ALGAL VEGETATION OF THE YORK RIVER ESTUARY AND THE ADJACENT OPEN COAST OF SOUTHERN MAINE

40 Pages·1993·14.8 MB·English

by  A C Mathieson

RHODORA,
Vol. 95, No. 883/884, pp. 285-324, 1993
ALGAL YORK
VEGETATION OF THE
RIVER
AND
ESTUARY THE ADJACENT OPEN COAST OF
SOUTHERN MAINE
I
Arthur Edward
and
Mathieson, Hehre,
C.
J.
Martin
Costa
ABSTRACT
A
total of 72 seaweed taxa were recorded from the York River Estuary, Maine,
A
including 29 Rhodophyceae, 19 Phaeophyceae and 24 Chlorophyceae. synopsis
of several distributional patterns given, as well as comparisons of the
is floristic
York River with two nearby open Maine (Cape Neddick and Sea
coastal sites in
New
Point) and 12 estuarine locations within Hampshire and northern Massa-
(New
chusetts. In contrast to the Great Bay Estuarine System Hampshire/Maine)
where
coastal species occur upstream to approximately 8.5 miles, a relatively
rapid attrition of species occurs within the York River after 2-3 miles, presumably
due to hydrographic variability, the dominance of saltmarsh habitats and reduced
availability of rocky substrata. Overall, species composition within the York River
compares favorably with several mid-estuarine environments within the Great
Bay Hampton-Seabrook
Estuary as well as saltmarsh habitats of the Estuary Sys-
common
tem (New
Hampshire). Relatively few of the "southerly" taxa to the
Great Bay York River and Hampton-Seabrook
Estuary are present within the
Estuary, presumably because of a lack of suitable habitat. Three floristic records
of particular interest include the presence of Fuciis vesiculosus megecad Umicola
from the York River Estuary, and the occurrence of Porphyra amplissima and
C
odium tomentosoides from southern Maine.
fragile ssp.
New
Key Words: seaweeds, estuarine, coastal, York River, Maine, Hampshire,
Massachusetts
INTRODUCTION
southeastern
{Spartina and communities {Zostera marina) are
spp,) eelgrass
pnmary
habitats, seaweeds play a major role within north temperate es-
tuaries of the Gulf of Maine (Josselyn and Mathieson, 1980).
geography provide valuable
Estuarine seaweeds within the latter
m
pnmary
detrital cycles and an "outwelling" of biological productivity to
Numbe Agricultural
Scientific Contribution
'
Experiment Number 276 from the Jackson
Contribution
Station; also issued as
Laboratory
285
Rhodora
286
95
[Vol.
nearshore coastal waters (Josselyn and Mathieson, 1978, 1980;
Mann, 1972, 1982). Although these fundamental roles are be-
coming known, few assessments of estuarine
better ver>^ detailed
seaweed resources within the Gulf of Maine except from
exist,
New
Hampshire (Mathieson and 1972; Mathieson and
Fralick,
Hehre, 1982, 1983, 1986; Mathieson and Penniman, 1986b, 1991;
and
Mathieson et aL, 1981) and Massachusetts (Mathieson Fra-
1973; Webber and Wilce, 1971). Thus, the only compre-
lick,
Maine have
hensive seasonal collections of estuarine seaweeds in
been made within the Piscataqua and Salmon Falls Rivers of the
Great Bay Estuary System Mathieson and Hehre, 1986; Math-
(cf.
and Penniman, have
ieson 1991), while only selected collections
made
been northemmost and MacFarlane,
other
at sites (Bell
1933; Eaton, 1873; Stone et 1970).
al.,
The present study was enhance our knowledge of
initiated to
Maine seaweed we have sum-
estuarine populations.
Specifically,
marized distributional and patterns of seaweed popula-
floristic
York comparing them
tions within the River Estuary (Maine),
Hamp-
(New
with previous synopses of Hampton-Seabrook
the
shire), Merrimack River (Massachusetts) and Great Bay Estuarine
(New
Systems Hampshire
and Maine), including the various sub-
sets of the latter ecosystem (Figures and The proximity of
1 2),
Maine
the four estuarine systems within southern Gulf of
the
(Figure plus their varying sizes, habitats, industrial develop-
1),
ment and
compari-
eutrophication, provides meaningful
several
sons.
METHODS AND
MATERIALS
Seasonal collections and observations were made at twenty sites
York York
within the River Estuary, ranging from outside
just
Harbor
to a point about 1.5 miles below the river's tidal headwater
A
(Figure Table
2, detailed description of each study site,
1).
Appen-
including and
its location, habitat(s) substrata given in
is
dix Collections were made during 1985 and periodically
1978,
1.
thereafter. Overall, methods of and were
collection identification
similar to those outlined Mathieson and Penniman (1991).
in
Representative samples of conspicuous seaweeds each site
all at
were
from
collected the (on and zones (by
littoral foot) sublittoral
SCUBA).
