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.