Bibliographic Detail
Gavio, B., Reyes-Gómez, V.P. & Wynne, M.J., 2013
Reference:
Gavio, B., Reyes-Gómez, V.P. & Wynne, M.J. (2013). Crouania pumila sp. nov. (Callithamniaceae: Rhodophyta),
a new species of marine red algae from the Seaflower International
Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Colombia. Revista de Biología Tropical 61: 1015-1023.
Publication Date:
received 28 August 2013
Notes:
Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 61 (3): 1015-1023, September 2013
Abstract:
Crouania pumila sp. nov. (Callithamniaceae: Rhodophyta), una nueva especie de alga roja marina
de la Reserva Internacional de la Biosfera Seaflower, Caribe colombiano. In the Colombian Caribbean,
the marine macroalgal flora of the Seaflower International Biosphere Reserve has been little studied, despite its
ecological importance. Historical records have reported only 201 macroalgae species within its area of almost
350 000km2. However, recent surveys have shown a diversity of small algae previously overlooked. With the
aim to determine the macroalgal diversity in the Reserve, we undertook field surveys in different ecosystems:
coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky and sandy substrates, at different depths, from intertidal to 37m. During
these field surveys, we collected a small described species belonging to the genus Crouania (Callithamniaceae,
Rhodophyta), Crouania pumila sp. nov. that is decribed in this paper. This new species was distinguished from
other species of the genus by a distinctive suite of traits including its diminutive size (to only 3.5mm in length),
its decumbent, slightly calcified habit (epiphytic on other algae), its ramisympodial branching, the ecorticate
main axes, and the elongate shape of the terminal cells of the cortical filaments. The observations were provided
for both female (cystocarpic) and tetrasporangiate thalli; however, male thalli were not seen. Further studies have
to be undertaken in this Reserve in order to carry out other macroalgal analysis and descriptions. Rev. Biol. Trop.
61 (3): 1015-1023. Epub 2013 September 01.
