A NEW FOSSIL ALGA FROM THE SILURIAN OF MICHIGAN

The record of Paleozoic algal diversity is strongly biased toward calcareous and stromatolitic types due to the general paucity of well preserved compression fossils of other taxa. A new genus, Thalassocystis (type species T. striata) is described on the basis of compression fossils in middle Silurian dolomite from the northern peninsula of Michigan. The plant is characterized by a short branched thallus, each branch terminated by an enlarged bladder-like structure. The plants were deposited in a tropical, shallow water marine environment but whether they were benthic, adventive to the pelagic zone, or completely pelagic cannot be determined from the evidence available.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF A FRESHWATER BROWN ALGA FROM WESTERN CANADA1

Heribaudiella fluviatilis (Aresch.) Sved. is a freshwater brown alga distributed in Europe and Japan, but known only from one questionable record in eastern North America. It is now reported as present in western Canada, approximately 250 km from any marine water. Ultrastructural features prove its phaeophycean character. Each cell contains several discoid chloroplasts with thylakoids in triplets and an encircling triplet adjacent to the chloroplast envelope. Voluminous osmiophilic substances presumed to be physodes (phenolics) are present, as well as a single nucleus associated with dictyosomes and a pair of centrioles. The cell walls are perforated by plasmodesmata, which are considered of importance in cohesion of filaments.     

MARIPELTA ATLANTICA SP. NOV. (RHODOPHYTA,RHODYMENIALES) A NEW DEEP-WATER ALGA FROM FLORIDA1

A red alga with a cylindrical stipe bearing a single deciduous blade was collected in deep water off the east coast of Florida. It is described as Maripelta atlantica sp. nov., differing from M. rotata (Dawson) Dawson (the type of the genus, from deep water off California and Baja California) chiefly by having an annular tetrasporangial nemathecium on the lower surface of the blade rather than scattered nemathecia on the upper surface. Both species are vegetatively and reproductively distinct from M. thivyae Dawson, which is transferred to Halichrysis. New information is given regarding the reproduction and distribution of M. rotata.     

PSEUDOTETRACYSTIS,A NEW CHLOROSARCINACEAN ALGA12

Pseudotetracystis terrestris gen. et sp. nov., a member of the Chlorosarcinaceae, was isolated into axenic culture from dry surface soil collected near Texon in Reagan County, Texas. The characteristics of this presently monotypic genus include vegetative cells with a parietal chloroplast, a single pyrenoid, and polymorphic motile cells which are of the Protosiphon-type (naked with 2 equal flagella); P. terrestris is the type species. Vegetative cell division (desmoschisis) forms diads and tetrahedral or planar tetrads, sometimes aggregated in transitory complexes. Reproduction is by the polymorphic motile cells which may function either as gametes to form zygotes which develop without dormancy directly into vegetative cells, or they may function as zoospores and develop directly into vegetative cells without union.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF A NEW INTRACELLULAR SYMBIOTIC ALGA FOUND WITHIN PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA1

A small intracellular eukaryotic algal symbiont, 1.5–3.5 μm in diameter, occurs abundantly and persistently in nine planktonic Foraminifera host species. This alga is different from the dinoflagellate, from 8–12 μm in diameter, known to occur in the four spinose species Orbulina universa, Globigerinoides sacculifer, G. ruber, and G. conglobatus. Transmission and epifluorescent microscopy were used to confirm the presence cophyta. The evidence supporting this classification includes the presence of a chloroplastic endoplasmic reticulum surrounding the plastids and tubular cristae, as opposed to flattened cristae, in the mitochondria. Three classes of algae may be represented including the Chrysophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Prymnesiophyceae. Ultrastructural analysis indicated that the alga in the spinose Globigerinella aequilateralis resembles a prymnesiophyte because the chloroplasts lack a girdle lamella. The algae in the non-spinose species and the short-spined Globigerina cristata resemble endocytic chrysophytes or diatoms because of the presence of a girdle lamella. Ultrastructural characteristics of the chrysophycophycean alga present in planktonic Foraminifera are discussed and compared to those of non-dinoflagellate symbiotic algae associated with other invertebrate hosts.     

OCTOSPORIELLA COLORADOENSIS GEN. ET SP. NOV., A NEW TETRASPORALEAN GREEN ALGA FROM TWO COLORADO MOUNTAIN LAKES1

A new green alga, Octosporiella coloradoensis, belonging to the order Tetrasporales, family Tetrasporaceae, is described from Colorado mountain lakes. Colonies are planktonic or attached, the latter often forming loosely aggregated colonial complexes, thus creating an irregularly shaped complex. Individual colonies are spherical and consist of eight subcolonies, with each subcolony having spherically arranged octads of cells. Each vegetative cell bears two pseudoflagella that extend well beyond the colonial sheaths. Cell division is by eleutheroschisis and may be synchronous or asynchronous. Daughter colony formation is apparently coenobic, with each cell in the octad forming new subcolonies of eight cells each. Zoospore formation may precede daughter colony formation but the flagella remain rigid and non-motile. Large akinetes form in response to nutrient depletion. These germinate to produce eight aplanospores which divide to reconstitute a typical colony of Octosporiella. Sexual reproduction was not observed.     

