Hildenbrandia Rivularis Research Articles

The influence of temperature on oxygen uptake of red alga Hildenbrandia rivularis – the next step of the indicatory potential revision

Hildenbrandia rivularis belongs to the freshwater red algae and is cosmopolitan. In some European countries, this species is protected, e.g., in Poland, where it mainly inhabits highly oxygenated, fast-flowing ecosystems. This alga is often considered both a bioindicator of oligotrophic waters and a relatively rare species in Europe. However, the expansion and ecological tolerance of H. rivularis have increased over the last decades; thus, there is an urgent call to retest its environmental optima and significance for bioindicative potential. In this paper, H. rivularis from Welna River (Poland) growing on hard substrates was tested. In addition to genetic, microscopic, and physicochemical analyses, we also delivered for the first time the relationship between the transient temperature changes (15 – 45 °C, with 5 °C intervals) and oxygen uptake of H. rivularis (based on ex situ measurements of O2 consumption by thalli). Interestingly, for the eurythermal H. rivularis, at the lowest temperature (15 °C) treatment, the O2 uptake was undetectable, but the respiratory rate reached maximal velocity at the two highest temperatures (40 and 45 °C). Importantly, the respiration of this alga was relatively stable across temperature gradient 20 – 35 °C. This observation could explain why this species has been disappearing from colder waters of uplands and mountains and started to prefer warmer lowland water ecosystems. The further increase in global warming can significantly accelerate this tendency, thus causing a significant change in the H. rivularis distribution pattern known from the previous literature. Finally, our research sheds new light on the bioindicative potential of H. rivularis.

Brown and red shades in the riverbed of the Nera River (Serbia) – update on the distribution and ecology of the association Hildenbrandio rivularis–Heribaudielletum fluviatilis Fritsch 1929 corr. Täuscher 2020 in Southeastern Europe

Heribaudiella fluviatilis (Areschoug) Svedelius is one of the rare representatives of freshwater brown algae, and its range is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Hildenbrandia rivularis (Liebmann) J. Agardh is still one of the endangered red algae species in Europe, although its indicator value and distribution have recently been questioned. The association Hildenbrandio rivularis– Heribaudielletum fluviatilis Fritsch 1929 corr. Täuscher 2020 occurs mainly in Northern and Central Europe, while its occurrence and ecology in Southern Europe are poorly researched. The lower reaches of the Nera River near the small town of Bela Crkva, Serbia, were searched for macroalgae in August 2021 and June 2022, when stones with macroalgal crusts were collected. Environmental parameters were measured in situ and water samples were collected for further analysis. A sample of the epilithic diatom community was collected to calculate diatom indices. We present the occurrence of the association Hildenbrandio rivularis–Heribaudielletum fluviatilis in the lower course of the Nera River in Serbia, relating the ecology of the species and habitat to previous findings from the Southeast European region. We discuss potential indicator values of macroalgae associations, rather than of a single species.

The red alga Hildenbrandia rivularis is a weak indicator of the good ecological status of riverine habitats

Our knowledge about the size of benthic red alga populations inhabiting European freshwater ecosystems is still insufficient. For many years, in Europe, Hildenbrandia rivularis (Rhodophyta, Hildenbrandiaceae) was believed to be a very rare species of crustaceous red algae, valuable for oligotrophic system biomonitoring. In this paper, we challenge this assumption and show the phenomenon of H. rivularis expansion (i.e., from mountains and highlands to lowlands) in Europe based on detailed data from Poland. We collected over 311 records of H. rivularis occurring in rivers, streams and lakes (not typical habitats for this alga) across the country, including historical data. Here, we show the detailed distribution of this endangered species in Poland, one of the largest European countries. To examine the mechanism of H. rivularis population expansion, physicochemical data from 122 aquatic ecosystems were investigated. A comparison between three subperiods (1860–1944, 1945–1999, and 2000–2019) revealed an increase in the average abundance of the H. rivularis population in the lowlands area. However, the studied species seems to be disappearing in mountain and upland ecosystems. We found altitude and water flow and quality (i.e., alkalinity, oxygenation and biogens) to be the main determinants of H. rivularis occurrence within the study area. The results indicate that this red alga can be described as an expansive species, and its occurrence does not always indicate good water quality and fast water flow. Surprisingly, in contrast to observations from the last century, the population of H. rivularis in Poland currently occurs mainly in habitats with eu- and hypertrophic waters. We point out here that in the zone with temperate climate influence, H. rivularis is no longer an obvious indicator for oligotrophic ecosystems. We suggest that climate warming and eutrophication–reoligotrophication may have contributed to the increased spread of H. rivularis in Europe over recent decades. In addition, we see no reason to classify H. rivularis as an endangered species in Poland. This species most often inhabits anthropogenic water systems and occurs at high abundance in waters with high concentrations of biogens. For these reasons, H. rivularis is more ubiquitous than a cosmopolitan species (i.e., with a wide range of occurrence but associated with only a specific type of habitat and specific environmental parameters). Thus, the value of H. rivularis as a bioindicator for oligotrophic water ecosystems is very low.

