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Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic

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Published/Copyright: December 1, 2009
Botanica Marina
From the journal Volume 52 Issue 6

Abstract

This paper reviews the composition, biogeography and zonation of benthic algae in Arctic and Antarctic polar regions. There is a marked contrast in the literature between the amount of information on microalgae vs. macroalgae. Perhaps not surprising in view of their size and conspicuous nature, the macroalgae are better known than the microalgae and they have been studied more intensively. Macroalgal biodiversity is greater in Antarctica than in the Arctic, as is the number of endemic species. Both these characteristics of the Antarctic marine macroalgal flora can be explained by the biogeographical histories of the regions. In contrast, endemism amongst Arctic and Antarctic benthic microalgae is generally considered to be low; however, there is very little evidence to support this and further molecular research is needed to document and clarify the biodiversity of marine benthic microalgae of both polar regions. The zonation or local distribution of polar macroalgae and microalgae is influenced by physiological, morphological, chemical and ecological characteristics that determine responses to a range of environmental factors, including the ability to resist and survive algal grazing. Typically, the lower depth distribution limit elevates with increasing latitude.

Keywords: benthic macroalgae; benthic microalgae; biodiversity; geographic and depth distribution; polar regions
Corresponding author
Received: 2009-1-17
Accepted: 2009-4-27
Published Online: 2009-12-01
Published in Print: 2009-12-01

©2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Guest introduction
  2. Biology of polar benthic algae
  3. Environment, biogeography and biodiversity
  4. The abiotic environment of polar marine benthic algae
  5. Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic
  6. Notes on the systematics and biogeographical relationships of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Rhodophyta with descriptions of four new genera and five new species
  7. Chemical ecology
  8. Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers
  9. Field studies on deterrent properties of phlorotannins in Antarctic brown algae
  10. Primary production and ecophysiology
  11. Benthic microalgal production in the Arctic: applied methods and status of the current database
  12. Microphytobenthic biomass along gradients of physical conditions in Arctic Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
  13. Phenology and seasonal physiological performance of polar seaweeds
  14. Light and temperature demands of marine benthic microalgae and seaweeds in polar regions
  15. Freezing tolerance and photosynthetic performance of polar seaweeds at low temperatures
  16. Polar benthic algae in a changing world
  17. Impact of oceanic warming on the distribution of seaweeds in polar and cold-temperate waters
  18. Physiological responses of polar benthic algae to ultraviolet radiation
  19. Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
  20. Conclusion and outlook
  21. Future perspectives on the investigation of polar benthic algae
  22. Meetings
  23. Meetings
  24. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  25. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  26. Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  27. Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  28. Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  29. Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  30. Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  31. Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
https://doi.org/10.1515/BOT.2009.072
Keywords for this article
benthic macroalgae; benthic microalgae; biodiversity; geographic and depth distribution; polar regions

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Guest introduction
  2. Biology of polar benthic algae
  3. Environment, biogeography and biodiversity
  4. The abiotic environment of polar marine benthic algae
  5. Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic
  6. Notes on the systematics and biogeographical relationships of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Rhodophyta with descriptions of four new genera and five new species
  7. Chemical ecology
  8. Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers
  9. Field studies on deterrent properties of phlorotannins in Antarctic brown algae
  10. Primary production and ecophysiology
  11. Benthic microalgal production in the Arctic: applied methods and status of the current database
  12. Microphytobenthic biomass along gradients of physical conditions in Arctic Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
  13. Phenology and seasonal physiological performance of polar seaweeds
  14. Light and temperature demands of marine benthic microalgae and seaweeds in polar regions
  15. Freezing tolerance and photosynthetic performance of polar seaweeds at low temperatures
  16. Polar benthic algae in a changing world
  17. Impact of oceanic warming on the distribution of seaweeds in polar and cold-temperate waters
  18. Physiological responses of polar benthic algae to ultraviolet radiation
  19. Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
  20. Conclusion and outlook
  21. Future perspectives on the investigation of polar benthic algae
  22. Meetings
  23. Meetings
  24. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  25. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  26. Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  27. Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  28. Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  29. Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  30. Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  31. Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
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