Chloropelta Tanner, 1980

Holotype species: Chloropelta caespitosa Tanner

Currently accepted name for the type species: Ulva tanneri H.S.Hayden & Waaland

Original publication and holotype designation: Tanner, C.E. (1980). Chloropelta gen. nov., an ulvaceous green alga with a different type of development. Journal of Phycology 16(1): 128-137, 48 figs, 2 tables.

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Description: Mature thallus funnel-shaped or flattened distromatic blade arising from central, peltate holdfasts; larger blades frequently split to holdfast. Holdfast and a circular area of blades surrounding holdfast composed of rhizoidal cells. Blades from a few mm to 60 mm or more in diameter and ranging in thickness from 17 µm thick near the margin, 30-35 µm towards the center of the blade, to 95 µm or more near the base. Cells in surface view angular, irregular and randomly arranged, and between 4 and 29 µm across. Cells in sectional view nearly isodiametric. Single parietal chloroplast with 1 to 3 pyrenoids. Sporangia formed from vegetative cells along the blade margins, each sporangium producing 8-16 pear-shaped quadriflagellated zoospores, 7-12 µm long. Swarmers released one at a time through a small pore in the outer wall of the parental cell. Zoospores initially positively phototactic, but quickly becoming negatively phototactic. Sexual reproduction unknown, although biflagellated swarmers have been observed. Zoospores germinate into uniseriate filaments attached by a basal rhizoidal cell. Germlings later become pluriseriate by repeated longitudinal cell divisions perpendicular to the surface of the filament. Separation of cells along the longitudinal axis lead to the development of a clavate, saccate germling with walls one cell thick. A division of each cell of the monostromatic cell layer in a plane parallel to the germling surface produces a saccate germling with walls two cells thick. Degeneration of the apical end of saccate germling results in funnel-shaped, distromatic thallus. Epilithic or epiphytic, forming dense clumps or tufted mats in the upper intertidal zone of exposed beaches. This monospecific genus only known from southwestern North America along the coast of southern California and Baja California where it often grows mixed with Ulva californica. Older thalli are frequently split to the base and nearly indistinguishable from Ulva. Early developmental patterns and method of spore release are similar to Enteromorpha, Ulva and Ulvaria, but Chloropelta differs in later developmental stages. In Ulva a distromatic blade forms by the collapse and adhesion of the monostromatic walls of the tubular germling. In Chloropelta cells of the tubular germling divide once in a plane parallel to the surface to form a distromatic, tubular thallus. Rupture of the tubular thallus resembles that of Ulvaria.

Information kindly contributed by C. Tanner but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of .

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Hayden, H.S., Blomster, J., Maggs, C.A., Silva, P.C., Stanhope, M.J. & Waaland, J.R. (2003). Linnaeus was right all along: Ulva and Enteromorpha are not distinct genera. European Journal of Phycology 38(3): 277-294, 4 figs, 5 tables.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 October 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024