Antoine De Ramon N'Yeurt

Marine algae from the Suva lagoon and reef, Fiji

A total of 222 taxa (excluding Cyanophyceae and non-geniculate corallinales) are reported from the Suva Lagoon and Reef (Fiji), consisting of 71 Chlorophyceae, 24 Phaeophyceae and 127 Rhodophyceae. Of these, five represent new or undescribed species. The Suva flora is comparatively impoverished with only 222 species, although the relative percentage of the three classes is comparable to the overall Fijian flora, in particular with respect to the Rhodophyceae.

A preliminary annotated checklist of the marine algae and seagrasses of the Wallis Islands (French Overseas Territory of Wallis and Futuna), South Pacific

A total of 194 species of marine algae (14 Cyanobacteria, 41 Chlorophyta, 11 Heterokontophyta and 128 Rhodophyta), as well as three species of seagrasses, represent the first published records for the isolated island of Wallis, South Pacific. The flora has its strongest affinities with Fiji and Rotuma, followed by Samoa and French Polynesia. The lack of diverse habitats and its geographical location are invoked to explain the relatively low species richness compared with localities such as Fiji and Samoa. The flora has a typically tropical component dominated by encrusting coralline red algae, the calcified green algal genera Halimeda, and assemblages of Cyanobacteria. Normally ubiquitous species such as Halimeda discoidea, and the brown algal genera Hydroclathrus, Colpomenia, Rosenvingea, Asteronema, and Chnoospora are notably absent from the island, perhaps due to seasonality and the lack of suitable habitats. The minute epiphytic red alga Acrochaetium kurogii is reported for the first time outside of its type locality in Japan, while two as yet unidentified species of red algae (Gracilaria sp. and Sebdenia sp.) could represent new taxa if further useful material is found.

Grammephora peyssonnelioides gen. et sp. nov. (Rhodophyta, Rhodymeniaceae) from the Solomon Islands, South Pacific

A new genus and species of red alga in the Rhodymeniaceae, Grammephora peyssonnelioides, is described from both shallow and deepwater habitats in the Solomon Islands, South Pacific. The new genus and species is characterized by prostrate overlapping lobes with a strongly cartilaginous flexible texture, distinct surface linear markings perpendicular to the growing margins, and a compact three to four celled medulla of relatively small refractive cells. Tetrasporangia are elongate and decussately divided, and occur in large scattered dorsal surface sori. Cystocarps are prominent and conical, on the dorsal surface of the blade, with a network of nutritive filaments and basal nutritive tissue around the suspended, centrally located carposporophyte, with all gonimoblast initials becoming carposporangia. The columnar fusion cell is uniquely crowned by a ring of discoid cells of nonalgal origin.

A revision of Amansia glomerata C. Agardh, Amansia rhodantha (Harvey) J. Agardh and Melanamansia glomerata (C. Agardh) R. E. Norris (Rhodophyta: Rhodomelaceae)

Abstract Species of Amansia and Melanamansia from the tropical Pacific region have been re-examined, and compared with material from the Indian Ocean, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. All specimens examined from the Pacific region (except Hawaii and some from New Caledonia and Fiji) lack pseudo-pericentral cells, thus placing them in Amansia. Melanamansia glomerata is only reported from Hawaii, New Caledonia, Fiji, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and for the first time in the Indian Ocean from Kenya. Type material of Amansia rhodantha (Harvey) J. Agardh from Mauritius was compared and found not significantly different from the Pacific Amansia material (including type and isotype material of Amansia paloloensis South et Skelton from Samoa, which is reduced to synonymy), thus extending the distribution range of A. rhodantha as a pan-tropical entity.

Avrainvillea rotumensis sp. nov. (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta),a peltate species from the South Pacific

A new species of Avrainvillea was found on the South Pacific island of Rotuma, Fiji. Avrainvillea rotumensis sp. nov. occurs 1.5‐3.0 m deep in a high energy current area of the Hoféa Passage, one of the few openings in the fringing reef that surrounds the island. The distinctive peltate growth habit of A. rotumensis is unique for the genus and facilitates quick and accurate field identification. The peltate blade (7–9 cm in diameter at maturity) is unusually thick (34 mm) tapering toward a short (up to 6 cm in length), thick (1.5‐2.0 cm in diameter) stipe.

Phacelocarpus neurymenioides sp. nov. (Rhodophyta, Phacelocarpaceae): a new marine alga from Fiji

A new species of the red algal genus Phacelocarpus, of the monogeneric family Phacelocarpaceae, is reported and described for the first time for Fiji, South Pacific. Phacelocarpus neueymenioides differs from other members of the genus in a number of characters. It has a broad blade (up to 9 mm wide), with new blades arising irregularly from the midrib. The alae terminate in short marginal serrations that are less than ten percent of the blade width. Stalked cystocarps, and tetrasporangial and spermatangial nemathecia are borne on the center of the midrib. In its vegetative morphology. P. neueymenioides bears a remarkable resemblance to the genus Neurymenia, with which it may occur on the reef slope.