Amg. Haddad et Rfg. Ormond, USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGE-ANALYSIS FOR IN-SITU MONITORING OF GROWTH-RATES OF INTERTIDAL FUCOID ALGAE, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 74(3), 1994, pp. 727-730
A combination of photography and subsequent image analysis of the phot
ographs has been used to measure maximum length, perimeter length and
total area of fronds of tagged Fucus serratus L. as part of a study of
the growth of this species on the Yorkshire coast. Maximum mean growt
h rate of 0.26 cm d-1 was observed during June-July. Minimum mean grow
th rate of 0.01 cm d-1 was observed during October-March. The method i
s relatively quick and convenient, and has the advantage that in addit
ion to apical growth of the longest and/or other branches, lateral gro
wth and total growth in surface area can all be recorded, while loss o
f tissue can also be determined. A further advantage is that a photogr
aphic record is obtained of the history of each individual plant.