The species of Ceramium (Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta) around Taiwan

A taxonomic study was recently carried out on the species of Ceramium occurring around Taiwan. One hundred and fifty-one collections were made from January 1993 through spring 1994 at 75 sites distributed around the island. A total of thirteen species were found, including three for which names cannot currently be assigned: Ceramium aduncum, C. ciliatum, C. cimbricum, C. cliftonianum, C. flaccidum, C. gracillimum var. byssoideum, C. mazatlanense, C. nakamurai, C. paniculatum, C. tenerrimum and unidentified species 1, 2 and 3. Among these are three new records for Taiwan, C. cimbricum, C. cliftonianum, and C. mazatlanense. This paper summarizes the taxonomic characters of these species and presents a key for their identification. Distribution records of all 42 species reported from the tropical western Pacific are compared. This report is the first detailed record of the genus for Taiwan.     

THE TYPE SPECIES OF CERAMIUM (RHODOPHYTA), CERAMIUM VIRGATUM ROTH: TYPIFICATION AND PHYLOGENY

The type species of Ceramium is Ceramium virgatum Roth (1797, Cat. Bot I: 148, pl. VIII, fig. 1). This has been treated as a probable synonym of Ceramium nodulosum (Lightfoot) Ducluzeau, one of the species formerly confused under the illegitimate name Ceramium rubrum (Hudson) C. Agardh. However, in 1996 Silva showed that C. nodulosum (Lightfoot) Ducluzeau is a later homonym of C. nodulosum de Candolle 1805, and advocated conserving C. rubrum with a neotype. As an alternative to this, we investigated whether the name C. virgatum might be available for this species. The lectotype of C. virgatum is Roth's illustration of a much-branched, fully corticate, Ceramium specimen from Eckwarden, North Sea, which could represent any member of the ' C. rubrum' group. We obtained material resembling Roth's, from the North Sea island of Helgoland, as a potential epitype. Its rbc L sequence was aligned with sequences of all C. rubrum -like species in the British Isles, i.e. C. secundatum , C. botryocarpum , C. pallidum and ' C. nodulosum '. The Helgoland material was clearly conspecific with ' C. nodulosum ' from Ireland (0.08% divergence). We therefore suggest that the name C. virgatum Roth should be employed for this species. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences aligned with various representatives of the tribe Ceramieae, placed the North Atlantic C. rubrum -like species in two well-supported clades. In one of these, C. virgatum is basal to C. secundatum and C. botryocarpum. The other clade consists of C. pallidum and a partly ecorticate species resembling C. diaphanum.     

CULTURE STUDIES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHIZYMENIA AND HAEMATOCELIS (GIGARTINALES,RHODOPHYCEAE) FROM THE PACIFIC COAST OF NORTH AMERICA1

Carpospores from Schizymenia pacifica (Kylin) Kylin (Gymnophlaeaceae) from California formed crusts anatomically identical to Haematocelis rubens J. Agardh (Cruoriaceae). Tetraspores of H. rubens from Monterey, California, and Baja California, Mexico, germinated to form basal discs from which arose upright multiaxial blades with a filamentous medulla and cortical gland cells. Pro-carps and spermatangia were present on the same blades; subsequently, cystocarps characteristic of Schizymenia pacifica developed. Re-examination of herbarium specimens suggests that the foliose tetrasporangial phases previously reported as S. pacifica are referable to Halymenia, Dilsea, Cryptonemia, or Turnerella. Schizymenia pacifica (type locality: San Juan Islands, Washington) thus is considered to be the gametophyte in the life history of Haematocelis rubens (type locality: Brest, France), which has also been reported to be the tetrasporophyte of S. dubyi (Chauvin ex Duby) J. Agardh (type locality: Cherbourg, France). Atlantic and Pacific gametophytes and tetrasporophytes are anatomically very similar, suggesting that only one species is involved, but critical studies must be made before a decision on this taxonomic question can be reached. Haematocelis zonalis Dawson et Neushul (type locality: Anacapa Island, California) is considered to be a growth form of the tetrasporangial phase of S. pacifica.     