Spotting the Spots: The Freshwater Brown Alga Heribaudiella fluviatilis (Areschoug) Svedelius within Stream Communities of Southeastern Europe

This paper reports the occurrence of the freshwater brown alga Heribaudiella fluviatilis (Areschoug) Svedelius in four new localities in southeastern Europe, as well as the first records for Croatia. Additionally, we report here a new type of substrate for H. fluviatilis, on stones in karstic rivers characterized by tufa formations. Despite a generally low number of findings, this and previous studies indicate that the species is not as rare as generally perceived; rather, it is overlooked, under-collected and therefore under-reported. The paper provides detailed diagnostic features of the thalli and habitats where the alga was found, with notes on corresponding vegetation, physical conditions and water chemistry. Additionally, along with the new records of the red alga Hildenbrandia rivularis (Liebmann) J. Agardh in Croatia, the associations of Heribaudiella-Hildenbrandia are reported for streams of Black Sea and Adriatic basins.

Origin and evolutionary history of freshwater Rhodophyta: further insights based on phylogenomic evidence

Freshwater representatives of Rhodophyta were sampled and the complete chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes were determined. Characteristics of the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes were analyzed and phylogenetic relationship of marine and freshwater Rhodophyta were reconstructed based on the organelle genomes. The freshwater member Compsopogon caeruleus was determined for the largest chloroplast genome among multicellular Rhodophyta up to now. Expansion and subsequent reduction of both the genome size and GC content were observed in the Rhodophyta except for the freshwater Compsopogon caeruleus. It was inferred that the freshwater members of Rhodophyta occurred through diverse origins based on evidence of genome size, GC-content, phylogenomic analysis and divergence time estimation. The freshwater species Compsopogon caeruleus and Hildenbrandia rivularis originated and evolved independently at the inland water, whereas the Bangia atropurpurea, Batrachospermum arcuatum and Thorea hispida are derived from the marine relatives. The typical freshwater representatives Thoreales and Batrachospermales are probably derived from the marine relative Palmaria palmata at approximately 415–484 MYA. The origin and evolutionary history of freshwater Rhodophyta needs to be testified with more organelle genome sequences and wider global sampling.

Exploring the contrasting seasonal strategies of two crenic macroalgae

Most studies on springs assumed stability, and reduced seasonal changes in the biota. We focused on two macroalgae (the rhodophyte Hildenbrandia rivularis and the chrysophyte Hydrurus foetidus) to unveil their seasonal-development patterns in springs. H. rivularis cover remained virtually constant throughout the year, although seasonal fluctuations in ecophysiological parameters were detected. The most important determinant of seasonal changes in H. rivularis was shown to be the complex interplay between solar radiation (day length) and shading. Negative cross-correlation between Chl-a and shading was found to be significant but with a time lag. H. foetidus seasonal changes were evident both at the macroscopic level and in ecophysiological parameters. Interestingly, it occurred throughout the year in the spring whilst it completely disappeared in summer in a nearby glacial stream. Unexpectedly, variability of ecophysiological parameters (coefficients of variation) was shown to be 15-20% higher in H. rivularis than in H. foetidus.

