Erythropeltidaceen (Bangiophyceae,Rhodophyta) von Helgoland

Ontogenesis and reproduction of the Helgolandian taxa of the Erythropeltidaceae have been studied. In all species monospores are only produced from differentiated sporangia. FilamentousConchocelis-like stages have not been observed. Sexual reproduction was formerly demonstrated in the heteromorphous genusErythrotrichopeltis (Kornmann, 1984). Based on these features a revised classification for the family is presented.Porphyropsis imperfecta, a new species, is a widespread epiphyte in sublittoral habitats.     

Erythrotrichopeltis,eine neue Gattung der Erythropeltidaceae (Bangiophyceae,Rhodophyta)

In culture experimentsErythropeltis discigera (Berth.) Schmitz andErythrotrichia discigera Berth. proved to be heteromorphous stages in the life history of the same entity, incorporated into the new genusErythrotrichopeltis. There is no obligate alternation of generations, the peltoid and the trichoid phase both propagate asexually by monospores. In addition, the trichoid phase releases spermatia in abundance, while carpogonia cannot be distinguished from vegetative cells. Thus far, the present statements are in full accordance with Berthold's observations, made at Naples more than 100 years ago, which have, however, recently been challenged. Moreover, the cultivation experiments made supplement Berthold's results as to the post fertilization process. A few days after the appearance of spermatia, peltoid plants are met with among the filamentous ones: they obviously originate from carpospores. The transition of the peltoid to the trichoid phase, at first observed accidentally in 3-month old moribund cultures, was reconstructed on more than one occasion by designed experiments. This study was started with discoid plants isolated from crude cultures of sublitoral algae from Helgoland (North Sea). NeitherErythrotrichia discigera Berth. norErythropeltis discigera (Berth.) Schmitz were ever found in the field around Helgoland. Recognized by Batters to be identical withBangia ciliaris Carmichael, the name of the typical representative of the new genus isErythrotrichopeltis ciliaris (Carm. ex Harv. in Hook.) nov. comb.     

Der Lebenszyklus vonDesmarestia viridis

Zusammenfassung 1. Der Gametophyt vonDesmarestia viridis ist monözisch.2. In den Kulturen entwickeln sich die Sporophyten nur selten aus freien Zygoten. Wahrscheinlich wird die Eizelle im allgemeinen im reifen Oogonium befruchtet, so daß der sich entwickelnde Sporophyt fest mit dem Gametophyten verwachsen bleibt.(Mit 6 Abbildungen im Text)     

Der Lebenszyklus einer marinenUlothrix-Art

Ohne Zusammenfassung(Mit 2 Abbildungen im Text)     

Survival and growth of alpha-spores of Porphyra schizophylla Hollenberg (Rhodophyta: Bangiophyceae)

Alpha-spores of the intertidal Porphyra schizophylla Hollenberg f. norrisii Mumford appear able to tolerate environmental stress factors associated with intertidal habitats, (viz., drying of water films with salt crystal formation, increased salt concentrations in the surrounding water, exposure to humid air when spores are enclosed in water films), and to produce Conchocelis filaments of normal appearance when subsequently germinated in sea water cultures. Tolerances of lowered salinities were observed down to 17.4%., but little survival at salinities lower than this. Alpha-spore germination on thalli of intertidal macro-algae was observed, with initial penetration in some cases. Penetrations of algal thalli were observed with Conchocelis filaments of α-spores germinated on red algae from low intertidal and subtidal habitats. Cell recognition phenomena would seem to be involved in these growth responses.     

Ecophysiological characteristics of Porphyra spp. (Bangiophyceae,Rhodophyta): seasonal and latitudinal variations in northern-central Chile

