundant in the study sites west of Carrie Bow Cay and Curlew Cay, Belize. The recycling of protoplasm out of older epiphytically impaired blades of A. longicaulis, and simultaneous formation of apical siphon extensions elsewhere, leads to rapid proliferation of new blades—hypothetically, at relatively low energy cost to the plant.