Ceramium nitens (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta), an uncommon species from Brazil

Abstract

-(Ceramium nitens (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta), an uncommon species from Brazil). Morphological studies on Ceramium nitens (C. Agardh) J. Agardh, a completely corticated species, were carried out based on specimens rediscovered in Brazil fifty years after its first record. Its occurrence in Brazil was considered doubtful since it had been collected only once since 1945. Ceramium nitens can be recognized by having axial cells entirely covered by cortical cells, except for the cells near the apex, obscuring the nodal and internodal banding thalli, characteristic of most Ceramium species. In this paper the occurrence of Ceramium nitens in Brazil is confirmed and its vegetative and tetrasporangial structures are described in detail and their implications for the taxonomy of the genera Ceramium, Centroceras and Corallophila are discussed. Brief comments on the geographic distribution of C. nitens are also included.RESUMO -(Ceramium nitens (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta), uma espécie incomum no Brasil). Estudos morfológicos em Ceramium nitens (C. Agardh) J. Agardh, uma espécie inteiramente corticada, foram desenvolvidos baseados nos espécimes redescobertos no Brasil após 50 anos. Ceramium nitens tinha sido coletada apenas uma vez, em 1945. Sua ocorrência em águas brasileiras tinha sido considerada duvidosa. C. nitens pode ser reconhecida pela presença de células axiais inteiramente cobertas pelas corticais, exceto nas células próximas ao ápice, obscurecendo o talo com nós corticados e entrenós sem corticação, característico da maioria das espécies de Ceramium. A ocorrência de Ceramium nitens no Brasil é confirmada e o desenvolvimento das estruturas vegetativas e tetrasporangiais da espécie é apresentada, fornecendo subsídios para discussão da implicação dessas características na taxonomia dos gêneros Ceramium, Centroceras e Corallophila. Uma breve discussão sobre a distribuição geográfica de Ceramium nitens foi incluída.

MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS OF CERAMIUM AND CENTROCERAS (CERAMIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA) FROM BRAZIL1

“…3, e and f), whereas Corallophila species have better developed basipetal than acropetal filaments (Norris 1993, Cho et al 2000). As previously noted for Brazilian C. nitens by Fujii et al (2001), cortical cells are rounded and irregularly arranged (Fig. 3, b–e) in contrast to Corallophila species in which they are rectangular and form both longitudinal and transverse rows (Norris 1993, Cho et al 2000).…”

“…In Brazil, very few taxonomic studies have focused on Ceramium (Barreto and Yoneshigue 2001, Fujii et al 2001, Carneiro et al 2004). Although the genus is included in some excellent algal floras (Joly 1957, 1965, Oliveira‐Filho 1969, Yoneshigue‐Braga 1972, Ugadim, 1973, Falcão et al 1992, Arantes et al 1995, Reis and Yoneshigue‐Valentin 1996, Figueiredo‐Creed and Yoneshigue‐Valentin 1997, Gestinari et al 1998, Oliveira‐Filho and Horta 2005), these morphological studies generally provide insufficient information on cortication to permit species delimitation in this problematic genus.…”

“…C. nitens (Table 3, Fig. 3, a–g) is one of only two completely corticated species of Ceramium recorded for Brazil, and has a tropical to subtropical distribution (Fujii et al 2001). Its vegetative morphological features resemble Ceramium rather than Corallophila .…”

First record of a ceramiaceous red algal species, Ceramium stichidiosum, from magellanic region, chile

“…The genus is characterized by great specific diversity with more than 191 species described all over the world (Boo & Lee 1994, Barreto & Yoneshigue-Valentin 2001, Fujii et al 2001, Cho et al 2003. Furthermore, the genus presents a great morphological variability and taxonomic instability in red algae (Womersley 1978, Boo & Lee 1994, Maggs & Hommersand 1993, Fujii et al 2001.…”

“…The genus is characterized by great specific diversity with more than 191 species described all over the world (Boo & Lee 1994, Barreto & Yoneshigue-Valentin 2001, Fujii et al 2001, Cho et al 2003. Furthermore, the genus presents a great morphological variability and taxonomic instability in red algae (Womersley 1978, Boo & Lee 1994, Maggs & Hommersand 1993, Fujii et al 2001. The most prominent taxonomical characteristics of the genus are the nodal cortication patterns from periaxial cells at upper ends of axial cells forming partial or complete investment; the number and formation pattern of the periaxial cells and their derivatives, apex form, and tetrasporangial patterns (Nakamura 1965, Itono 1972, Boo 1993, Maggs & Hommersand 1993, Boo & Lee 1994, Athanasiadis 1996.…”