Abstract
Gelidium canariense is a canopy-forming endemic macroalga from the Canary Islands. Vegetative and reproductive characteristics of all phases in its life cycle are examined. Key macromorphological features are its blackish color and the corymbose-to-subfastigiate branching pattern that differentiates G. canariense from the nearest species confirmed with molecular data. The length of individuals has notably decreased over the last three decades. Internal vegetative morphology is consistent with the pattern in most species of Gelidium. The distinctive characteristics of tetrasporophytes are their morphology, the arrangement of tetrasporangial branches and the absence of a sterile margin around mature sori. Male and female gametophytes, gametangia and carposporophytes are described here for the first time. Spermatangial sori develop at the tips of axes and branches and lack a sterile margin. Gelidium canariense exhibits the classic Gelidium-type cystocarp. Tetrasporophytes of G. canariense are dominant in populations, with a ratio 4:1:1 (tetrasporophyte: male gametophyte: female gametophyte). The phenological study showed significant evidence that fertile individuals (tetrasporophyte or gametophyte) develop a more leafy morphotype than non-fertile individuals. Individuals collected in July are significantly different from November and March because they show this characteristic morphotype.
About the authors
Beatriz Alfonso is a PhD student from the Universidad de La Laguna and has a master’s degree in Marine Biology. Her research interests include macroalgae biodiversity, marine community ecology and conservation. She is currently studying the effects of global warming on different habitat-foundation macroalgae.
Carlos Sangil is a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad de La Laguna. His PhD deals with macroalgal sublittoral communities from the Canary Islands. His fields of interest include macroalgal taxonomy and ecology, alien species and interactions between plants and benthic animals.
Marta Sansón is a professor at the Departamento de Botánica, Ecología and Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna. She works on macrophyte biodiversity and ecology. She is particularly interested in combining morphology, phenology and genetics to study macroalgae; to explore interesting habitats for conservation; and to study recent changes in macroalgal populations (decline of canopy-forming species vs. global warming and eutrophication).
Acknowledgments
We thank M.J. Dring and two anonymous reviewers for their critical reading of the manuscript, comments and suggestions. Our thanks also go to J.C. Hernández from the Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología at Universidad de La Laguna for photographic assistance and advice and to Guido Jones for proofreading the manuscript.
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