Marine macroalgae with the same ecological niche generally have the same demands for various environmental
factors, resulting in interspecific competitions among the algae. Because of the postulated global increase in CO2
levels, co-existence of maricultured algae and native species seems like an inevitable challenge. In this study,
comparative and interactive growth and photosynthetic responses of the maricultured macroalga Gracilaria
lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta) and a common native epiphyte Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) to elevated CO2 levels
were investigated, in order to estimate the interspecific competition between these two algae. The results
showed that U. lactuca exhibited a relatively higher growth rate and maximum net photosynthetic rate than
G. lemaneiformis. Growth and photosynthesis of G. lemaneiformis were inhibited in the presence of U. lactuca.
This inhibition of G. lemaneiformis was more severe when grown under elevated CO2 levels. When U. lactuca
was bicultured, elevated CO2 levels caused a significant increase in light harvesting efficiency and maximum
quantumyield.Moreover, U. lactuca showed relatively higher pigment contents and a higher correlation between
chlorophyll a and maximum relative electron transport rates, indicating a relatively higher efficiency in light
utilization. The interspecific competition between G. lemaneiformis and U. lactuca was most probably due to
the rapid growth of U. lactuca. We believe that, on the basis of the predicted scenario of elevated CO2 levels,
the epiphyte U. lactuca would presumably have greater negative impacts on G. lemaneiformis maricultivation;
therefore, more labor would be required to reduce the epiphytization of this species during G. lemaneiformis
mariculture.