Factors Determining the Distribution of Reophil and ProtectedHildenbrandia rivularis(Liebmann) J. Agardh 1851, the Rhodophyta Freshwater Species, in Lowland River Ecosystems

ABSTRACT: The relationships of Hildenbrandia rivularis (Rhodophyta), the species composition of its surroundings detailed environmental variables (water chemistry and hydrological, morphological and bottom features) in a lowland river (Welna river, Western Poland) was investigated. H. rivularis from 40 stands was tested together with 25 environmental variables and vegetation. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to describe the relations between the species composition and the selected variables. The uniqueness of this protected species is an ability of formation incrustation on rocks but also coexistence with two groups of species: other algae and vascular plants. In study twenty-two plant taxa were recorded in 40 vegetation plots, including 4 macroscopic algae, 2 mosses and 16 vascular plants. The most common H. rivularis co-occurred with Leptodictyum riparium, Fontinalis antipyretica and Nuphar lutea. Most of the studied plots with red algae were characterised...

Diversity, Ecology and Survivor of Freshwater Red Algae in Israel

From 1950s till now only seven species of Rhodophyta were recorded from continental waters of Israel. Among them, the most abundant are the species of Audouinella that inhabit fresh or brackish waters of lakes, pools and rivers. Our findings of two species of this genus inhabiting the fresh clear water Oren River, the middle reaches of the polluted Qishon River (A. pygmaea (Kutz.) Weber-van Bosse)), as well as the middle reaches of the strongly impacted Lower Jordan River (A. hermannii (Roth) Duby in De Candolle). These findings led us to conclude the latter species preferred low to moderate salinity and a high calcium concentration and is relatively resistant to organic pollution. Bangia atropurpurea (Mertens ex Roth) C. Agardh and Hildenbrandia rivularis (Liebmann) J. Agardh are the sensitive species sporadically observed in a few habitats only and preferring the slightly mineralized slow streaming carbonate waters with insignificant organic pollution. Batrachospermum gelatinosum (Linnaeus) De Candolle is only one new for Israel species that has been found in the Meshushim stream. The likewise sensitive Phragmonema sordidum Zopf is consider as a lost species because of the loss of habitat. We do not confirm finding of red algae Paralemanea catenata (Kutzing) Vis et Sheath in the Banias stream.

Bentoso dumblių bendrijos skirtingos vandens kokybės Lietuvos upėse

Straipsnyje pateikti 2004–2006 m. duomenys apie bentoso dumblių bendrijas skirtingos vandens kokybės Lietuvos upėse. Skirtingos vandens kokybės upėse daugiausia dominuoja Cladophora glomerata–Vaucheria sessilis–Fontinalis antipyretica dumblių samanų bendrija. Skirtingos vandens kokybės upių būklę geriau rodo bendrijose vietomis gausiai besivystančios dumblių rūšys. Švarių vandens telkinių – Hildenbrandia rivularis, Audouinella chalybea ir A. hermanii; mažai užterštų – Vaucheria sessilis ir Fontinalis antipyretica; vidutiniškai užterštų Stigeoclonium nanum, S. tenue, Aulacoseira islandica ir Melosira varians. Skirtingos vandens kokybės ir atskirų upių išilginiame pjūvyje bentoso dumblių bendrijų struktūra kito. Tai galėjo lemti substrato heterogeniškumas, vandens tekėjimo greičio, upės gylio, šviesos intensyvumo bei pagrindinių biogenų koncentracijos pokyčiai.

Hildenbrandia rivularis (Rhodophyta) in central Poland

Freshwater red algae <em>Hildenbrandia rivularis</em> has been noted for the first time in central Poland near the Lodz agglomeration. Until now, this alga was recorded only in mountain and Polish Lowland areas. The wide range of habitat conditions influencing the occurrence for this protected species has been determined in the spring niche. The possible threat to habitat where <em>H. rivularis</em> occurs, is connected with construction and exploitation of the A2 highway.