CENTROCERAS INTERNITENS N. SP. (RHODOPHYCEAE,CERAMIACEAE) FROM THE WESTERN TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN1

Centroceras internitens n. sp. (Rhodophyceae, Ceramiaceae) was found in the Florida Keys and Bermuda only as an epiphyte on Ceramium nitens (C. Agardh) J. Agardh. It is described on the basis of many collections, including an abundance of reproductive material representing all stages of the life history. Laboratory culture has not been successful. The type locality is a well-known limestone platform on the Atlantic Ocean side of West Summerland Key, Florida Keys. In addition to living material, C. internitens was found on eight herbarium specimens of Ceramium nitens at the United States National Museum, thereby establishing records of its occurrence throughout the Caribbean Sea and dating back to 1887.     

25 Proposal of a new red algal genus in the ceramieae (ceramiaceae, ceramiales)

A new genus is proposed to accommodate four species belonging in the Ceramium flaccidum complex based on comparative vegetative morphology and rbc L sequence analysis: C. flaccidum (Harvey ex Kuetzing) Ardissone (1871), C. gracillimum, C. Agardh (1824), C. fimbriatum S. & G. (1924) and C. rectocorticum Dawson 1950. Comparative rbcL sequence analysis indicates that this complex forms a distinct monophyletic clade separate from other Ceramium species. Although C. flaccidum has been placed in Hormoseras Kuetzing 1841 (as H. flaccidum Harvey ex Kuetzing 1862), the type species of Hormoceras is Ceramium diaphanum . The new genus is characterized by alternate branching, incomplete cortication, production of three cortical filament initials of which the basipetal initial divides horizontally, and unicellular rhizoids terminating in pad-like structures produced from periaxial cells. Cortical filament development is discussed for related genera in the tribe Ceramieae ( Campylaephora, Carpoblepharis, Centroceras, Ceramium, Corallophila, Herpochondria, Microcladia, Reinboldiella ). Rbc L-based phylogenies indicate that the new genus is sister to Centroceras , a genus possessing three cortical filament initials. The phylogenetic relationships within the tribe may correlate with cortication patterns that characterize each genus     

Ceramium cimbrium (Rhodophyceae, Ceramiales) from Scandinavia; structure, reproduction and systematics

Ceramium cimbricum, originally described from Limfjorden, Denmark was isolated into unialgal culture form several localities in southern Norway. The distinguishing features include straight, often unequal apices, 4–5 periaxial cells and narrow cortical bands. Reproductive structures are described for the first time in European material and a Polysiphonia-type of life history was demonstrated, though irregularities were also seen. Culture observations of phenotypic variability and examination of type material suggest that C. cimbricum and the widely recorded C. fastigiatum may be conspecific. However, the latter binomial is illegitimate.     

IDENTIFICATION OF GREEN ALGAL ENDOPHYTES AS THE ALTERNATE PHASE OF ACROSIPHONIA (CODIOLALES, CHLOROPHYTA) USING ITS1 AND ITS2 RIBOSOMAL DNA SEQUENCE DATA

The internal transcribed spacer regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA cistron of green algal endophytes, previously identified as Chlorochytrium inclusum Kjellman and Codiolum petrocelidis Kuckuck, were sequenced. Culture studies have implicated marine Chlorochytrium and Codiolum -like cells in the life histories of a number of macrophytic green algae. The identity of the endophytes was resolved by comparing DNA sequences from unicells endophytic in the foliose red alga Mazzaella splendens (Setchell et Gardner) Hommersand and in the crustose phase of Mastocarpus papillatus (J. Agardh) Kylin, with sequences from species of Acrosiphonia, Urospora, Ulothrix, and Monostroma. All endophyte isolates were more closely related to species of Acrosiphonia than to those of Urospora, Ulothrix, or Monostroma. The results support previous culture studies, and conclusively identify the endophytes obtained in the field as alternate life history phases of one or more Acrosiphonia species in southern British Columbia, Canada.     

