Article
Plant Sciences
So Young Jeong, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Gavin W. Maneveldt, Paul W. Gabrielson, Wendy A. Nelson, Boo Yeon Won, Tae Oh Cho
Summary: A multigene molecular phylogeny was conducted to study the genus Phymatolithon. The study revealed the polyphyletic grouping of two monophyletic clades within the Hapalidiales. As a result, a new genus, Phymatolithopsis, was established, consisting of three species. Phymatolithopsis is closely related to Mesophyllum and is distinct from Phymatolithon and boreal species assigned to Lithothamnion. Morpho-anatomical characteristics were used to differentiate Phymatolithopsis from Phymatolithon, including the origin of conceptacle primordia and the distribution of gonimoblast filaments in carposporangial conceptacles.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
So Young Jeong, Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Andrew S. Hoey, Tae Oh Cho, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Summary: Porolithon is an ecologically important genus of crustose coralline algae, distributed abundantly in tropical and subtropical shallow margins of coral reefs. Sequence comparisons of type specimens and field-collected specimens reveal four unique genetic lineages, suggesting the absence of P. gardineri and P. craspedium in eastern Australia. Furthermore, four new species are discovered, distinguished by growth form, margin shape, and medullary system. Urgent documentation of the taxonomic diversity of Porolithon species is necessary due to their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pedro Bastos de Macedo Carneiro, Jadson Pinto de Lima, Enio Victor Paiva Bandeira, Antonio Rodrigues Ximenes Neto, Cristina de Almeida Rocha Barreira, Frederico Tapajos de Souza Tamega, Helena Matthews-Cascon, Wilson Franklin Junior, Jader Onofre de Morais
Summary: The growth and CaCO3 production of rhodoliths in the SW Atlantic Ocean remain poorly quantified, making it difficult to relate measurements with biomass estimates. Suboptimal conditions may clarify how harsh environments influence nodule growth and abundance, independently affecting growth and abundance. Overall, fast growth rates and relevant structural roles are not necessarily associated with dense rhodolith assemblages, and ecological assessments should consider the dynamics of both individual nodules and the whole population.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Cintia Iha, D. Wilson Freshwater, Silvia M. P. B. Guimaraes, Mariana Cabral Oliveira
Summary: DNA sequence analysis reveals that the current classification of Gelidium is not monophyletic, with three distinctive lineages. A new genus, Gelidiorariphycus, is described to accommodate one of these lineages. The species in this genus have similar morphologies and primarily grow on shallow subtidal rocky shores.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aki Kato, Narongrit Muangmai, Masasuke Baba
Summary: Using DNA sequence data and morpho-anatomical features, this study confirmed that the non-geniculate coralline alga Lithophyllum okamurae includes two infraspecific taxa, L. okamurae f. trincomaliense and L. okamurae f. validum, which should be treated as independent species. Morphologically, L. trincomaliense and L. validum are almost indistinguishable, with the shape of branch tips being the only distinguishable feature.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicholas F. L. Vale, Juan C. Braga, Alex C. Bastos, Fernando C. Moraes, Claudia S. Karez, Ricardo G. Bahia, Luis A. Leao, Renato C. Pereira, Gilberto M. Amado-Filho, Leonardo T. Salgado
Summary: This study investigated the formation and distribution of Rhodolith beds on the Brazilian continental shelf off the Sergipe-Alagoas Coast. Different types of Rhodoliths were found on the seabed at different depths and substrates, and their classification and ages were determined.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph Richards, Ronald P. Kittle, William E. Schmidt, Thomas Sauvage, Carlos F. D. Gurgel, Daniela Gabriel, Suzanne Fredericq
Summary: Historical identification of non-geniculate coralline algae in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico was based on morpho-anatomy. Recent studies combining DNA sequencing and SEM have discovered previously undocumented diversity of non-geniculate coralline algae in mesophotic hard bank communities. However, total diversity estimates are still incomplete and more species are yet to be described.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rachael M. Wade, Paul W. Gabrielson, Katharine R. Hind, Jade Shivak, Jeffery R. Hughey, Sou Ohtsu, Masasuke Baba, Kazuhiro Kogame, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Kathy Ann Miller, Soren R. Schipper, Patrick T. Martone
