The Life History of Lophothamnion hirtum (Hook. f. et Harv.) Womersley (Rhodophyta, Ceramiaceae) from Southern New Zealand
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J. Mei
Abstract
Lophothamnion hirtum is one of the most abundant red seaweeds on intertidal platforms in southern New Zealand. It forms distinct small patches scattered among large brown algae at mid and lower tidal levels from May (autumn) to November (spring), but isolated plants can be found in all months except mid-summer (February). This study describes its life history, which was previously unreported. Samples of Lophothamnion hirtum were collected monthly from field sites and examined microscopically. Laboratory cultures were grown for 4–5 months. L. hirtum does not show a Polysiphonia-type life history typically found amongst members of Ceramiales, either in culture or in its natural environment. Polyspores give rise to polysporophytes. No individual functional gametophytes were found. Plants bearing polysporangia, in addition to male and female gametophytes, occurred both in culture and in the field, and from such plants infertile carpospores were produced. Throughout the life of the plants in the field, regenerative cells grew mainly from lower determinate branches and such regenerative cells developed into whole plants. Photoperiod and temperature affected the development of regenerative cells in culture. These developed fastest at 24 h of daylight. Detached branchlets possessed rhizoidal filaments and had the ability to attach to substrata and regenerate. The vegetative reproduction of regenerative cells and detached branchlets clearly help in the dispersal and generational propagation of this species.
Copyright © 2003 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- To Gerald T. Boalch, with Our Gratitude
- Growth and Survival of the Invasive Green Alga Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in Tide Pools on a Rocky Shore in Nova Scotia
- Structure of the Macroalgal Community Associated with the Seagrass Halodule wrightii Ascherson in the Abrolhos Marine National Park, Brazil
- The Life History of Lophothamnion hirtum (Hook. f. et Harv.) Womersley (Rhodophyta, Ceramiaceae) from Southern New Zealand
- Gametangium-like Structures as Propagation Buds in Codium edule Silva (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)
- Ultrastructural Study of Zoosporogenesis in the Siphonous Green Alga Derbesia tenuissima (Chlorophyta)
- Schimmelmannia venezuelensis sp. nov. (Gloiosiphoniaceae, Rhodophyta) from Venezuela
- Fatty Acids of Species in the Genus Codium
- Rheological Characteristics of Fucoidan Isolated from Commercially Cultured Cladosiphon okamuranus
- Effects of Light, Salinity and Inorganic Nitrogen on Cell Growth and Spirolide Production in the Marine Dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Paulsen) Balech et Tangen
- Morphology of Prorocentrum minimum (Dinophyceae) in the Baltic Sea and in Chesapeake Bay: Comparison of Cell Shapes and Thecal Ornamentation
- Ordinal Placement of Selected Marine Dothideomycetes Inferred from Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Sequence Analysis
- Meetings
Articles in the same Issue
- To Gerald T. Boalch, with Our Gratitude
- Growth and Survival of the Invasive Green Alga Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in Tide Pools on a Rocky Shore in Nova Scotia
- Structure of the Macroalgal Community Associated with the Seagrass Halodule wrightii Ascherson in the Abrolhos Marine National Park, Brazil
- The Life History of Lophothamnion hirtum (Hook. f. et Harv.) Womersley (Rhodophyta, Ceramiaceae) from Southern New Zealand
- Gametangium-like Structures as Propagation Buds in Codium edule Silva (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)
- Ultrastructural Study of Zoosporogenesis in the Siphonous Green Alga Derbesia tenuissima (Chlorophyta)
- Schimmelmannia venezuelensis sp. nov. (Gloiosiphoniaceae, Rhodophyta) from Venezuela
- Fatty Acids of Species in the Genus Codium
- Rheological Characteristics of Fucoidan Isolated from Commercially Cultured Cladosiphon okamuranus
- Effects of Light, Salinity and Inorganic Nitrogen on Cell Growth and Spirolide Production in the Marine Dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Paulsen) Balech et Tangen
- Morphology of Prorocentrum minimum (Dinophyceae) in the Baltic Sea and in Chesapeake Bay: Comparison of Cell Shapes and Thecal Ornamentation
- Ordinal Placement of Selected Marine Dothideomycetes Inferred from Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Sequence Analysis
- Meetings