The red macroalga Porphyra C. Agardh is one of the most ecologically successful genera that lives in the upper intertidal zone. Biochemical, physiological, and morphological acclimation strategies allow their growth and distribution as well as a quick recuperation between tidal regimens. Studies of Porphyra are poorly developed in Chile, and management and exploitation proposals need to be supported by biological and ecophysiological approaches. This study evaluated seasonal and latitudinal physiological performances of Porphyra spp. via maximum quantum yield (F _v?/?F _m), pigments, proteins, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity in order to describe how algae can acclimate to their environment and to provide insights to their management and use. Sampling was done at three costal sites in Chile between 25°S and 34°S between winters 2010 and 2011. A total of four different morphotypes were identified (one in the north, one in the center, and two in the south locations) and evaluated separately. Results showed seasonal and latitudinal patterns for all ecophysiological variables studied, with a general tendency of decrease in F _v?/?F _m, pigments, and soluble proteins during spring–summer seasons accompanied by an increase in the antioxidant capacity. Latitudinal differences were observed with a tendency of higher values for ecophysiological traits in central and southern morphotypes. Phenology patterns were different between an annual population in the north location and a perennial one for central-south populations. The taxonomic clarity should be evaluated in order to better understand if there exists intraspecific (dependent on morphology) or interspecific variation.     

A simple restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to discriminate common Porphyra (Bangiophyceae, Rhodophyta) taxa from the Northwest Atlantic

The identification of Porphyra species hashistorically been difficult because of the lack of distinguishing morphologicaland ecological characters. We developed a restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (RFLP) assay, based on inter-specific sequence variation inthe ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase largesubunit (rbcL) gene andrbcL-rbcS intergenic spacer, toprovide a simple and effective tool for screening and sorting large collectionsof Porphyra from the Northwest Atlantic. A singlerestriction digest (Hae III) discriminates betweenmultiplePorphyra species including one cryptic taxon; anadditionalenzyme (Hind III) was necessary to distinguish between theclosely related P. leucosticta and an introducedspecies P. yezoensis.     

Der bemerkenswerte Lebenszyklus des marinen VogeltrematodenGymnophallus choledochus

Summary Two species of trematodes occur in the gall-bladder of European Laro-Limicolae and Anatids. One of them,Gymnophallus deliciosus, is fairly rare in the North Sea area. The second one,G. choledochus, is very common. Its length is about 1 mm, it may live up to several months and in heavy infections causes severe pathogenic changes in the gall-bladder.This fluke has a peculiar life-history in which two kinds of trematode life-cycles are combined with each other. The first intermediate host ofG. choledochus is the cockle. In it the sporocysts — simple sac-like trematode larvae — give rise to fork-tailed cercariae leaving the cockle in spring and summer, penetrating in polycheats where they become infectious metacercariae. Eating the polychaets the bird, such as gull or wader, becomes infected with the fluke. So far this life-cycle represents a normal type of trematode life-history. In the other part of the year, though, a shortened development-cycle is adopted. In late autumn and winter the cercariae in the sporocysts loose their tails and as metacercariae remain there until the cockle gets eaten by a suitable host.The biological purpose of these two alternative cycles is evident. In the first cycle which is the primary one in evolution only worm-eating birds could be infected. Then the second cycle developed in which the cockle remained the only intermediate host. With this step bivalve-eating birds can be infected, too. From the fact thatG. choledochus is not yet adapted very well to Anatids can be seen that the shortened winter cycle is the younger one. Though eating much more bivalves than do gulls or waders less trematodes develope in Anatids and most of them do not become adult but remain small and immature.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Erwin Stresemann zum 80. Geburtstag     

New combinations within the genus Colaconema (Acrochaetiaceae, Bangiophyceae)

For the coming checklist of marine macroalgae in Denmark the following combinations are introduced: Colaconema attenualum, C. emergens, C. gynandrum, C. savìa-num and C. strictum .     

Ultrastructure of the spermatozoid of Lycopodium obscurum (Lycopodiaceae)

Ultrastructural observations reveal that the spermatozoid of Lycopodium obscurum is crescent shaped and contains two posteriorly directed flagella that are inserted at the front of the cell. The nucleus is broad and elongated with a narrow posterior projection or nuclear diverticulum. Spline microtubules (MTs) number 180 at their maximum and provide the framework for the cell. These MTs extend from the anterior of the locomotory apparatus and along the outermost surface of the nucleus, with a central shank of 14–17 MTs encircling the cell for at least one-third gyre beyond the nucleus. The two basal bodies are slightly staggered and positioned at the front of the cell over a highly elongated multilayered structure (MLS). The MLS extends laterally around the cell anterior and curves posteriorly over the nucleus. One large anterior mitochondrion is situated subjacent to the MLS, while numerous small mitochondria are scattered near or among the lobes of the single plastid. The plastid rests on the inner nuclear surface and contains numerous large starch grains. This cell differs from that of L. cernuum, the only other species of Lycopodium examined to date, in that it is more elongated and has an anterior-posterior orientation of the nucleus, basal bodies, MLS, and spline. Comparisons with coiled gametes of bryophytes and Selaginella suggest that some degree of coiling and cell streamlining may be ancestral in archegoniate spermatozoids.     

