Bibliographic Detail
West, J.A., Loiseaux de Goër, S. & Zuccarello, G.C., 2012
Reference:
West, J.A., Loiseaux de Goër, S. & Zuccarello, G.C. (2012). Upright Erythropeltidales (Rhodophyta) in Brittany, France and description of a new species, Erythrotrichia longistipitata. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 53: 255-270.
Abstract:
The Erythropeltidales are a ubiquitous group of red algae in the class Compsopogonophyceae. While their
presence in the wild is often evident their taxonomy is frequently problematic. We approached the diversity of the group in
northern Brittany, France by establishing unialgal cultures to find consistent characters and molecular methods to support
the taxonomic conclusions. Erythrotrichia longistipitata sp. nov. is distinguished from other Erythrotrichia species by the
elongate basal cell of erect filaments that is about 1.5-2.0 times longer than other intercalary cells. this species is
molecularly distinct from all other genetic lineages of Erythrotrichia we have investigated. Erythrotrichia welwitschii is
considered an obligate epiphyte of Ralfsia in the field, but in culture it grows well on glass. Monospores have bipolar
germination, forming a lobed basal cell and an upper cell that becomes an upright filament. the basal cell in E. welwitschii
becomes a multicellular disc from which secondary erect filaments can arise. Porphyrostromium boryanum has flat monostromatic
upright blades and probable spermatia, carpogonia, and syngamy were observed. the complete sexual life history
was not observed. Porphyrostromium ciliare with uniseriate and terete multiseriate upright shoots also produced probable
spermatia and carpogonia but again the complete sexual life history was not observed. observations of sex in the
erythropeltidales have never been completely resolved with the site of meiosis and the ploidy of various stages never fully
explained.
