The yellow-green algae Vaucheria can be found on tidal flats as densely interwoven mats. Such dense mats can stabilise sediments and result in a ridge-and-runnel bedform. While Vaucheria is visually covering the ridges as thick algal mats, the runnels are apparently deprived of the filamentous algae. In the present protocol I describe the procedure for sampling and testing sediments for the presence of Vaucheria propagules. The method provides a qualitative test for the presence of algae propagules of Vaucheria in bare sediments but is non-exclusive as also other algae (e.g., microphytobenthos) will grow when present. To check for cross-contamination and sufficient growth conditions, appropriate negative and positive controls are implemented.
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