(full paper is archived in the Miller Library)
Title: Evidence for the existence of two morphologically
distinct species of Egregia menziesii (Laminariales,
Phaeophyta) and related ecological interactions
Student Author(s): Englund, Matthew Aaron
Faculty Advisor(s): Goff, Lynda
Pages: 31
Location: Senior Thesis UC Santa Cruz
Date: May 1992
Keywords: DNA, ecology, Egregia menziesii var.
menziesii, gregia menziesii var. laevigata,
Laminariales, morphology, rachii, taxonomy, transplant, tuberculate,
Cabillo Point Pacific Grove, Davenport Landing, Pleasure Point
Soquel, Hopkins Marine Life Refuge, HMLR
Abstract: Egregia menziesii appears ecologically in
many different forms which have elicited certain aspects of confusion
in its classification since the late 1800's (Chapman 1962 and Smith
1944). Although many distinct populations do exist, Egregia
is presently considered to be a monotypic genus with much
morphological variation. According to Abbott and Hollenberg (Marine
Algae of Calif., 1976), there is much variation in Egregia
populations between Los Angeles and Cape Mendocino. These authors
mention that Northern populations (Alaska to Cape Mendocino) have
tuberculate rachii and smooth sporophylls while Southern populations
(Los Angeles into Baja Califonria) have smooth rachii and wrinkled
sporophylls. Populations found in the Channel Islands and from the
vicinity of Cape Mendocino to Ventura County possess every possible
combination of features observed in the geographic extremes and
include a few unique vegetative and reproductive morphologies as well
(See figure 1). Findings presented in this research project argue
that there may be two species rather than a monotypic genus of
Egregia menziesii based upon observed morphological
development and largely exclusive environments in which each species
is found...