Seaweed LAI along the depth gradient in 2021:
The LAI of biomass dominant species and groups in 2021 largely reflected their recorded fresh weight and was different between species, groups and depth levels along the investigated transect (Appendix 5). All seaweed LAI reached its maximum at 2.5m (LAI=8.6) as this depth and 5m (LAI=4) were nearly exclusively inhabited by kelps (both depths 99%). In 2021 A. esculenta (LAI=5) had the highest LAI of all seaweed species at 2.5m, followed by ‘Digitate Kelps’ (LAI=2.8) and S. latissima (LAI=0.8). At 5m A. esculenta reached with 3.2 the highest LAI of all seaweeds, while the LAI of ‘Digitate Kelps’ (LAI=0.3) and S. latissima (LAI=0.27) severely declined. The maximum LAI of understory seaweeds in 2021 was recorded at 10m with a LAI of 1.6. At 15m, Rhodophyta (LAI=0.8) were the most prominent group contributing 99% to the all seaweed LAI.