Summary: Partial rbcL sequences were analyzed from type specimens of three early-described Corallina species. The results revealed that C. arbuscula and C. pilulifera are synonymous, with C. pilulifera being the accepted name, and that C. vancouveriensis is a distinct species. Additional species, C. hakodatensis sp. nov. and C. parva sp. nov., were also identified. These findings have important implications for the biogeography, evolution, and speciation patterns of coralline algae.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Mahyar Mobasseri, Ebrahim Pourjam, Mohammad Ebrahim Farashiani, Majid Pedram
Summary: A new species of the genus Longidorus, named L. hyrcanus n. sp., is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular analyses. This study provides insights into its morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships with other relevant species of the genus.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kseniya V. Efimova, Mariia A. Shulgina, Olga G. Shevchenko
Summary: Thalassiosira allenii is reported for the first time from marine phytoplankton of the Russian far East. Five strains representing three morphological variants of T. allenii, from three locations in the Sea of Japan, were investigated. The D8-D10 domain of LSU rDNA and rbcL of T. allenii were sequenced for the first time. Three morphological forms of T. allenii showed completely identical rbcL sequences and distinctly different nuclear rDNA sequences.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joseph L. Richards, William E. Schmidt, Suzanne Fredericq, Thomas Sauvage, Viviana Pena, Line Le Gall, Luz Elena Mateo-Cid, Angela Catalina Mendoza-Gonzalez, Jeffery R. Hughey, Paul W. Gabrielson
Summary: This study utilized morpho-anatomy and DNA sequence analysis to identify a species of nongeniculate coralline algae, and discovered two new species. The research also revealed that the identified species currently inhabits mesophotic rhodolith beds in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico and other Caribbean regions.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nikita Martynenko, Elena Kezlya, Evgeniy Gusev
Summary: A new species, Cryptomonas tropica, was discovered from the soil in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam. This species has elliptical cells and a unique plastid structure without visible pyrenoids. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that it forms an independent branch within the genus Cryptomonas, closely related to other small-celled, pyrenoid-less species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Frederico T. S. Tamega, Beatriz N. Torrano-Silva, Mariana Cabral Oliveira, Paula Spotorno-Oliveira, Savio H. Calazans, Edgar Francisco Rosas-Alquicira, Ricardo Coutinho, Viviana Pena
Summary: This study identified the species composition of geniculate coralline algae in the subtidal beds of Arraial do Cabo Bay through morpho-anatomical and molecular analyses, and discovered a new species of Jania.
Article
Plant Sciences
Kenneth Neil Mertens, M. Consuelo Carbonell-Moore, Nicolas Chomerat, Gwenael Bilien, Sylviane Boulben, Laure Guillou, Sarah Romac, Ian Probert, Akira Ishikawa, Elisabeth Nezan
Summary: Sequences were obtained for 58 podolampadacean single cells from France, Reunion Island (French territories) and Japan, belonging to five described genera. Two new genera were established to accommodate two species. Most genera were well supported by concatenated LSU-SSU rDNA phylogenies, with Lissodinium having the least support. Metabarcoding using SSU rDNA showed low resolution. The study also provided insights into the relationships and characteristics of different species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Evgeniy Gusev, Balasubramanian Karthick, Nikita Martynenko, Nataliya Shkurina, Maxim Kulikovskiy
Summary: A new species, Cryptomonas indica sp. nov., has been described from the Western Ghats in India based on morphological and molecular data. It forms a distinct lineage on the phylogenetic tree of the genus Cryptomonas and is included in the basal clade. This is the first Cryptomonas taxon described from the Indian subcontinent with both morphology and molecular information.
