Article
Plant Sciences
Lauri Pulecio-Plaza, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Rocio Garcia-Uruena
Summary: Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important for reef framework construction, but little is known about their growth and calcification in seasonal upwelling systems. This study assessed the growth and calcification rates of two dominant reef-building CCA species in a shallow coral reef in the Colombian Caribbean. Results showed higher growth and calcification rates during the upwelling season compared to the non-upwelling season. Seawater temperature was found to have an inverse relationship with CCA growth and calcification. These findings provide important baseline data and information for monitoring the impacts of environmental changes on tropical upwelling environments.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Federico Pinna, Annalisa Caragnano, Luigi Piazzi, Federica Ragazzola, Patrizia Stipcich, Fabio Rindi, Giulia Ceccherelli
Summary: Understanding how coralline algae acclimatize to ocean warming is important for their survival. Transplant experiments revealed that the growth and conceptacle production of the alga were higher in colder sites, but the thickness growth was higher in warmer sites at greater depth. Higher light irradiance negatively affected the growth and conceptacle production of the transplanted algae. Overall, the results suggest that the alga has good adaptability to warmer conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
L. Piazzi, F. Pinna, G. Ceccherelli
Summary: This study examines the interaction between crustose coralline algae and epibiont assemblages in their habitat through manipulative experiments. The results demonstrate the important role of crustose coralline algae in enhancing biodiversity and emphasize the need for their conservation.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Ju-Wook Baek, Jae Seong Lee, Sung-Han Kim, Taehee Lee, Seung Won Jung, Won-Chan Lee, Kyung-Tae Kim, Sung-Uk An
Summary: In this study, we investigated the photosynthetic characteristics of the crustose coralline alga Pneophyllum fragile in response to elevated water temperature and irradiance. We found that P. fragile exhibited a distinct adaptability to high temperatures and strong irradiance, with increased photosynthesis capacity and respiration rate. The compensation irradiance and saturation irradiance also increased with increasing water temperature.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Aimee L. van der Reis, Mary A. Sewell, Wendy A. Nelson
Summary: This study explores the diversity and identification of crustose coralline algae (CCA) using different preservation methods and molecular biology techniques. The results show that CCA has immense diversity, with higher diversity in the inner layers compared to the outer layers. Among the molecular markers tested, the 23S rRNA and rbcL genes are more suitable for identifying algae, while the cox1 gene captures a broader range of diversity, including algae.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shing Hei Zhan, Ling Chen, Chen-Pan Liao, Wun-Ruei Chang, Cheng-Chin Li, Guang-You Tang, Ching-Yu Liou, Wei-Lung Wang, Shih-Wei Wang, Shao-Lun Liu
Summary: This study reveals the diversity of cryptic crustose coralline algae (CCA) species in the Taoyuan Algal Reef (TAR) in Taiwan, many of which are potentially new species or endemic to TAR. The TAR represents a unique hotspot of CCA taxa in Taiwan's waters. The variations in CCA assemblages in the TAR are influenced by geographic distance, sedimentation, and substrate type, indicating the importance of dispersal limitation and environmental selection.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aki Kato, Daniela Basso, Annalisa Caragnano, Graziella Rodondi, Line Le Gall, Viviana Pena, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Masasuke Baba
Summary: After analyzing morpho-anatomical data and DNA sequences, it was discovered that the so-called "Lithophyllum okamurae" actually consisted of two species, Lithophyllum okamurae and a new cryptic species named L. neo-okamurae. These two species share similarities in morphology but can be distinguished by specific characteristics.
Article
Plant Sciences
Viviana Pena, Tamara Ruiz de Gauna Torres
Summary: Lithophyllum stictiforme contributes to Mediterranean coralligenous concretions and has been found in the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula as well. Recent studies revealed a complex of cryptic species in the Mediterranean Sea, while a new species Lithophyllum artabricum was described in the Atlantic Iberian region. Molecular and morphological data supported the differentiation of the Atlantic Iberian collections from the Mediterranean L. stictiforme complex.
CRYPTOGAMIE ALGOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Giulia Piazza, Cecile Valsecchi, Gabriele Sottocornola
Summary: The study utilized fine-tuning pretrained Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) on coralline algae images to explore a new classification tool. The calcification patterns were shown to have high diagnostic value for class predictions, and CNNs were proved to be a valid support for morphological taxonomy in coralline algae.
Article
Biology
Zachary A. Quinlan, Matthew-James Bennett, Milou G. I. Arts, Mark Levenstein, Daisy Flores, Haley M. Tholen, Lucas Tichy, Gabriel Juarez, Andreas F. Haas, Valerie F. Chamberland, Kelly R. W. Latijnhouwers, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Amy Wagoner Johnson, Kristen L. Marhaver, Linda Wegley Kelly
Summary: In this study, the researchers collected and classified chemical compounds produced by reef-building crustose coralline algae (CCA) and found that these compounds can induce coral settlement and increase larval survival. The study provides insights into the natural distribution of these compounds in coral reef habitats and offers potential applications for enhancing coral reef restoration.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Valentina Alice Bracchi, Pietro Bazzicalupo, Luca Fallati, Andrea Giulia Varzi, Alessandra Savini, Mauro Pietro Negri, Antonietta Rosso, Rossana Sanfilippo, Adriano Guido, Marco Bertolino, Gabriele Costa, Elena De Ponti, Riccardo Leonardi, Maurizio Muzzupappa, Daniela Basso
Summary: Coralliguous is one of the most important ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea, supporting high levels of biodiversity. The study confirmed the primary role of crustose coralline algae as major builders of the Coralligenous, matching the evidence from the fossil record. It suggests considering the role of encrusting calcareous red algae in conservation and management policies.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Alexandra Ramirez-Viana, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Rocio Garcia-Uruena
Summary: This study examined the percentages and rates of internal bioerosion by macroborer invertebrates in two dominant crustose coralline algae (CCA) species in the Colombian Caribbean. The results showed that rates of calcium carbonate removal by internal macroborers were higher in Lithoplyllum kaiseri compared to Porolithon antillarum, with mollusks identified as having the highest erosion activity. Despite no clear influence of climatic seasons on internal bioerosion, the high rates of CCA bioerosion may reduce reef consolidation in the region.
Article
Microbiology
Fangfang Yang, Zhiliang Xiao, Zhangliang Wei, Lijuan Long
Summary: This study reveals that the microbial community structure associated with P. onkodes generally displayed a degree of stability, and bleached algae was still able to induce larval settlement and metamorphosis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
B. Williams, P. T. W. Chan, I. T. Westfield, D. B. Rasher, J. Ries
Summary: The skeletal density of high-latitude species of crustose coralline algae (CCA) significantly declined under future pCO2 conditions, potentially increasing their vulnerability to disturbance and impairing their ability to produce critical habitat in high-latitude systems.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Damon Britton, Craig N. Mundy, Fanny Noisette, Christina M. McGraw, Catriona L. Hurd, Joanna Norkko
Summary: Research shows that crustose coralline algae (CCA) respond negatively to low and medium emissions scenarios of warming and acidification, and may be adversely affected by 2030 if current emissions persist. Significant declines in growth rates and increases in bleaching were observed in the high emission scenario. These findings underscore the urgent need to take action to protect CCA and the valuable ecosystem services they provide.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)