Benthonic Algae — SCAGEL 
535 
HOPE 1. 
VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION 
DEER 1. 
KLUCKSIWI R. 
TIDE LEVEL 
r~ r~ 2 2 x 
r* x r* x r~ 
X 
X 
r- 1-2 
r- x f- 
2 
X 
X X 
1“ X 
LIST OF SPECIES 
r- r r n r~ 
3= 3g 2? «£ £ 
r~ 
x x x 
5? * 
X 
2E 
X X 
^ Si 
LEVEL (feet) 
ENDOCLADIA 
MURICATA 
GLOIOPELT1S 
FURCATUS 
HETEROCHORD ARIA 
ABIETINA 
PETROCELIS 
FRANCISCANA 
EQREGIA 
MENZIESII 
PORPHYRA 
PERFORATA 
01 4^ w ro 
_L O 
Fig. 51. Comparison of vertical distribution of some benthonic organisms at several points in Queen Char- 
lotte Strait. 
its initial purpose little refinement in this 
method of approach seems conducive to an ex- 
planation of the causal factors. From this point 
it becomes necessary to look at the problem 
from a new perspective involving a detailed 
study of the organisms concerned— an under- 
standing of their life histories, rate of growth, 
reproduction, and various physiological require- 
ments and tolerances in relation to the environ- 
ment. These problems may be and, as already 
indicated, have been approached to some extent 
by actual field studies and experiments as well 
as by laboratory studies under controlled condi- 
tions. 
It is with this philosophy in mind that this 
study has been approached to the extent possible 
from the existing data, initially from the stand- 
point of the oceanographer with an analysis of 
the environmental factors and their relation to 
the organisms. The success of these preliminary 
efforts both in the field as well as in the labora- 
tory supports the conviction that the approach 
is a useful and instructive one. Differences 
which sometimes appear striking or significant 
on a broad scale are frequently less apparent 
and confused in a local area. The distribution 
of the genus Macrocystis is an interesting case 
in point. Although the global pattern of dis- 
tribution of this genus is rather clearly estab- 
lished (Setchell, 1932; Wornersley, 1954) on 
the basis of temperature distributions and hence 
follows the pattern of distribution of some of 
the cold water currents of both southern and 
northern hemispheres, the distribution of M. 
integrifolia in British Columbia follows a dis- 
tinct salinity distribution. As yet, however, it 
cannot be conclusively stated in the latter in- 
stance that salinity itself is the causal factor. 
It still remains to be established whether salin- 
ity in terms of an osmotic relationship, or some 
parallel factor associated with open ocean water 
of high salinity, provides a causal mechanism 
for the distribution of M. integrifolia on this 
coast. 
It is clear that there is a horizontal distribu- 
tion of organisms, including Macrocystis integri- 
folia, in Queen Charlotte Strait which follows 
closely the pattern of salinity distribution in the 
