Despite a 30% difference in the root mean
square of the velocity (Velrms) between the two survey locations, there was no evidence to suggest that
water motion had any direct influence on the growth rates of either the blades or elongation of stipes of
L. hyperborea. No significant differences were observed between either environmental or plant physiological
variables between the sheltered and exposed locations. Using an integral velocity parameter (Velrms) the
present study also highlighted the importance of the tidally induced current component ofwater flowin the
subtidal zone