PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHYSIOLOGY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SPORES OF THE KELPS MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA, NEREOCYSTIS LUETKEANA, LAMINARIA FARLOWII, AND PTERYGOPHORA CALIFORNICA (PHAEOPHYCEAE)

Recently released spores of the kelps Macrocystis pyrifera, Nereocystis luetkeana, Laminaria farlowii and Pterygophora californica had different levels of net photosynthesis. Spore-specific photosynthesis-irradiance relationships were similar in many respects for M. pyrifera, N. luetkeana , and L. farlowii spores. All three species had low rates of net light-saturated photosynthesis. In contrast, spores of P. californica had higher photosynthetic potential and overall net photosynthesis than the other three species.