seabass
Member
Marine macro-algae are crucial components of most temperate and tropical marine
communities worldwide. Seaweeds are not only primary producers forming the base of most
food chains, they also structure communities (they are major reef-builders) and provide
substrate and shelter for other organisms.
Stetson Bank is dominated by the brown algal family Dictyotaceae and one encrusting red
alga, Peyssonnelia inamoena at 78-95 ft. depth. This algal community is typified as a
Dictyota meadow comprised of four species (Dictyota cervicornis, D. pulchella, D.
menstrualis and the small iridescent D. pfaffii). Other major discernable seaweeds is the
crust or shelf morph of Lobophora variegata, the calcified brown alga Padina
sanctae-crucis (the name has recently been reverted again and was previously known as P.
jamaicencis, see Silva et al. 1987), and the green alga Caulerpa microphysa. There is also a
more diversity-rich but cryptic macro-algal component, more commonly typified as "turf algae"
which is a mixed assemblage of various, mostly small red algae growing interspersed with
sponges and hydroids (e.g. Ceramium, Anotrichium, Griffithsia, Antithamnion,
Callithamniella, Diplothamnion, Hypoglossum, Polysiphonia, Herposiphonia) and on the
underside of the encrusting Peyssonnelia and Lobophora. The tips of these turf algae were
commonly missing; the occurrence of newly regenerated branchlets in the vicinity of the apical
growing region implies strong grazing pressure. Typical reef-building crustose coralline algae
were rare, and sparsely found on rubble. One species of mat-forming Cyanobacteria was also
found.
A total of 38 taxa belonging to the Green (Chlorophyta), Brown (Phaeophyta) and Red
(Rhodophyta) algae were identified as listed below. New records for the Gulf of Mexico
include Laurencia chondrioides, Callithamniella tingitana, Diplothamnion jolyi and
Dictyota pfaffii. Northern range extensions for at least 2 taxa are reported for the
Northwestern Gulf.
**********************************************************************
Comprehensive list of macro-algae documented during a cruise in June, 1999.
DIV. CHLOROPHYTA: Green Algae
ORDER CAULERPALES
Fam. Caulerpaceae
Caulerpa microphysa (Weber van Bosse) Feldmann
ORDER CLADOPHORALES
Fam. Siphonocladaceae
Cladophoropsis membranacea (C. Ag.) B? rgesen (entangled in small turfs)
ORDER BRYOPSIDALES
Fam. Bryopsidaceae
Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Ag.,on underside of Peyssonnelia
DIV. PHAEOPHYTA: Brown Algae
ORDER ECTOCARPALES
Fam. Ectocarpaceae
Ectocarpus elachistaeformis Heydrich, epiphytic on Gelidium
ORDER SPHACELARIALES
Fam. Sphacelariaceae
Sphacelaria tribuloides Menegh. (entangled in small turfs)
ORDER SCYTOSIPHONALES
Fam. Scytosiphonaceae
Rosenvingea intricata (J. Ag.) B? rgesen
ORDER DICTYOTALES
Fam. Dictyotaceae
Dictyota cervicornis Kuetzing
Dictyota menstrualis (Hoyt) Schnetter, Hornig & Weber-Peukert (formerly recorded as
D.dichotoma)
Dictyota pulchella Hornig & Schnetter, (formerly recorded as D. bartayresii, D.
divaricata or D. linearis?)