The
was
nomenclature of South and Tittley (1986) ap-
many
plied for most taxa. The author(s) of each binomial and
.
Mathieson York
1993] al.— River Algae 287
et
.rj
\ Cape
71^40 Elizabeth i
71
Kennebunk
(7 miles
t )
Cape Arundel
\
I
I
I
I
1
\
NH MAINE
''x
:^Anr Cape Neddick
:l
York River
43 10^
Sea
*TT> Point
t;-?
t **
rVy
'.
System
Great Bay Estuary
'^- Portsmouth
Shoals
Isies of
o
Gulf
of
NH
Open
:\H Maine
/•//Coast (Nearshore)
\ «
Seabrook:"lv System
Hampton-Seabrook Esluary
1 -
\
Salisbury
42° 50'
Merrimack
River
mile
1
I
Figure The northern New England coastline between southern Maine and
1.
northern Massachusetts showing the locations of the York River, Great Bay,
Hampton-Seabrook and Merrimack River Estuaries, plus Cape Neddick and Sea
Point, Maine.
pertinent nomenclatural changes since Taylor (1957) are included
in Table Approximately 500 voucher specimens are deposited
2.
in the Albion R. Hodgdon Herbarium (nha) the University of
at
New A
Hampshire document com-
in order to the river's flora.
288 Rhodora
[Vol. 95
UJ
UJ
<
CO
CL
UJ
LLI
h<-
II
OvJ X
O
in
York
Mathieson al.— River Algae 289
1993] et
parison of two nearshore open Maine
coastal in southern
sites
(Cape Neddick and Sea
Point) plus twelve other estuarine habitats
between Maine and
Massachusetts given (Figure Table
is
1,
1),
utilizing several published records (Mathieson, Mathieson
1979;
andFralick, 1972, 1973: Mathieson and Hehre, 1986: Mathieson
Mathieson
1991),
temperature
solids were recorded (winter/spring, 1978) eight ranging
at
sites,
from mouth
Temperature and
the to the tidal headwaters. salinity
were
recorded with hand-held thermometer and
{in situ) a re-
&
pH
fractometer was measured
.5%o accuracy), while with
(.l^'C
g/i
termined
according
to
Sti
mon
assessments
(approx.
umented mouth
near
the
January
comparative
Piscataqua Rivers Langan, unpubl. Records of
(R. data). situ
/>2
YSI
temperature and were recorded with a conductivity
salinity
CSTV
meter Cmodel while concentrations were measured
ionic
meter
determined
HABITAT DESCRIPTION
The York York County
River Estuary, located in southern
Maine, between Cape Neddick (York) and Sea Point
(Kittery)
extends annroximatelv 7 miles inland from mouth near West
its
em
Most marsh
of the estuary within York, except for a small tidal
is
The York Pond, which
in East Eliot. source of the river is is in
the northeast comer of township. Three major brooks drain
Eliot
York and
into the river near headwaters (Smelt Brook in Cutts
its
Ridge and Rogers Brooks while three large tributaries
in Eliot),
Gordon
Pond Creek and Dolly Brook)
(Boulter Brook, Cider
Hill
and
are within mile of the Maine Turnpike (1-95). Boulter
.5
Twenty York River Estuary (Maine) and the
Figure study within the
2. sites
sampling
adjacent open coast, including the location of water sites.
Rhodora
290
[Vol. 95
Table Synopsis of between southern Maine and northern
collecting sites
1.
Massachusetts, including the York River Estuary.
Indi-
vid- Distance from
Open
Geographical Coast
ual
Areas Sites (miles) References
Nearshore open 2 nearshore Mathieson(1979)
&
coastline of open coast Mathieson Hehre (1986)
southern Maine:
Cape Neddick
and
(York) Sea
Point (Kittery)
York
River 20 Q-7
Estu- present study
Maine
(York
ary,
and
Eliot)
Great Bay Estuary 147 0-22.7 Doty and Newhouse
(1954)
System Hehre and Mathieson
(1970)
New
Hampshire-
Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
Maine
Mathieson 1983)
(1981,
et al.
Mathieson and Penniman
(1986b, 1991)
Norailetal.
(1982)
Reynolds and Mathieson (1975)
Piscataqua River, 59 0-12.1 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
N.H./Maine
Mathieson
(1977)
et al.
New
Little Bay, 21 8.6-12.4 Reynolds and Mathieson
(1975)
Hampshire
New
Great Bay, 16 12.9-15.7 Mathieson and Hehre (1986)
Hampshire
Mathieson
(1982)
et
al.