NEW RECORD OF THE MARINE RED ALGA CUBICULOSPORUM (GIGARTINALES) FROM THE SOUTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF1

Cubiculosporum koronicarpis Kraft (Cubiculosporaceae, Gigartinales), known previously only from the type locality (southeastern Luzon, Philippines), has been collected at North West Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The habitat, distribution and taxonomic status of the species are discussed, and habit features of the new specimens are illustrated.     

ACROSYMPHYTON FIRMUM SP. NOV. (RHODOPHYTA,CRYPTONEMIALES), A NEW SUBTIDAL RED ALGA FROM NEW ZEALAND; DEVELOPMENTAL MORPHOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE GAMETOPHYTE1

Acrosymphyton firmum sp. nov., is described from the northeastern coast of North 1., New Zealand. Gametophytes are spring–summer annuals which grow subtidally on cobbles. Thalli are uniaxial; each axial cell bears a whorl of four indeterminate and one determinate branchlets. Indeterminate branchlets are alternately arranged giving the thallus a distichous and feather-like appearance. Numerous corticating rhizoidal filaments are produced from the periaxial and lower whorl branchlet cells. These rhizoids entwine and obscure the main axis as the thallus develops until in the mature plant the axes have a firm consistency and lubricous texture. The carpogonial branch bearing short lateral filaments and auxiliary cell branch with terminal auxiliary cell place this new species in the genus Acrosymphyton Sjöstedt. Of the three described species in the genus, A. firmum is most similar to A. taylori. This is the first report of the genus Acrosymphyton and the only confirmed report of the family Dumontiaceae in New Zealand waters.     

浙江产植物一新变种

<正> 无腺野海棠(野牡丹科) Bredia amoena Diels var.eglandulata B.Y.Ding,var.nov.(Melastomaceae) A var.amoena recedit inflorescentis,pedicellis et calycibus hirsutis brunneo-ferrugineis 3-6 mm longis dense tectis;calyce majore 6-7 mm longo,saepe3-lobis. Zhejiang:Taishun Xian(泰顺县),Wuyanling(乌岩岭),22 Oct,1972,H.S.Guo(郭汉身)Te401(Typus,ZJMU;模式标本存浙江医科大学植物标本室);TaishunXian,Huangquiao(黄桥)L.H.Lou et al.(楼炉焕等)460(ZJFC)。     

A NEW RECORD AND ERADICATION OF THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC ALGA ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM (PHAEOPHYCEAE) FROM SAN FRANCISCO BAY,CALIFORNIA, USA1

A new record of the Northern Atlantic fucoid Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis (Knotted wrack) was discovered on a shoreline in San Francisco Bay, California during a survey of intertidal habitats in 2001–2002. The alga showed no signs of deterioration 2.5 months after its initial detection. The healthy condition, presence of receptacles with developing oogonia, potential for asexual reproduction, and ability to withstand environmental conditions, both inside the Bay and on the outer Pacific coast, prompted a multiagency eradication effort. Given the relatively small area of shoreline inhabited by the alga, in combination with its absence in 125 other surveyed locations, we decided that manual removal of the seaweed would be the most environmentally sensitive yet effective eradication approach. No A. nodosum has been detected at the site since December 2002, and the species is thought to have been locally eradicated. The site continues to be monitored to assess the success of the eradication efforts.     

LEACHIELLA PACIFICA,GEN. ET SP. NOV., A NEW PARASITIC RED ALGA FROM WASHINGTON AND CALIFORNIA

Leachiella pacifica, gen. et sp. nov., a marine alloparasitic red alga is described from Washington and California. Several species of Polysiphonia and Pterosiphonia are hosts for this parasite. The thallus is a white, multiaxial, unbranched pustule with rhizoidal filaments that ramify between host cells, forming numerous secondary pit connections with host cells. All reproductive structures develop from outer cortical cells. Tetrasporocytes, situated on stalk cells, undergo simultaneous, tetrahedral cleavage to form tetraspores. Spermatia are formed continuously by oblique cleavages of the elongate spermatial generating cells. This results in spermatial clusters consisting of 4–8 spermatia in an alternate arrangement. Carposporophyte development is procarpial. The carpogonium is part of a six-celled branch including a sterile cell that is formed by the basal cell. The carpogonial branch is attached laterally to an obovate supporting cell that also forms an auxiliary cell, presumably formed prior to fertilization. After fertilization the carpogonium temporarily fuses with the auxiliary cell apparently to transfer the diploid nucleus and initiate further fusion with the subtending supporting cell to form an incipient fusion cell. The auxiliary cell portion of this fusion cell divides to form gonimoblast initials that continue to divide, forming gonimoblast filaments whose terminal cells differentiate into carpospores. The remainder of the fusion cell enlarges by continual fusion with adjacent vegetative cells. The resultant carposporophyte consists of a basal, multinucleate fusion cell supporting a hemispherical cluster of gonimoblast filaments with terminally borne carpospores. Vegetatively, Leachiella resembles several other parasitic red algae but it is clearly separated by the procarp, carposporophyte development and structure, and tetrasporocyte cleavage.