The settlement, attachment and establishment of marine algal spores

One of the most fundamental and precarious stages in the life history of a marine benthic alga is the colonization of a new substratum. For the majority of algae this is achieved by the formation and detachment of different types of highly specialized reproductive propagules which are then dispersed via the pelagic zone. This paper reviews the process of “settlement”, “attachment” and “establishment” of these propagules. Particular attention is given to the influence of substratum surface properties, both physical and chemical, on these processes, along with aspects of the derivation, chemical composition, mechanisms of release and mode of action of the various adhesives secreted by the attaching spores and germlings.