Bellamy
River, 10 10.4-14.3 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
New
Hampshire
Cocheco
River, 17 12.6-15.8 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
New
Hampshire
Lamprey
River. 9 15.8-17.5 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
New
Hampshire
New
Oyster River,
14 1.5-14.2 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
1
Hampshire
Salmon
Falls Riv- 16 12.5-16.5 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
Hew
Hamp-
er,
shire/Maine
Sqamscott
River, 16 16.2-22.7 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
New
Hampshire
Winnicut
River, 4 15.8-17.3 Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
New
Hampshire
Hampton-Sea-
49 0-5.2 Hehre and Mathieson
(1970)
1
Mathieson York
1993] et al.- River Algae 29
Table Continued.
1.
Indi-
vid- Distance from
Geographical Open
ual Coast
Areas
Sites (miles) References
brook
Estuary, Mathieson and
Fralick (1972)
New
Hampshire
Mathieson and Hehre
(1986)
Merrimack
River
Mathieson and
Fralick 973)
(1
Estuary, Massa-
chusetts
Middle Ponds, which
to the north, are sources of the two
lie
first
tributaries, while Dolly Gordon Brook originates from a saltmarsh
to the southeast.
As
Appendix
outlined substratum
in the available for sea-
1,
weed
growth and
is both limited scattered. Boulders, cobbles, pebbles
and
rock outcrops primarily occur in high energy areas due
(i.e.,
to waves) near the mouth of the while York Harbor mostly
river,
is
sandy
Figure Several structures (bridge abutments,
(cf. 2). artificial
and
pilings boat moorings) are located immediately upstream
from York
Harbor, while saltmarshes dominate most shorelines
between Route lA and headwaters
(Sewall Bridge) (Figure
tidal
The main
2). channel of the river is relatively straight, with only
one meander Ramshead opposed
large at Point, as to tribu-
its
taries that have sharply developed meanders indicative of youth-
ful streams. About one mile upstream from Scotland Bridge the
river branches into two major channels associated with the con-
A
Smeh York
fluence of Brook and the River (Figure major
2).
oxbow
occurs downstream from confluence, while several
this
smaller ones are found upstream. Each inner channel has a steep-
sided broad expanses of saltmarsh with
shoreline that cuts across
peat and clay The saltmarshes are dominated by Spartina
soils.
alterniflora, S, patens and Juncus gerardii, along with several other
vascular some near house construction),
plants. In instances
(e.g.,
the marshes are very narrow and only contain S. alternijlora.
York
Overall, the most expansive mudflat habitats are found near
Harbor
where saltmarshes are either reduced or absent.
Figure winter/spring hydrographic con-
3 "typical"
illustrates
ditions within Surface water temperatures ranged
the estuary.
from
approximately 3.0°C miles) to 0°C (4.4 miles), while sa-
(0
linities were approximately 31%o on the open coast and varied
from
0-1 6%o Thus, surface water
miles inland).
at station 8 (4.4
low and
temperatures and
during winter spring are relatively
late
Rhodora
292 [Vol. 95
Table Systematic of algal species found within the York River Estuary
2. list
synonyms
and the adjacent open coast of Maine, with in parentheses referring to
names Taylor
in (1957).
CHLOROPHYCEAE
MICROSPORALES
Microsporaceae
Microspora pachyderma Lagerheim
(Wille)
ULOTRICHALES
Ulotrichaceae
Ulothrix (Dillwyn) Thuret Le
flacca in Jolis
Ulothrix speciosa (Carmichael ex Harvey in Hooker) Kiitzing
ULVALES
Percursariaceae
Percursaria percursa Agardh) Bory
(C.
Ulvaceae
Capsosiphon Agardh) Gardner
fulvescens (C. Setchell et
Enteromorpha
clathrata (Roth) Greville
Entewmorpha flexuosa (Wulfen ex Roth) Agardh ssp. paradoxa (Dill-
J.
wyn)
Eliding
Enteromorpha
(Linnaeus) Link
intestinalis
Enteromorpha Agardh
linza (Linnaeus)
J.
Enteromorpha Agardh
prolifera (O. F. Muller)
J.
Ulva Linnaeus
lactuca
Ru-
Ulvaria obscura (Kutzing) Gayral [= Monostroma fuscum (Postels et
precht) Wittrock]
oxysperma Monostroma oxyspermum
Ulvaria (Kutzing) Eliding [= Kiitz-
ing]
Monostromataceae
minima Enteromorpha
Blidingia (Nageli ex Kutzing) Kylin [includes
minima,
E. micrococca, E. marginata]
Monostroma
(Thuret) Wittrock
grevillei
Monostroma
pulchrum Farlow
PRASIOLALES
Prasiolaceae
Prasiola Suhr
stipitata in Jessen
ACROSIPHONIALES
Acrosiphoniaceae
^''Codiolum pusillum^" (Lyngbye) Kjellman [= sporophytic stage in the life
Co-
history of Urospora wormskioldii and probably conspecific with
diolum
gregarium]
Urospora
penicilliformis (Roth) Areschoug
U
Urospora Homemann)
wormskioldii (Mertens Rosen vinge [includes
in
collabens Agardh) Holmes
(C. et Batters]
Spongomorpha
arcta (Dillwyn) Kutzing
Spongomorpha
spinescens Kutzing
Mathieson al.— York River Algae 293
1993] et
Table Continued.