Agars from Gelidium rex (Gelidiales,Rhodophyta)

Gelidium rex grows in the rocky intertidal of central Chile. Extraction of vegetative G. rex with water at 95 °C yielded 17.9% of agar with a gel strength value of 590 g cm^–2. The gel strength increased up to 1272 g cm^–2 when the alga was treated with alkali prior to extraction. Cystocarpic and tetrasporic thalli of G. rex were extracted with distilled water at 95 °C, affording soluble polysaccharides in 36.0% and 15.7% yield respectively. Polysaccharides of both life history phases were fractionated by chromatography on DEAE Sephadex. Elution with distilled water gave fractions devoid of sulfate; the fraction from cystocarpic plants contained 45.5% of 3,6-anhydrogalactose whereas the neutral fraction from tetrasporic plants contained 40.0% of 3,6-anhydrogalactose. Further elution with 0.1, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.5 molar aqueous solutions of KCl afforded four fractions for each polysaccharide. Chemical analysis of these fractions showed that the agars from cystocarpic and tetrasporic Gelidium rex are mixtures of related polysaccharides that range from neutral polymers to highly sulfated galactans.     

ThePorphyra species of Helgoland (Bangiales,Rhodophyta)

This revision of sevenPorphyra species of Helgoland was based on a study of the structure of their fertile thalli and the behaviour of their spores. Regarding the reproductive organization the species may be arranged in two groups.P. leucosticta andP. purpureo-violacea are obligate monoecious species. Asexual thalli have never been observed in the field. The other five species are generally dioecious. Isomorphic sexual thalli and asexually propagating ones are mixed in uniform populations. Carpospores originating from sexual fusion develop into the diploid Conchocelis phase. Sporangia of asexual plants, though homologous in formation, produce spores of different kinds: aplanospores that give rise to the vegetative thallus directly (inP. umbilicalis, P. insolita n. sp. andP. ochotensis) and spores that develop into haploid Conchocelis (inP. laciniata and inP. linearis). P. laciniata — formerly considered synonymous withP. purpurea — is an independent species. “In an investigation into the life-history of an alga the aim should be to obtain a series of observations of the development of the thallus from the germinating spore and then of the development of the reproductive organs on the mature thallus. In cases where both sexual and asexual spores are formed the germination of both types of spore should be followed, ...” (Drew, 1954, p. 184)     

Kalkbohrende Mikrothalli beiHelminthocladia undScinaia (Nemaliales,Rhodophyta)

Shell-boring microthalli inHelminthocladiaandScinaia(Nemaliales, Rhodophyta). Spores shed from pink mussel shells were shown to develop into branched monosiphonous thalli, their filaments penetrating into shell fragments. Isolates from four single germlings were cultivated. Two of these produced gametophytes ofHelminthocladia andScinaia; the others have so far only reproduced by tetraspores or monospores. Evidently the microthalli of some genera of the Nemaliales — which are, with the exception ofNemalion multifidum, known only from cultures — are shell-inhabiting and have therefore not been found in nature. The adult algae occur mainly on shells and CaCO₃ substrates. Until the beginning of the century,Helminthocladia andScinaia frequently occurred at Helgoland, but they have not been found there for more than 50 years. Their microthalli, however, are still present as shell-boring algae. This study is intended to stimulate similar ones in other genera of the Nemaliales so as to obtain a broader basis for discussion of systematic and phylogenetic relationships.     

Relationship between cover of Chondrus crispus (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta) and Phymatolithon (Corallinales,Rhodophyta) on friable rock substrata

Field observations in sublittoral Prince Edward Island, Canada, indicated that on a friable sandstone substratum Chondrus crispus was more commonly associated with Phymatolithon sp. than with bare rock. Thus, a substantial proportion of the population of Irish moss along the coast of Prince Edward Island occurs on this encrusting coralline. These observation may be explained on the basis of the relative stability of the substratum in contrast to other studies in which sloughing of epithallial cells by species of both Phymatolithon and Lithothamnium has been reported to limit epiphytism by fleshy macrophytes.Issued as NRCC 31426.     