Dictyota pfaffii Schnetter, (iridescent); new record for Gulf of Mexico
Lobophora variegata (Lamour.) Womersley ex E.C. Oliveira
Padina sanctae-crucis B? rgesen
ORDER FUCALES
Fam. Sargassaceae
Sargassum fluitans.(Borg) B? rgesen, pelagic
Sargassum natans (L.) Gaillon, pelagic
DIV. RHODOPHYTA: Red Algae
ORDER ERYTHROPELTIDALES
Fam. Erythrothrichiaceae
Erythrotrichia carnea (Dillwyn) J. Agardh epiphytic on Gelidium
Erythrocladia endophloea Howe, epiphytic on Gelidium
Sahlingia subintegra (Rosenv.) Kornmann, epiphytic on Geldium
ORDER ACROCHAETIALES
Fam. Acrochaetiaceae
Audouinella sp., epiphytic on Gelidium
ORDER GELIDIALES
Fam. Gelidiaceae
Gelidium sp., entangled in small turf
ORDER GIGARTINALES
Fam. Hypneaceae
Hypnea volubilis Searles in C.W. Schneider et Searles, entangled with Dictyota cervicornis
Fam. Peyssonneliaceae
Peyssonnelia inamoena Pilger
ORDER CORALLINALES
Fam. Corallinaceae
Jania capillacea Harv., epizooic on sponge
crustose coralline#1
crustose coralline #2
crustose coralline #3
Fosliella farinosa (Lamouroux) Howe, epiphytic on Gelidium
ORDER CERAMIALES
Fam. Ceramiaceae
Anotrichium tenue (C. Ag.) Naegeli, entangled in small turfs
Antithamnion antillanum B? rgesen, epiphytic on Dictyota, and entangled in small turfs;
northernmost distributional range for Gulf of Mexico
Callithamniella tingitana (Schousboe ex Bornet) Feldmann-Mazoyer; epizoic on hydroid
and entangled in small turfs, spermatangial, tetrasporangial; new record for Gulf of Mexico
Ceramiun flaccidum (K¸tz.) Ardissone epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa, entangled in
small turfs, cystocarpic, tetrasporangial
Diplothamnion jolyi Van den Hoek, entangled in small turfs; new record for Gulf of
Mexico
Griffithsia globulifera Harv. ex Kuetz. entangled in small turfs
Spermothamnion investiens (P. et H. Crouan in Schramm & MazÈ) Vickers, forming
velvety mats on rope
Fam. Delesseriaceae
Hypoglossum rhizophorum Ballantine et Wynne, epilithic and entangled in small turfs;
northernmost distributional range in Gulf of Mexico
Fam. Rhodomelaceae
Herposiphonia secunda f. tenella (C. Ag.) M.J. Wynne, epiphytic on Caulerpa
microphysa and entangled in small turfs
Laurencia chondrioides B? rgesen, epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa and entangled in
small turfs; new record for the Gulf of Mexico
Polysiphonia flaccidissima Hollenberg, epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa, and entangled
in small turfs spermatangial, tetrasporangial
Polysiphonia denudata (Dillwyn) Greville ex Harvey, epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa
communities worldwide. Seaweeds are not only primary producers forming the base of most
food chains, they also structure communities (they are major reef-builders) and provide
substrate and shelter for other organisms.
Stetson Bank is dominated by the brown algal family Dictyotaceae and one encrusting red
alga, Peyssonnelia inamoena at 78-95 ft. depth. This algal community is typified as a
Dictyota meadow comprised of four species (Dictyota cervicornis, D. pulchella, D.
menstrualis and the small iridescent D. pfaffii). Other major discernable seaweeds is the
crust or shelf morph of Lobophora variegata, the calcified brown alga Padina
sanctae-crucis (the name has recently been reverted again and was previously known as P.
jamaicencis, see Silva et al. 1987), and the green alga Caulerpa microphysa. There is also a
more diversity-rich but cryptic macro-algal component, more commonly typified as "turf algae"
which is a mixed assemblage of various, mostly small red algae growing interspersed with
sponges and hydroids (e.g. Ceramium, Anotrichium, Griffithsia, Antithamnion,
Callithamniella, Diplothamnion, Hypoglossum, Polysiphonia, Herposiphonia) and on the
underside of the encrusting Peyssonnelia and Lobophora. The tips of these turf algae were
commonly missing; the occurrence of newly regenerated branchlets in the vicinity of the apical
growing region implies strong grazing pressure. Typical reef-building crustose coralline algae
were rare, and sparsely found on rubble. One species of mat-forming Cyanobacteria was also
found.
A total of 38 taxa belonging to the Green (Chlorophyta), Brown (Phaeophyta) and Red
(Rhodophyta) algae were identified as listed below. New records for the Gulf of Mexico
include Laurencia chondrioides, Callithamniella tingitana, Diplothamnion jolyi and
Dictyota pfaffii. Northern range extensions for at least 2 taxa are reported for the
Northwestern Gulf.
**********************************************************************
Comprehensive list of macro-algae documented during a cruise in June, 1999.