2.
CLADOPHORALES
Cladophoraceae
C
Chaetomorpha brachygona Harvey [including cannabina (Areschoug)
Kjellman]
Chaetomorpha
linum
(O. F. Miiller) Kiilzing
Chaetomorpha melagonium (Weber Mohr)
Ktitzing
el
Chaetomorpha Montagne
picquotiana ex Kutzing [= C. atrovirens Taylor]
Cladophora sericea (Hudson) Kutzing [includes C. glaucescens, C. rudol-
C
and
phiana, C. flexuosa gracilis]
Rhizoclonium riparium (Roth) Kutzing ex Harvey
Rhizoclonium tortuosum (Dillwyn) Kutzing
BRYOPSIDALES
Bryopsidaceae
Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) Agardh
C.
Codiaceae
Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot tomentosoides (van Goor) Silva
ssp.
\
4k^
PHAEOPHYCEAE
ECrOCARPALES
Ectocarpaceae
Ectocarpus Harv^ey
fasciculatus
Ectocarpus (Dillwyn) Lyngbye [includes E. dasycarpus, E, con-
siliculosus
and
fervoides E, penicillatus]
Hamel
Giffordia granulosa E. Smith)
(J.
Laminariocolax tomentosoides (Farlow) Kylin [= Ectocarpus tomento-
soides Farlow]
Kuckuck
Mikrosyphar porphyrae
Kjellman
(Linnaeus)
Pilayella
littoralis
Spongonema tomentosum (Hudson) Kiilzing [= Ectocarpus tomentosus
(Hudson) Lyngbye]
Ralfsiaceae
Kuckuck
Petroderma maculiforme (Wollny)
Lund
Pseudolithoderma extensum (P. Crouan et H. Crouan) S. [= Lithoder-
ma
extensum (Crouan) Hamel]
Agardh
Ralfsia verrucosa (Areschoug)
J.
Sorapion Rosenvinge
kjellmanii (Wille)
Myrionemataceae
Ascocyclus distromaticus Taylor
hi-"
r
Elachistaceae
Ru-
Elachista fucicola (Velley) Areschoug [includes Elachista lubrica
>r prechl]
CHORD
ARIALES
Leathesiaceae (= Corynophlaeaceae)
Areschoug
Leathesia (Linnaeus)
difformis
^m
294 Rhodora
95
[Vol.
Table Continued.
2.
Chordariaceae
Agardh
Chordaria
jlagelliformis (O. F. Miiller) C.
Eudesme virescens (Carmichael ex Harv ey in Hooker) Agardh
J.
SPHACELARIALES
Sphacelariaceae
Sphacelaria arctica Harvey [= Sphacelaria racemosa Greville var. arctica
(Harvey) Reinke]
Agardh
Sphacelaria cirrosa (Roth) C.
DESMARESTIALES
Desmarestiaceae
Lamouroux
Desmarestia aculeata (Linnaeus)
Lamouroux
Desmarestia
viridis (O. F, Miiller)
DICTYOSIPHONALES
Punctariaceae
Punctaria plantaginea (Roth) Greville
Dictyosiphonaceae
Dictyosiphon (Hudson)
foeniculaceiis Greville
Scytosiphonaceae
Petalonia Kuntze
fascia (O. F. Miiller)
Kuckuck
""Ralfsia bornelii"" [sporophytic stage in the history o( Peta-
life
lonia
fascia]
Scytosiphon lomentaria (Lyngbye) Link lomentaria
var.
LAMINARIALES
Chordaceae
Chorda
filum (Linnaeus) Stackhouse
Chorda
tomentosa Lyngbye
Laminariaceae
Agarum
cribrosum (Mertens) Bory
Laminaria (Hudson) Lamouroux
digitata
Laminaria
saccharina Lamouroux
(Linnaeus)
Saccorhiza dermatodea Agardh
(de Pylaie)
la
J.
Alariaceae
Alaria esculenta (Linnaeus)
Greville
FTJCALES
Fucaceae
Ascophyllum nodosum
Le
(Linnaeus)
Jolis
Ascophyllum nodosum Hauck Ascophyllum
ecad [=
scorpioides (Reinke)
mackaii Holmes
(Turner)
et Batters]
Fucus distichus Linnaeus emend. Powell Powell [= Fucus
distichus
ssp.
GmelinJ
filiformis
cus distichus Linnaeus emend. Powell Pyl
S!
Powell [= Fucus edentatus de
la Pylaie]