Relation of Pleurocapsa cuprea Hansgirg to the genus Hildenbrandia (Rhodophyta)

L. Caisová and J. Kopecký. 2008. Relation of Pleurocapsa cuprea Hansgirg to the genus Hildenbrandia (Rhodophyta). Phycologia 47: 404–415. DOI: 10.2116/07-70.1Pleurocapsa cuprea Hansgirg 1892 was described as a cyanobacterial species from mountain streams in the southern Tyrol and Bohemia, and commonly identified from natural localities. Diagnostic features include a verrucose surface and copper colour of the colonies, with occasional occurrence of pseudodichotomic branching of the thallus. Natural material of P. cuprea was studied recently and compared with the type material from a collection of cryptogams (Natural History Museum Vienna). The morphology of its macroscopic red patches (colonies) and cells in particular are similar those of the rhodophyte Hildenbrandia rivularis. This paper presents a comparison of morphological and molecular characters of P. cuprea and H. rivularis and the partial molecular sequence data of P. cuprea. It also reports results from 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, transmission electron microscope analyses and analyses of pigments. According to the results of variable analyses, P. cuprea is an eucaryotic alga and should be classified to the Rhodophyta, close to the group of the freshwater species of the genus Hildenbrandia as a special species of this genus. The relationships between P. cuprea and H. rivularis are discussed.

New Finding of Species Hildenbrandia Rivularis (Liebmann) J. Agardh 1851 (Rhodophyta) in Serbia

ABSTRACTThe paper presents the first record of freshwater red alga Hildenbrandia rivularis (Liebm.) J. Ag. in Serbia and a new finding of this rare species on the Balkan Peninsula. Hildenbrandia rivularis has been included in the red lists of rare and threatened algae in some Europe countries.

Makrophyten-Verbreitung und Standortqualität im eutrophen Björka-Kävlinge-Fluss (Skåne, Südschweden)

The aquatic macrophyte vegetation of the Björka-Kävlinge River (Skåne, South Sweden, Fig. 1) was investigated in 1997 and 1998. By nature, this river has a meso- to eutrophic character. Furthermore, the river has a high structural running water quality and a high species diversity over long distances. Its catchment area is dominated by agriculture and characterized by fertile calcareous soils. 219 river sections of 100–500 m length (overall length 69,950 m = 85.7% of the whole river length) between Vollsjöby and the mouth of the river into the Baltic Sea were cartographically recorded and investigated (Fig. 2). In these sections all vascular hydrophytes, amphiphytes, helophytes and some haptophytes were recorded. For the vegetation survey and evaluation of the results the methods described in Kohler & Janauer (1995) were used. The “index species” of the “limes scanicus” (H. & G. Weimarck 1985) Butomus umbellatus, Sium latifolium and others with their wide area of distribution are characteristic plants for this river type. Some plant species groups, resp. some species, show characteristic distribution patterns in the course of the river: Hildenbrandia rivularis group, Potamogeton lucens group, Zostera marina group etc. Due to the species features a classification of four floristic-ecological river zones was made (zones A to D). The distribution of the macrophyte species was also characterized by a set of quantitative parameters which are “Relative Range Length”, “Average Plant Quantity” and “Average Quantitiy Index”, respectively (Figs. 3–5). Both, the plant distribution as well as the sequences of the floristic zones are less to be seen as a consequence of a trophic gradient, but as a consequence of different river dynamics of velocity of flow, sediment quality as well as of salt water influence. The diagnostic features also served to determine the relation between plant distribution and environmental factors (shading, cattle grazing). Hildenbrandia rivularis mainly occurs in shaded areas, Elodea canadensis in unshaded ones. In sections influenced by cattle tracks there is an increased occurrence of Alopecurus geniculatus, Agrostis stolonifera and Glyceria fluitans. The reasons for the high species diversity of this eutrophic river are a relatively high water quality, a high amount of habitat structures, a variety of vegetational structures and various land use patterns in the surrounding area. Recommendations for the preservation and the improvement of the ecological conditions are made. For the conservation of the biological diversity of the river, hydraulic engineering measures should be avoided. Along considerable river sections suffering from cattle grazing, vegetation could be achieved by partial exclusion of the cattle, and in some sections buffer zones along the river should be established.