Morphological and random amplified polymorphic DNA features in populations ofCeramium kondoi (Rhodophyta)

Morphological and RAPD features ofCeramium kondoi populations were investigated and compared in different locations in Korea. The plant length and branching pattern were more variable in Jindo population than others. RAPD data showed thatC. kondoi plants were divided into two clades; the southern group including Jindo and Bangpo population, and the northern group including Yonpyongdo and Oeyondo population. Morphological features inC. kondoi populations corresponded with RAPD data, which differed from those ofC. boydenii from the same location. These results suggest that RAPD might be useful for elucidating genetic variation among the wild populations ofC. kondoi.     

TAXONOMY OF THE FLATTENED SOLIERIACEAE (RHODOPHYTA) IN BRAZIL: AGARDHIELLA AND MERISTIELLA1

Taxonomic studies of an extensive collection of flattened members of the Solieriaceae considered by many authors to be species of Agardhiella, Eucheuma, Meristotheca, and Meristiella lead us to conclude that they represent only two genera in Brazil: Agardhiella, including A. ramosissima (Harvey) Kylin and A. floridana (Kylin) Gabrielson ex Guimarães et Oliveira, and Meristiella, with only one species, M. gelidium (J. Agardh) Cheney et Gabrielson. Accordingly, we propose that 1) Meristotheca gigartinoides Joly et Ugadim be synonymized with Agardhiella floridana, and 2) Meristiella echinocarpa (Areschoug) Cheney et Gabrielson and M. schrammii (P. et H. Crouan) Cheney et Gabrielson be synonymized with Meristiella gelidium.     

On the absence of previously reported Japanese and Peruvian species of Prionitis (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) in the northeast Pacific

Partial rbc L sequences of type specimens, historically significant specimens and recently collected comparative specimens are used to demonstrate that Prionitis decipiens (Montagne) J. Agardh (type locality: Paita, Peru), Prionitis angusta (Harvey) Okamura (type locality: Shimoda, Japan, currently known as Grateloupia angusta (Harvey) Kawaguchi et Wang) and Prionitis cornea (Okamura) E. Y. Dawson (type locality: Shizuoka, Japan, currently known as Grateloupia cornea Okamura), all previously reported from the northeast (NE) Pacific (California, USA and Baja California, Mexico), were not, and currently are not, present. Historically significant specimens from the NE Pacific specifically annotated by E. Y. Dawson as belonging to P. cornea or specifically annotated by I. A. Abbott as belonging to P. angusta were sequenced and shown to belong to either Prionitis linearis Kylin (type locality: La Jolla, California, USA) or to Prionitis filiformis Kylin (type locality: San Francisco, California, USA). The lectotype of Gelidium decipiens Montagne (basionym of Prionitis decipiens ) is narrowed to a single specimen illustrated by Montagne, and a lectotype is designated for P. linearis . The utility of partial rbc L sequences (less than 200 base pairs) for determining the identity of specimens is discussed, as is the importance of sequencing type and historically significant specimens.     

MORPHOLOGY AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF CAULERPA (CHLOROPHYTA) IN RELATION TO GROWTH FORM

Morphological and photosynthetic performance were analyzed in species of the genus Caulerpa from an exposed coral reef and a sheltered reef lagoon. Morphological characters, such as distance between modules, number of modules, stolon branches and rhizoid clusters per centimeter of stolon, indicated a uniformity among species within a specific habitat. "Guerilla," or diffusive, growth forms were characteristic for lagoon species and "phalanx," or compact, growth forms for reef species. Differences in photosynthesis were found between Caulerpa species. Sun-tolerant species were found on the reef, and both sun- and shade-tolerant species were present in the lagoon. In the lagoon, shade-tolerant species, such as C. lanuginosa J. Agardh, were found growing in the understory, and sun-tolerant species, such as C. paspaloides (Bory) Greville, formed the canopy. C. cupressoides (West in Vahl) C. Agardh was the only species found in both environments; it showed higher photosynthetic rates and a compressed morphology when growing on the reef and lower photosynthetic rates and expanded morphology for lagoonal ramets. These results suggest that C. cupressoides possesses a broad phenotypic ability to acclimate to lagoonal and reef settings in comparison to other Caulerpa species, enhancing its ecological success in this particular system.     

