Big Bank Shoals of the Timor Sea
An environmental resource atlas

HALIMEDA ECOSYSTEMS

Growth

A Halimeda plant showing the calcified segments (E. Drew).

Growth of Halimeda involves the development of new segments as well as the loss of old segments, shed somewhat like leaves from deciduous trees. The development of a new segment is signalled by the appearance of a white, conical protrusion from the apex of the last segment. Within 24 hours this white protrusion has grown into a fairly complete, although slightly spongy and somewhat greenish, segment. Calcification of the new segment begins after approximately 36 hours.

The pattern of a segment, its length and width, are fixed within the first couple of days. Subsequent development is mostly in the calcification of the segment, with some change in thickness, depending on the species and the segment’s location within the thallus. It can be seen that the oldest leaves will be found closest to the stalk or holdfast.

New segments may develop daily, or every second day on each branch, so that many segments can be added in a relatively short time. Drew (1983) showed that a single plant could produce 359 new segments in 68 days. Such rapid growth can be related to the amount of sediment that Halimeda is able to produce.

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Last updated - 18 December, 2008

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