Life history of Acrosiphonia (Codiolales, Chlorophyta) in southwestern British Columbia, Canada

This study establishes the phenology of the alternate life history phases of the green alga Acrosiphonia in British Columbia, Canada. Free-living, filamentous plants are seasonal, March–July, with peak percent cover (10%) in April. Plants are fertile immediately after establishment. The unicells, previously identified as Chlorochytrium inclusum and Codiolum petrocelidis, are the sporophyte phase of Acrosiphonia. ‘Chlorochytrium,’ spherical and 160–280 µm in diameter, colonizes the foliose red alga Mazzaella splendens 1 mo after filamentous Acrosiphonia plants appear. Maximum density (53 ‘Chlorochytrium’ cells/cm2 of blade) was recorded in May. ‘Codiolum,’ on the other hand, is stalked (the vesicle measures 150 x 50 µm) and colonizes the red algal crust Petrocelis. Peak density (22 400 ‘Codiolum’ cells/cm2 of crust) was recorded 2 mo after ‘Chlorochytrium’ density peaked. The endophytes survive high summer temperatures, which correlate with death of the freeliving plants, and overwinter in their hosts. Zoospore release in late winter corresponds to decreased host abundance, suggesting the endophytes have evolved a strategy whereby duration in the host is synchronized with host seasonality. A bethedging strategy is proposed for Acrosiphoniaʹs life history: two morphologically different phases have adapted to a seasonally variable environment, with the sporophyte phase capable of colonizing two different hosts.