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF GRACILARIA SPECIES INFERRED FROM MOLECULAR MARKERS BELONGING TO THREE DIFFERENT GENOMES1

The nucleotide sequence data of molecular markers 18S rRNA, RUBISCO spacer, and cox2‐3 intergenic spacer were integrated to infer the phylogeny of Gracilaria species, collected from the western coast of India, reducing the possibility of misidentification and providing greater phylogenetic resolution. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using cox2‐3 and RUBISCO spacer sequences, exhibiting the same clustering but differing slightly from that of the rRNA‐based phylogenetic tree. The phylogeny inferred from the combined data set confers an analogous pattern of clustering, compared with those of trees constructed from individual data sets. The combined data set resulted in a phylogeny with better resolution, which supported the clade with higher consistency index, retention index, and bootstrap values. It was observed that Gracilaria foliifera (Forssk.) Børgesen is closer to G. corticata (J. Agardh) J. Agardh varieties, while G. salicornia (C. Agardh) E. Y. Dawson and G. fergusonii J. Agardh both originated from the same clade. The position of G. textorii (Suringar) De Toni faltered and toppled between G. salicornia and G. dura (C. Agardh) J. Agardh; however, G. gracilis (Stackh.) M. Steentoft, L. M. Irvine et W. F. Farnham was evidently distant from the rest of the species.     

Ceramium gobii n. sp. (Rhodophyta, Ceramiales), a brackish-water red alga in the Baltic Sea

A geographical survey was made of the distribution of diaphanoid Ceramia in the Baltic Sea and adjacent waters west of the Baltic. It was found that Ceramium plants with so-called 'Gobi's' parasporangia (monosporangia) have a wide distribution in the Baltic Sea at salinities of ca (3) 5–8%. This brackish-water Ceramium is here described as a new species, Ceramium gobii. At higher salinities in the south of the Baltic Sea and on the Swedish west coast, round parasporangia (polysporangia) indicate the occurrence of other Ceramium species. The new species is very similar to the brackish-water species Ceramium radiculosum , which was described from river-mouths to the Gulf of Trieste (Italy). A comparison was made of several diaphanoid Ceramium species, C. diaphanum, C. tenuicorne, C. gobii , and C. radiculosum , including (1) size of male plants, (2) type of paraspores, (3) vegetative characters.     

Taxonomy and distribution of Sargassum (Phaeophyceae) in the Gulf of Thailand

Ten species of Sargassum (Sargassaceae, Phaeophyceae) were found along the Gulf of Thailand. Morphological characteristics of Sargassum baccularia (Mertens) C.A. Agardh, S. binderi Sonder, S. cinereum J.G. Agardh, S.crassifolium J.G. Agardh, S. longifructum Tseng et Lu, S. oligocystum Montagne, S. polycystum C.A. Agardh, S. siliquosum J.G. Agardh, S. swartzii (Turner) C.A. Agardh and one unidentified species were examined and are described in detail. The most common species were S. polycystum distributed widely in almost all the study sites, S. crassifolium restricted to Prachuap Khirikhan Province, S. longifructum restricted to Chumphon Province, S. siliquosum restricted to Surat Thani Province and one unidentified species restricted to Songkhla Province. Three species (S. cinereum, S. longifructum and S. swartzii) are new records for the algal flora of Thailand. Five species (S. baccularia, S. cinereum, S. longifructum, S. polycystum and the unidentified species) belong to the section Zygocarpicae (J.G. Agardh) Setchell.     