DIV. CHLOROPHYTA: Green Algae
ORDER CAULERPALES
Fam. Caulerpaceae
Caulerpa microphysa (Weber van Bosse) Feldmann
ORDER CLADOPHORALES
Fam. Siphonocladaceae
Cladophoropsis membranacea (C. Ag.) B? rgesen (entangled in small turfs)
ORDER BRYOPSIDALES
Fam. Bryopsidaceae
Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Ag.,on underside of Peyssonnelia
DIV. PHAEOPHYTA: Brown Algae
ORDER ECTOCARPALES
Fam. Ectocarpaceae
Ectocarpus elachistaeformis Heydrich, epiphytic on Gelidium
ORDER SPHACELARIALES
Fam. Sphacelariaceae
Sphacelaria tribuloides Menegh. (entangled in small turfs)
ORDER SCYTOSIPHONALES
Fam. Scytosiphonaceae
Rosenvingea intricata (J. Ag.) B? rgesen
ORDER DICTYOTALES
Fam. Dictyotaceae
Dictyota cervicornis Kuetzing
Dictyota menstrualis (Hoyt) Schnetter, Hornig & Weber-Peukert (formerly recorded as
D.dichotoma)
Dictyota pulchella Hornig & Schnetter, (formerly recorded as D. bartayresii, D.
divaricata or D. linearis?)
Dictyota pfaffii Schnetter, (iridescent); new record for Gulf of Mexico
Lobophora variegata (Lamour.) Womersley ex E.C. Oliveira
Padina sanctae-crucis B? rgesen
ORDER FUCALES
Fam. Sargassaceae
Sargassum fluitans.(Borg) B? rgesen, pelagic
Sargassum natans (L.) Gaillon, pelagic
DIV. RHODOPHYTA: Red Algae
ORDER ERYTHROPELTIDALES
Fam. Erythrothrichiaceae
Erythrotrichia carnea (Dillwyn) J. Agardh epiphytic on Gelidium
Erythrocladia endophloea Howe, epiphytic on Gelidium
Sahlingia subintegra (Rosenv.) Kornmann, epiphytic on Geldium
ORDER ACROCHAETIALES
Fam. Acrochaetiaceae
Audouinella sp., epiphytic on Gelidium
ORDER GELIDIALES
Fam. Gelidiaceae
Gelidium sp., entangled in small turf
ORDER GIGARTINALES
Fam. Hypneaceae
Hypnea volubilis Searles in C.W. Schneider et Searles, entangled with Dictyota cervicornis
Fam. Peyssonneliaceae
Peyssonnelia inamoena Pilger
ORDER CORALLINALES
Fam. Corallinaceae
Jania capillacea Harv., epizooic on sponge
crustose coralline#1
crustose coralline #2
crustose coralline #3
Fosliella farinosa (Lamouroux) Howe, epiphytic on Gelidium
ORDER CERAMIALES
Fam. Ceramiaceae
Anotrichium tenue (C. Ag.) Naegeli, entangled in small turfs
Antithamnion antillanum B? rgesen, epiphytic on Dictyota, and entangled in small turfs;
northernmost distributional range for Gulf of Mexico
Callithamniella tingitana (Schousboe ex Bornet) Feldmann-Mazoyer; epizoic on hydroid
and entangled in small turfs, spermatangial, tetrasporangial; new record for Gulf of Mexico
Ceramiun flaccidum (K¸tz.) Ardissone epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa, entangled in
small turfs, cystocarpic, tetrasporangial
Diplothamnion jolyi Van den Hoek, entangled in small turfs; new record for Gulf of
Mexico
Griffithsia globulifera Harv. ex Kuetz. entangled in small turfs
Spermothamnion investiens (P. et H. Crouan in Schramm & MazÈ) Vickers, forming
velvety mats on rope
Fam. Delesseriaceae
Hypoglossum rhizophorum Ballantine et Wynne, epilithic and entangled in small turfs;
northernmost distributional range in Gulf of Mexico
Fam. Rhodomelaceae
Herposiphonia secunda f. tenella (C. Ag.) M.J. Wynne, epiphytic on Caulerpa
microphysa and entangled in small turfs
Laurencia chondrioides B? rgesen, epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa and entangled in
small turfs; new record for the Gulf of Mexico
Polysiphonia flaccidissima Hollenberg, epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa, and entangled
in small turfs spermatangial, tetrasporangial
Polysiphonia denudata (Dillwyn) Greville ex Harvey, epiphytic on Caulerpa microphysa