Article
Ecology
Dorsaf Kerfahi, Ben P. Harvey, Hyoki Kim, Ying Yang, Jonathan M. Adams, Jason M. Hall-Spencer
Summary: Plastics are accumulating and ocean waters are acidifying due to increased CO2. The metagenomic analysis of biofilms on plastic bottles in subtidal waters off Japan revealed significant changes in both the functional and taxonomic composition of the plastisphere, particularly the diatom group. These findings have potential implications for ocean ecology.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Francesco Tiralongo, Jason Michael Hall-Spencer, Ioannis Giovos, Periklis Kleitou
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geography
Andrea Giulia Varzi, Luca Fallati, Alessandra Savini, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Pietro Bazzicalupo, Antonietta Rosso, Rossana Sanfilippo, Marco Bertolino, Maurizio Muzzupappa, Daniela Basso
Summary: Peculiar columnar-shaped coralligenous (C) outcrops were documented offshore Marzamemi village (SE Sicily, Ionian Sea), and the extent and distribution of these outcrops were assessed using a new high-resolution bathymetric map. The C bioconstructions are mainly distributed along two depth ranges, 36-42 m and 86-102 m water depth.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ines Perez-Peris, Sandra Navarro-Mayoral, Marcial Cosme de Esteban, Fernando Tuya, Viviana Pena, Ignacio Barbara, Pedro Neves, Claudia Ribeiro, Antonio Abreu, Jacques Grall, Fernando Espino, Nestor Echedey Bosch, Ricardo Haroun, Francisco Otero-Ferrer
Summary: This study examined the impact of depth on the size and morphology of calcareous red macroalgae structures (rhodoliths) and the abundance of associated flora and fauna. The findings revealed that depth typically influenced the size and shape of rhodoliths, with larger nodules found at intermediate and deep depths. The biomass of attached macroalgae (epiphytes) also increased with depth. The study concluded that the morphology of rhodoliths and associated epibionts were primarily influenced by depth, regardless of latitude.
Article
Plant Sciences
Paul W. Gabrielson, Gavin W. Maneveldt, Jeffery R. Hughey, Viviana Pena
Summary: Phylogenetic analyses of rbcL gene sequences and concatenated rbcL, psbA, and nuclear SSU rRNA gene sequences identified Lithothamnion muelleri and three other southern Australian species as the generitype of the genus Lithothamnion. Cold water boreal species previously classified in Lithothamnion were transferred to the newly described genus Boreolithothamnion, with B. glaciale as the generitype. The discussion emphasizes the importance of using phylogenetic analyses to understand and correctly classify non-geniculate corallines based on morpho-anatomical characters.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Takashi Hosoi, Aki Kato
Summary: Geniculate coralline algae in temperate waters have dense, carpet-like growth and are commonly found in intertidal rocky habitats or beneath canopy-forming seaweeds in shallow subtidal zones. This study determined the optimal growth conditions for sporelings of two dominant geniculate species in temperate waters around Japan, Amphiroa cf. zonata and Corallina berteroi. The growth temperatures for these two species were comparable to temperate seaweeds commonly found in the same region, but their upper critical temperatures were higher than temperate kelps and similar to other macroalgae. Differences in irradiance effects on growth were related to the species' distributions in their local coastal environments.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Valentina Alice Bracchi, Agostino Niyonkuru Meroni, Vivien Epis, Daniela Basso
Summary: The complexity and heterogeneity of rhodolith beds pose challenges to monitoring strategies and raise questions about the role of abiotic factors in controlling their diversity. Mollusk thanatocoenoses, which quickly respond to environmental conditions, can provide valuable insights into this heterogeneity. This research studied three different rhodolith beds from the Tyrrhenian Sea, and found that the study of mollusk thanatocoenoses can reveal the diversity within and among these beds.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sarah Caronni, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Fabrizio Atzori, Sandra Citterio, Nicoletta Cadoni, Rodolfo Gentili, Chiara Montagnani, Lara Assunta Quaglini, Daniela Basso