A morphological study and hybridization analysis of Caloglossa leprieurii (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from Japan, Singapore and Australia

Morphological and hybridization experiments were performed on Caloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J. Agardh collected from Japan, Singapore and Australia in order to evaluate taxonomic characters of this species. Within C. leprieurii at least four mating groups were recognized from the Indo-Pacific region. These mating groups could be characterized by the blade width at the inter-node and the cell-row numbers on the opposite side derived from the first axial cell at the main axis, though these properties showed a certain variability even in the same plant under both field and culture conditions. The phylogenetic relationship and geographic distribution of the four mating groups are discussed.     

A vanadium-dependent bromoperoxidase in the marine red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty displays clear substrate specificity

Bromoperoxidase activity was initially detected in marine macroalgae belonging to the Solieriaceae family (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta), including Solieria robusta (Greville) Kylin, Eucheuma serra J. Agardh and Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty, which are important industrial sources of the polysaccharide carrageenan. Notably, the purification of bromoperoxidase was difficult because due to the coexistence of viscoid polysaccharides. The activity of the partially purified enzyme was dependent on the vanadate ion, and displayed a distinct substrate spectrum from that of previously reported vanadium-dependent bromoperoxidases of marine macroalgae. The enzyme was specific for Br- and I- ions and inactive toward F- and Cl-. The K(m) values for Br- and H2O2 were 2.5x10(-3) M and 8.5x10(-5) M, respectively. The halogenated product, dibromoacetaldehyde, that accumulated in K. alvarezii was additionally determined.     

CARRAGEENANS FROM AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAMILY CYSTOCLONIACEAE (GIGARTINALES, RHODOPHYTA), WITH DESCRIPTION OF CALLIBLEPHARIS CELATOSPORA SP. NOV., AND TRANSFER OF AUSTROCLONIUM TO THE FAMILY ARESCHOUGIACEAE

Ten Australian representatives from seven of the 10 genera presently constituting the family Cystocloniaceae have been analyzed for their cell-wall galactans. Included in our survey are the monotypic Australian-endemic genera Austroclonium , Gloiophyllis , Erythronaema , and Stictosporum , one species of Craspedocarpus , three species of Rhodophyllis , and two species of Calliblepharis . As one of the species of the latter genus is endemic to Western Australia and presently undescribed, we illustrate its habit and anatomical features in formally proposing to name it Calliblepharis celatospora Kraft, sp. nov. All the species surveyed essentially produce typical iota (ι)-carrageenans, with the exception of Austroclonium . The sulfated galactans from Austroclonium predominantly contain the repeating units of ι-, alpha (α)-, and 6'-O-methylated ι- and α-carrageenans; whether these exist as discrete polysaccharides or a complex hybrid structure was not resolved. Thus, Austroclonium carrageenans resemble the polysaccharides from Rhabdonia , Areschougia , and Erythroclonium . Although these latter three genera are currently included in the large gigartinalean family Solieriaceae, all produce significantly different carrageenans from Solieria itself and related genera such as Eucheuma , Kappaphycus , Betaphycus , Sarcodiotheca , Agardhiella , Sarconema , and Callophycus . In consideration of these findings, as well as of significant anatomical similarities, we provisionally recommend reestablishment of the family Rhabdoniaceae Kylin (as the family Areschougiaceae J. Agardh) for Rhabdonia , Areschougia , Erythroclonium , and Austroclonium.     

Lectotypification of the red alga Ceramium secundatum Lyngbye

Ceramium secundatum is typified by a cystocarp-bearing specimen from the Faroes in Lyngbye's herbarium (C). This specimen resembles that illustrated by Lyngbye (1819, Tab. 37 A). The type locality was revisited in 1992 and C. secundatum and other Ceramium spp. were collected.     

First record of Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh (Bryopsidales,Chlorophyta) from China

ABSTRACT

An edible green algal species Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh is reported from China for the first time. The species was collected from the southwest of Hainan Island and morphologically identified to be C. lentillifera based on the grape-like branches arising from cylindrical stolons. Phylogenetic analysis using tufA and rbcL DNA sequences also confirmed the monophyly of C. lentillifera-microphysa clade.