Inorganic carbon acquisition by aquatic photolithoatrophs of the Dighty Burn, Angus, U.K.: uses and limitations of natural abundance measurements of carbon isotopes.

The 13 C/12 C ratio (expressed as δ13 C) of benrhic photolithotrophs. in the Dighn Water (= Burn) were measured fur comparison with that of the potential inorganic carhun sources. CO2 and HCO3 - , in the Burn. The Burn water contains an average of 65.7 mmol m-3 CO2 with δ13 C of -14.7% and 1600 mmol m-3 HCO3 - with δ13 C of -4.%. δ13 C values of riparian vegetation were also measured as contributors, after respiration in the soil or the Burn, to the δ13 C of inorganic carbon in the Burn. The potential range of differences in 13 C/12C between dissolved CO2 and plant organic C is set by the intrinsic 13 c/12 C discrimination (α value) in CO2 fixation by Rubisco. Main results and conclusions are. as follows, (i) A literature survey suggests that there is no convincing evidence that the α, Values (rate constant for 12 CO2 fixation relative to that for 13 CO2 fixation by Rubisco in the absence of CO2 transport limitation) for the'lower plants'in the Burn (diatoms, green and red algae, mosses) are significantly different from the well-established αp values for the flowering plum enzyme. (ii) In confirmation of earlier work, the semi-erect 'streamer'gametophytes of the red alga Lemanea mamillosa and the moss Fontinalis antipyetica have δ13 C values which can only be interpreted in terms of diffusive CO2 entry with minimal limitation of photosynthesis by CO- diffusion, (iii) The serui-erect grren alga Cladophora glomerata and the flowering plant Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitons (formerly var. calcareus) are- both able to use HCO3 - . Their δ13 C values indicate that, if the HCO3 - -use system does not (as is likely) discriminate significantly between 13 C and 12 C, then a substantial fraction of the inorganic C made available to Rubisco must return to the medium, carrying 13 C-inorganic C not fixed by Rubisco. (iv) Two sets of δ13 C data from different hydrodynamic regimes distance from leading edge of a flat stone; different size of thalli) show that the attainable differences in situ in thickness of the diffusion boundary layer do not alter the fractional limitation of photosynthesis of Cladophora by external diffusion of inorganic C, considered with HCO3 use. (vi) The entrusting red alga Hildenbrandia rivularis has a δ13 C value suggestive of CO2 as the inorganic C source, but not entirely ruling nut HCO3 - . Marine species of both Hildenbrundia and Cladophora have δ13 C values which, even when corrected for source inorganic C δ13 C values, are 10%, more positive than the freshwater species. (vii) Mats of pennate diatoms were shown by pH-drift to by able to use HCO3 - ; the relatively high (i.e. not very negative) δ12 C value of these mats could relate to a relatively'non-leaky'HCO3 - aequisition mechanism and/or to limitation by external diffusion (e.g. through the mat).

Regeneration of Floodplain Biotopes on the Upper Rhine – The “Polder Altenheim” Case

The floodplain of the Upper Rhine and its biocoenoses have, through different river-regulatory activities over the last 175 years, undergone large scale degradation. At the same time flood protection for the downstream inhabitants has been greatly reduced. For reasons of flood protection, the “Polder Altenheim” in Baden-Württemberg, Germany southwest of Strasbourg, France, with so called retention flooding, was put into operation in 1987. The original floodplain had been diked for the previous 17 years, during which no flooding occurred. Since 1989 “ecological flooding” also is carried out. This has assisted in the regeneration of floodplain biotopes and promoted the floodplain biotic communities and the readaption of the bioceonosis to a regular flooding regime. The creation of new floodplain biotopes of early succession stages, particularly through geomorphodynamic processes, has followed the more than ten flood ocassions and typical biotic communities have colonised these sites. This will be presented together with selected examples of terrestrial and limnical species and communities. The following species and communities will be discussed: kingfisher Alcedo atthis, carabid communities (Coleoptera), the red alga Hildenbrandia rivularis (Rhodophyceae), the freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis (Neritacea) and the freshwater bug Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Hydrocorisae).