Summary: The study in the marine protected area of Capo Carbonara in Italy reveals that the green alga Caulerpa cylindracea is one of the most invasive and spread on rhodolith beds. However, data on the competitive interactions between C. cylindracea and rhodoliths are limited. By analyzing video frames from Remote Operated Vehicle records, the study shows that different rhodolith bed compositions and C. cylindracea cover exist in different MPA sites, indicating diverse competitive interactions between C. cylindracea and rhodoliths.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Antonietta Rosso, Gemma Donato, Rossana Sanfilippo, Donatella Serio, Francesco Sciuto, Francesco D'Alpa, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Mauro Pietro Negri, Daniela Basso
Summary: This study focuses on the epibiosis found on the bryozoan species Margaretta cereoides, which contributes to canopy formation on a coralligenous build-up. The researchers found that the diversity of epibionts on Margaretta cereoides is higher than on algae, possibly due to the morphology and persistence of the bryozoan's surface. In addition, the epibiont diversity on Margaretta cereoides is higher than reported for other Mediterranean species and Flustra foliacea from North Europe.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fabrizio Gianni, Eva Turicchia, Marco Abbiati, Barbara Calcinai, Annalisa Caragnano, Saul Ciriaco, Federica Costantini, Sara Kaleb, Luigi Piazzi, Stefania Puce, Stefano Querin, Fabio Rindi, Cosimo Solidoro, Vinko Bandelj, Massimo Ponti, Annalisa Falace
Summary: The North Adriatic Sea is a biodiversity hotspot with numerous biogenic subtidal reefs. This study investigated the spatial variability, epibenthic community structure, and environmental features of these reefs. The results showed high heterogeneity in species composition and geomorphological features, and identified three main types of benthic assemblages reflecting the coastal-offshore gradient.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Viviana Pena, Joseph L. Richards, Gary W. Saunders, Brenton Twist, Tracy Farr, Wendy A. Nelson
Summary: To resolve the uncertainty around taxonomic classification of Sporolithon species, targeted PCR sequencing was conducted on historical and recently collected specimens. The results confirmed the existence of distinct species and identified previously misclassified specimens. DNA sequencing of type specimens of coralline species was shown to be the most reliable method for accurate naming.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fernando Tuya, Nadine Schubert, Julio Aguirre, Daniela Basso, Eduardo O. Bastos, Flavio Berchez, Angelo F. Bernardino, Nestor E. Bosch, Heidi L. Burdett, Fernando Espino, Cindy Fernandez-Garcia, Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho, Patrick Gagnon, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Ricardo Haroun, Laurie C. Hofmann, Paulo A. Horta, Nicholas A. Kamenos, Line Le Gall, Rafael A. Magris, Sophie Martin, Wendy A. Nelson, Pedro Neves, Irene Olive, Francisco Otero-Ferrer, Viviana Pena, Guilherme H. Pereira-Filho, Federica Ragazzola, Ana Cristina Rebelo, Claudia Ribeiro, Eli Rinde, Kathryn Schoenrock, Joao Silva, Marina N. Sissini, Frederico T. S. Tamega
Summary: Global marine conservation is hindered by an imbalance in research efforts and policy actions, which limits progress towards sustainability. Rhodolith beds, despite their global ecological importance and numerous ecosystem functions, remain disproportionately understudied compared to other coastal ecosystems. The lack of information about these habitats and their ecosystem services hampers effective conservation measures, especially considering the severe pressures and threats they face. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize research on rhodolith beds, combat degradation, and protect biodiversity for the future.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sofie Vranken, Marine Robuchon, Stefanie Dekeyzer, Ignacio Barbara, Inka Bartsch, Aurelie Blanfune, Charles-Francois Boudouresque, Wim Decock, Christophe Destombe, Bruno de Reviers, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Anne Herbst, Romain Julliard, Rolf Karez, Priit Kersen, Stacy A. Krueger-Hadfield, Ralph Kuhlenkamp, Akira F. Peters, Viviana Pena, Cristina Pineiro-Corbeira, Fabio Rindi, Florence Rousseau, Jan Rueness, Hendrik Schubert, Kjersti Sjotun, Marta Sanson, Dan Smale, Thierry Thibaut, Myriam Valero, Leen Vandepitte, Bart Vanhoorne, Alba Verges, Marc Verlaque, Christophe Vieira, Line Le Gall, Frederik Leliaert, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: The study focuses on analyzing the biological and ecological traits of European seaweeds and organizing the data within a standardized framework. A trait database containing 45,175 records for 21 traits was created, providing valuable information for future research on seaweed diversity, evolution, and response to global changes. The data are publicly accessible and will contribute to the development of ecosystem models and marine conservation policies.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2023)
