Coralline red algae (Corallinales sensu lato) in the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula: current state of knowledge.

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Coralline red algae (Corallinales sensu lato) in the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula: current state of knowledge. Juan Lugilde1*, Viviana Peña1 and Ignacio Bárbara1 1 University of La Coruña, Animal Biology, Vegetal Biology & Ecology, Spain Coralline red algae (Corallinales sensu lato) are characterized by having cells walls composed of calcium carbonate. They have a worldwide distribution, and occur from the intertidal to 250 m depth. Moreover, their ecological role as ecosystem engineers promote and increase local diversity such as the biogenic habitats known as maerl beds and the Mediterranean coralligenous. This group exhibits a great morphological diversity although it was traditionally grouped under two broad morphologies: (a) articulated, with fronds alternating calcified and decalcified segments and (b) non-articulated, with thallus entirely calcified. From the systematic point of view, Corallinales sensu lato currently encompasses three orders (Corallinales, Hapalidiales and Sporolithales) containing 35 genera and 600 species recorded worldwide. However, at regional scale, the diversity of coralline red algae is little known mainly because the difficulty in overcoming the morphological plasticity of external features. In order to assess the current state of knowledge of Corallinales in the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, and compare it with adjacent Atlantic and Mediterranean areas, we reviewed information compiled from more than 250 publications, grey data and herbarium collections. Our results pointed out that the Atlantic Iberian coralline algae was scarcely studied, and it showed the lowest diversity. From 129 coralline taxa recorded, Macaronesia is the most species-rich region (71% of the total), followed by the Iberian Mediterranean (52%), the British Isles-Atlantic France (48)%, and the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula (37%). In our region, 17 species occurred commonly (> 50% of the coastline), particularly those corresponding to the genera Lithophyllum, Jania, Amphiroa, Mesophyllum and Phymatolithon. By contrast, other genera occasionally reported (Hydrolithon, Leptophytum, Lithothamnion and Pneophyllum) were probably overlooked and susceptible to appear by their presence in remaining adjacent regions. Regarding growth-form and habitat preferences of coralline red algae, our review indicated that the epilithic habit was dominant, followed by the epiphytic, epizoic and the unattached (maerl/rodoliths). Besides, sciaphilous taxa were more abundant than photophilous species. Lower intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats as well as semi-exposed shores or with current action harbor a high diversity of coralline algae, while rocky subtidal coasts are poor in species and probably overlooked. The present study confirms that the Atlantic Iberian coralline algae are scarcely studied, and further research is required, especially in those genera and habitats barely known. To overcome this gap of knowledge, we are conducting an extensive study of this group in Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula). Apart from improving the knowledge about this group in terms of diversity and systematics updating, we aimed to develop an illustrated and descriptive flora with species descriptions, habitat, distribution information, and keys to facilitate their identification by the Atlantic Iberian scientific community. Keywords: Coralline algae, diversity, habitat, review, Atlantic Iberian, Galicia. Conference: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies, Porto, Portugal, 5 Sep - 9 Sep, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: 1. ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY AND VULNERABLE ECOSYSTEMS Citation: Lugilde J, Peña V and Bárbara I (2016). Coralline red algae (Corallinales sensu lato) in the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula: current state of knowledge.. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.05.00136 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 26 Apr 2016; Published Online: 03 Sep 2016. * Correspondence: PhD. Juan Lugilde, University of La Coruña, Animal Biology, Vegetal Biology & Ecology, La Coruña, La Coruña, 15001, Spain, juan.lugilde@udc.es Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Juan Lugilde Viviana Peña Ignacio Bárbara Google Juan Lugilde Viviana Peña Ignacio Bárbara Google Scholar Juan Lugilde Viviana Peña Ignacio Bárbara PubMed Juan Lugilde Viviana Peña Ignacio Bárbara Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.