AN EXPANDED SURVEY OF THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF RED ALGAL PIT PLUGS1

ABSTRACTThe fine structure of pit plugs in 90 species of red algae was examined, bringing the total number of species in the continuing survey to 153. The organization of plug caps was confirmed to be a stable, predictable trait within thalli, between generations in heteromorphic life histories, and within the presently recognized orders, with one exception—the Acrochaetiales. Two forms of the outer cap were found in this group, a thin plate, as in the Nemaliales and Palmariales, and a dome, as in Batrachospermales and Corallinales. Variation of pit plug structure indicates that the Acrochaetiales are a heterogeneous assemblage and that pit plugs will be useful in reappraising their systematics. The systematic affinities of several species of uncertain affinities are clarified. Schmitziella endophloea Bornet et Batters is excluded from both orders, Corallinales and Acrochaetiales, with which it previously was allied. Although other ordinal attributions are not precluded by pit plug structure alone, pit plug structure is consistent with placement of Apophlaea sinclairii Harvey and Hildenbrandia rivularis (Liebman) J. Agardh in the Hildenbrandiales, Plagiospora gracilis Kuckuck, Schmitziella endophloea, and Wurdemannia miniata (Duby) J. Feldmann et Hamel in the Gigartinales, and Pseudorhododiscus nipponicus Masuda in the Palmariales.

Survey of freshwater red algae (Rhodophyta) of south-eastern Australia

A survey of rivers and other freshwater habitats in south-eastern Australia has resulted in the description and illustration of 14 species and two forms of red algae. With the exception of the two species of Nothocladus, all the taxa appear to be widespread in warm to cool temperate regions of the world. Three of the species [Chroodactylon ornatum (C.Ag.) Basson, Caloglossa leprieurii (Mont.) J.Ag. and Bostrychia scorpioides (Gmel.) Montagne] occur in brackish and marine habitats, as well as in fresh water. Two species [Hildenbrandia rivularis (Liebm.) J.Ag. and Audouinella hermannii Roth] are members of fundamentally marine genera that have one or a few distinct freshwater representatives. The remaining taxa belong to the genus Compsopogon (Compsopogonaceae, Erythropeltidales) and the family Batrachospermaceae (Nemaliales), which have no marine representatives and probably evolved in fresh water. This latter group consists of Compsopogon coeruleus (Balb.) Montagne, Batrachosperrnum atrum (Huds.) Harvey, B. ectocarpum Sirodot, B. Helminthoideum (Sirod.) Mori (two forms), B. keratophytum Bory, B. virgato-decaisneanum Sirodot, Sirodotia suecica Kylin (two forms), Nothocladus nodosus Skuja and N. lindaueri Skuja. The survey has added six new records to the Australian freshwater red algal flora. Nothocladus nodosus Skuja and N. tasmanicus Skuja are synonymized; N. lindaueri Skuja, previously recorded only from New Zealand, was found to be widely distributed in Victoria. Taxonomic characters in the genus Batrachospermum from Australia, the largest and most difficult group of species encountered, are reviewed.

Notes on freshwater red algae from West Malaysia

This paper deals with a collection of freshwater red algae from Peninsular Malaysia. Five species and one variety of them,Ballia pinnulata, Batrachospermum beraense, B. cylindrocellulare, B. tortuosum, Caloglossa ogasawaraensis var.latifolia andTuomeya gibberosa are described here as new taxa and the other three species,Batrachospermum vagum, Hildenbrandia rivularis andSirodotia delicatula are recorded here for the first time from Malaysia.

CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF HILDENBRANDIA RIVULARIS FROM DENMARK AND NORTH AMERICA

Hildenbrandia rivularis was collected in Denmark and the United States. The life history of this encrusting red alga is described on the basis of unialgal cultures maintained for more than 2 years. Significant changes in cellular and colonial morphology are reported. Events of the life history (i.e., reproduction by stolons, fragmentation, or gemmae; and manner of branching) which were previously in question or unknown are clarified. Mechanism(s) of certain morphogenetic phenomena remain obscure (cell wall and plastid ontogeny). These and related problems are now under investigation. Hildenbrandia should be added to the freshwater algal flora of the United States.