Biosystematics of Gracilaria foliifera (Gigarthales, Rhodophyta)

Strains of Gracilaria foliifera (Forsskål) Børgesen isolated into culture from Ireland (where the species would appear to be introduced), England and the Atlantic coast of France were interfertile. Strains of G. foliifera from Texas and North Carolina, U.S.A. were similarly interfertile but did not cross with the European strains. The North Carolina strain was distinctly flattened in culture and superficially resembled G. foliifera from Europe whereas the Texas strain was terete or slightly flattened. Both of the American strains were interfertile with an isolate of G. tikvahiae McLa-chlan from the type locality of this species in northern Nova Scotia, Canada. It seems likely from these data that G. foliifera is not represented on the coast of North America and that G. tikvahiae is a highly morphologically variable species widely distributed from Nova Scotia south to the Caribbean. Examination of type material of Gracilaria foliifera and G. multipartita (Clemente) Harvey, together with phyto-geographical considerations, suggests that the species known as G. foliifera on eastem Atlantic masts should be known as G. rnultipartita , and that G. foliifera s. str . is probably confined to the Red, Arabian, and Indian Seas.     

Balliella,a new genus of ceramiaceae (Rhodophyta)

Detailed studies of various aspects of the morphology and reproduction ofAntithamnion subcorticatum Itono andAntithamnion crouanioides Itono show that these species are incorrectly referred to as the genusAntithamnion. To include these species, a new genus,Balliella, is proposed. In addition, some other algae possibly referable to this genus are briefly discussed. The genusBalliella is here recognized as a member of the new tribeDelesseriopsieae which is most nearly related to the tribe Antithamnieae in the Ceramiaceae. The tribe Delesseriopsieae is now recognized to include the two genera, i.e.,Delesseriopsis andBalliella.     

Population modelling of Gelidium sesquipedale (Rhodophyta, Gelidiales)

A matrix population model of Gelidium sesquipedale, a commercial agarophyte from the Northeast Atlantic, was developed based on demographic data obtained during two years in a commercial stand of Cape Espichel, Portugal. G. sesquipedale individuals were classified into categories such as life cycle phase, spores, juveniles and adult frond size, because the species vital rates, fecundity, fertility, survival, growth and breakage depend on them. We also exemplify the use of a user-friendly modelling software, Stella, to develop a structured-population model. This is the first time this software has been used to model the demography of seaweed populations. The Stella model developed here behaved very similarly to the matrix model, because of its particular construction, which causes the forcing functions to be discrete rather than continuous. The relative importance of spore recruitment and vegetative growth of new fronds in both population growth and population structure was investigated. Elasticity analysis suggests that vegetative recruitment is the most important demographic parameter controlling population growth together with survival and transitions between juveniles (1–6 cm fronds) and class 1 fronds (6–9 cm fronds). On the other hand, sexual reproduction may, by itself, efficiently control the relative proportion of gametophytes and tetrasporophytes in the population, even though its contribution to recruitment is extremely small. A 40% difference in the growth rates of gametophyte and tetrasporophyte submatrices resulted from natural differences in spore recruitment rates. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Agar polysaccharides from Gracilaria species (Rhodophyta, Gracilariaceae)

Yield, physical and chemical properties of agar from three agarophytes species (Gracilaria gracilis, G. dura and G. bursa-pastoris) were determined. The agar yield from the three species varied significantly (P<0.01). The highest yields of agar (34.8%) and the lowest (30%) were obtained from G. bursa-pastoris and G. gracilis, respectively. Highest gel strength (630+/-15 g cm(-2)) was obtained from agar extracted from G. gracilis and lowest from G. bursa-pastoris (26+/-3.6 g cm(-2)). The values of 3,6-anhydrogalactose were similar for G. gracilis and G. dura and there were no significant differences among the species. The sulfate contents varied significantly (P<0.01) and the higher value was obtained from G. bursa-pastoris. Among the three species, G. gracilis showed superior agar quality than the other two species, hence it can be considered a good potential source for industrial use.