Lithothamnion steneckii sp. nov. and Pneophyllum conicum: new coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) for coral reefs of Brazil

Abstract

Nongeniculate coralline red algae are a common element of the Brazilian coastal zone, especially associated to coral reefs. During the course of ecological studies at Parque Municipal Marinho do Recife de Fora, two species of non-geniculate Corallinales were the major organisms covering the reef. Analyses of the vegetative and reproductive features of the species were analyzed; indicating that one new species of the genus Lithothamnion is proposed here based on the combination of several features associated with anatomy of the tetrasporangial conceptacles in relation to other species of the genus for which modern accounts are available. This new proposal along with other new species, new combinations and range extension of some species of the genus based in similar features clearly suggest that stability in species delimitation is possible. The second species found Pneophyllum conicum represents a range extension of more than 6,000 km from the Pacific in to the Atlantic Ocean suggesting that some nongeniculate species are widely distributed. The occurrence and abundance of these species supports and emphasizes the need for an extensive taxonomic reassessment of coralline red algae in the context of Brazilian coral reef biodiversity.

Molecular and Morphological Diversity of Lithothamnion spp. (Hapalidiales, Rhodophyta) from Deepwater Rhodolith Beds in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

“…This specimen also shows the habit of Lithothamnion sp. B. DNA sequencing of the holotype specimen of L. steneckii is likely not possible due to formalin preservation (Mariath et al 2012); however, DNA sequencing of topotype collections may be an informative alternative.…”

“…Adey (1966, p. 364) first described that the uppermost portion of the lateral cell walls of epithallial cells "tend to flare-out" (Adey, 1966 p. 329). The terms "flattened and flared" (Woelkerling, 1988, Harvey et al 2003 and "flared" (Peña et al 2014, Oliveira-Costa et al 2014, Mariath et al 2012, Robinson et al 2013) appear most widely in recent coralline literature, but these cells also have been referred to as being "eared" (Johansen, 1976, Johansen 1981, "angular" (Johansen 1976, Woelkerling 1983, and "armored" (with heavy calcification and thick walls) . Because not all species of Lithothamnion show a pronounced trapezoidal-shaped lumen (Adey et al 2005) the term "armored" was applied in this study.…”

“…DNA sequencing of L. brasiliense, collected from São Sebastiao, Brazil and housed at TRH (Woelkerling et al 2005) may help clarify if this species is related to taxa from the GMx. Mariath et al (2012) recently described a protuberant crustose species from Bahia, Brazil that grows in shallow water on corals, Lithothamnion steneckii Mariath and Figueiredo. This specimen also shows the habit of Lithothamnion sp.…”

Taxonomic study of crustose coralline algae off the northeastern Brazilian coast

“…Recent taxonomic studies on the Brazilian coast have helped to expand our knowledge of the diversity of CCA, including the description of some new species, as Lithophyllum depressum Villas-Boas, Figueiredo & RiosmenaRodriguez in Villas-Boas et al (2009: 245) and Sporolithon tenue Bahia, Amado-Filho, Maneveldt et W. H. Adey (2013: 3) (Villas-Boas et al 2009, Mariath et al 2012and Bahia et al 2014. To date, 41 valid species have been recorded for the Brazilian coast (Horta 2002, Figueiredo & Steneck 2002, Tâmega & Figueiredo 2005, AmadoFilho et al 2007, Nunes et al 2008, Villas-Boas et al 2009, Farias et al 2010, Henriques et al 2011, Horta et al 2011, Pereira-Filho et al 2011, Amado-Filho et al 2012a, b, Mariath et al 2012, Bahia et al 2013, Mariath et al 2013.…”

“…To date, 41 valid species have been recorded for the Brazilian coast (Horta 2002, Figueiredo & Steneck 2002, Tâmega & Figueiredo 2005, AmadoFilho et al 2007, Nunes et al 2008, Villas-Boas et al 2009, Farias et al 2010, Henriques et al 2011, Horta et al 2011, Pereira-Filho et al 2011, Amado-Filho et al 2012a, b, Mariath et al 2012, Bahia et al 2013, Mariath et al 2013. A few studies in the state of Bahia have investigated the taxonomy and ecology of CCA and most of them were accomplished in the southern limit of this region (Figueiredo & Steneck 2002, Nunes et al 2008, Amado-Filho et al 2012b, Mariath et al 2012and Bahia et al 2013.…”