Phenology of annual kelp Eckloniopsis (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) forest on a Diadema barren in Uchiura Bay, Central Pacific Coast of Honshu, Japan

On the southern coast of Uchiura Bay, central Pacific, Japan, Diadema barrens have expanded since the 1980s but Eckloniopsis radicosa (annual kelp endemic to Japan) has remained in deeper waters (> 10 m in depth). Phenology of the kelp was studied on isolated boulders from December 2011 for a year. Young sporophytes appeared in December and rapid growth from April brought the maximum blade length (83.3 +/- 13.9 cm) and width (56.8 +/- 12.7 cm) and standing crop (7.4 kg m(-2)) in May and June, respectively. Sorus formation began in June and spore release occurred from July to September. Blade length decreased from August and disappeared in November though holdfast remained. The unique holdfast-like spiny ball was found to provide habitats for mobile animals; its forests have an important role to maintain the biodiversity on barrens. During the period, water temperature was between 14.6 and 27.8 A degrees C, salinity was stable around 34-35 aEuro degrees, and nutrients were never depleted. Tolerance to large and frequent fluctuation of water temperature (7 A degrees C in a day), rapid growth in winter to spring, and occurrence on limited boulders in soft substrata may be the reasons for the success in the maintenance of its forest in Diadema barrens.