Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-258). Estimates the primary production and investigates the photosynthetic performance of temperate turfs at West Island, off the coast of South Australia. These communities play a fundamental role in reef ecology, being the main source of food for grazers, both fishes and invertebrates. Turfs also have an important function in benthic algal community dynamics, being the first colonizers on disturbed and bare substratum.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-258). / xxi, 274 leaves, [8] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.), map 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Estimates the primary production and investigates the photosynthetic performance of temperate turfs at West Island, off the coast of South Australia. These communities play a fundamental role in reef ecology, being the main source of food for grazers, both fishes and invertebrates. Turfs also have an important function in benthic algal community dynamics, being the first colonizers on disturbed and bare substratum. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Biology, 2002