Responses of the germination and growth of Ulva prolifera parthenogametes, the causative species of green tides, to gradients of temperature and light

Abstract Responses of the germination and growth of Ulva prolifera parthenogametes to gradients of temperature and light were evaluated. Results showed that U. prolifera parthenogametes could not germinate at 5 °C and 35 °C, and at all temperatures combined with dark conditions, but had high germination rates at the temperature of 15–25 °C and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of 80–160 µmol m–2 s–1. There was a significant interaction between temperature and PAR on the growth rate of U. prolifera germlings germinated from parthenogametes (P