Nongeniculate coralline red algae (Rhodophyta: Corallinales) in coral reefs from Northeastern Brazil and a description of Neogoniolithon atlanticum sp. nov.

Abstract

A taxonomic reassessment of coralline algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) associated with reef environments in the Abrolhos Bank, northeastern Brazil, was developed based on extensive historical samples dating from 1999-2009 and a critical evaluation of type material. Our goal was to update the taxonomic status of the main nongeniculate coral reef-forming species. Our results show that four species are the main contributors to the living cover of coral reefs in the Abrolhos Bank: Lithophyllum stictaeforme, Neogoniolithon atlanticum sp. nov., Porolithon pachydermum and Spongites fructiculosus.Comparison of the type material to modern collections has shown that Lithophyllum congestum is a heterotypic synonym of L. stictaeforme. However, L. stictaeforme and P. pachydermum were the most abundant species at the studied sites, a finding consistent with other coral reefs in the region. This is the first record of S. fructiculosus in the southwestern Atlantic. This review provides the baseline data needed for the monitoring and management of the southernmost limits of coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Mediterranean Lithophyllum stictiforme (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) is a genetically diverse species complex: implications for species circumscription, biogeography and conservation of coralligenous habitats

“…The only non-Mediterranean regions from which this complex can be presently confirmed are the Canary Islands (L. lobatum) and North Carolina, USA (L. searlesii). Morphologybased reports of L. stictiforme from New Zealand and Brazil, for which the taxonomic identity was assessed by DNA sequences (Broom et al 2008, Tamega et al 2014, were shown to be incorrect (Hernandez-Kantun et al 2016). We also believe that records from Australia (Huisman 2000) and Tanzania (Oliveira et al 2005) are unlikely to represent members of the complex.…”

Colonization, Growth and Productivity of Crustose Coralline Algae in Sunlit Reefs in the Atlantic Southernmost Coral Reef

“…L. stictaeforme also had thickness (vertical) growth measured but in P. onkodes only marginal (horizontal) growth was measured as it was considered that vertical growth was not sufficient to be detected in this species during such a short deployment time. CCA species were identified following Tâmega et al (2014).…”

“…Among the most important reef builders on the Atlantic Ocean are the CCA Porolithon onkodes (Heydrich) Foslie and Lithophyllum stictaeforme (J.E. Areschoug) Hauck, which form algal crests on reefs edges (Adey, 1975;Steneck and Adey, 1976;Tâmega et al, 2014;Spotorno-Oliveira et al, 2015). These two coralline species have distinct growth forms: P. onkodes is encrusting and L. stictaeforme has branched thalli.…”

“…These two coralline species have distinct growth forms: P. onkodes is encrusting and L. stictaeforme has branched thalli. Both species are commonly found on shallow reefs of the Abrolhos Archipelago in Brazil (Figueiredo and Steneck, 2002;Tâmega and Figueiredo, 2007;Tâmega et al, 2014). This study aims to describe the early colonization and growth of CCA on the reef flat, edge and base of sheltered and exposed sites in summer and winter, testing the responses of the two most common coralline species to different light levels.…”

Coralline algae enhance the settlement of the vermetid gastropod Dendropoma irregulare (d'Orbigny, 1842) in the southwestern Atlantic

“…P. pachydermum, which was the most abundant shallow CCA in the Caribbean (Steneck, 1986;Steneck and Adey, 1976), has become rare possibly due to "coralline lethal orange disease" (CLOD) Littler, 1995, 1997). Colonies of the vermetid gastropod, D. irregulare, associated with the CCA, P. pachydermum, represent a significant portion of the reef edges (Spotorno-Oliveira, pers.obs;Ibama/Funatura, 1991;Tâmega et al, 2014). Given these dense aggregations cemented by CCA, and the likely importance of these for vermetid settlement, the conservation of these reefs should be warranted.…”