Giovanni Furnari

Check-list of Mediterranean seaweeds. I : Fucophyceae (Warming, 1884)

A check-list of Mediterranean brown algae, based on literature records, is given. The distribution of each taxon in the area (which is divided into 16 regions) is reported. The number of taxa accepted for the Mediterranean Sea under current taxonomy is 265. This list has benefited from the suggestions on taxonomy, nomenclature and regional distribution made by algological advisers from each region

Check-list of Mediterranean Seaweeds. II. Chlorophyceae Wille s.l.

A check-list of Mediterranean green algae, based on literature records, is given. The distribution of each taxon in the area (which is divided into 16 regions) is reported. The number of species and intraspecific taxa accepted for the Mediterranean Sea under current taxonomy is 214. This list has benefited from the suggestions on taxonomy, nomenclature and regional distribution made by phycological advisers for each region

Changes in the benthic algal flora of Linosa Island (Straits of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract A study of the benthic algal macroflora of Linosa Island (Straits of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea) is presented, aiming to verify possible floristic changes that have occurred in the area, last studied in 1973. We found noticeable changes in the benthic flora, which is now poorer in species than that recorded in the literature (233 species against 305), with a minor decrease in Phaeophyceae and Chlorophyta, and a more significant decrease in the number of Rhodophyta. Only 178 species in the present flora were reported previously, while 127 previously reported were not found during the present study. Conversely, 55 species were newly found. Several species of Fucales, like Cystoseira brachycarpa, C. sauvageauana, C. spinosa, C. zosteroides, Sargassum acinarium and S. trichocarpum, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea photophilic communities on hard substrata and sensitive to any environmental changes, have disappeared.

The Laurencia complex (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae) in the Mediterranean Sea: an overview

Abstract Recent taxonomic studies of the genus Laurencia sensu lato (Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae) have resulted in the recognition of three genera within the ‘Laurencia complex’: Laurencia sensu stricto, Chondrophycus and Osmundea. A critical examination of all Mediterranean records of taxa referred to Laurencia has shown that three species of Chondrophycus, six species of Osmundea and nine species of Laurencia are present. These taxa are described and illustrated. Laurencia caduciramulosa and L. intricata are reported for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea and from Italy, respectively. A key to the Mediterranean species of the Laurencia complex is given.

Changes of the benthic algal flora of the Tremiti Islands (southern Adriatic) Italy

During the last two decades, the benthic algal flora of the northern Adriatic Sea has changed as a result of increased pollution by sewage, agricultural drainage and industrial discharges. In order to verify if pollution has also influenced the benthic algal flora of the southern Adriatic, a study was undertaken of the Tremiti Islands and the results compared with previously published floristic data of the area. The results indicate changes in the benthic flora. Although the total number of species had increased slightly (301 species compared with 265 from the literature), the floristic composition was quite different, with 109 species not now found and 145 species new to the area. Since several sensitive species, like Cystoseira spp. and Sargassum spp., had disappeared and a greater number of opportunistic species was recorded, it can be concluded that the southern Adriatic is nowadays also influenced by pollution impact.

The Benthic Algal Flora of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

The authors report the results of a floristic study of the benthic macroalgae from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) based on collections made during two Italian expeditions to Antarctica. A brief description, phytogeographic data and, where necessary, taxonomic and nomenclatural observations are given for the 17 taxa encountered (9 Rhodophyceae, 4 Fucophyceae and 4 Chlorophyceae)

Changes in the benthic algae along the Adriatic Sea in the last three decades

This article gives an up-to-date review of the status of and main changes in benthic algal flora that have occurred in recent decades along the Italian Adriatic coastline. Common traits among the main structural/functional changes observed and their causes are discussed. A synthesis of the challenges to and prospects of filling gaps in the data, ecological knowledge and protection measures are also given.

On the occurrence in Sicily of three Florideophyceae new to the Mediterranean Sea

The authors report on the occurrence in Sicily of three Florideophyceae newly recorded for the Mediterranean Sea: Botryocladia madagascariensis G. Feldmann, Ceramium strobiliforme Lawson et John and Chondria pygmaea Garbary et Vandermeulen. A brief description as well as ecological and phytogeographic data are provided for each species

Padina ditristromatica sp. nov. and Padina pavonicoides sp. nov. (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae), two new species from the Mediterranean Sea based on morphological and molecular markers

A study of the genus Padina in the Mediterranean Sea, based on detailed morphological and molecular analyses using chloroplast rbcL and mitochondrial cox3 gene sequences, as well as RuBisCO spacer and partial rbcS sequences, revealed the presence of two new species, P. ditristromatica Ni-Ni-Win & H. Kawai and P. pavonicoides Ni-Ni-Win & H. Kawai. They are two to three-layered and three-layered species, respectively. Padina ditristromatica is characterized by a thallus composed of two cell layers from the marginal portion to the inrolled margin and a mixture of two and three layers in the other portions; heavy calcification on both surfaces of the thallus except for the hair lines; alternating hair lines that are spaced at unequal distances between the upper and lower surfaces; and broad indusiate oogonial and tetrasporangial sori forming broken lines or patches arranged in a concentric row, which are distally close to the hair lines and half immersed in the epidermis layer only on the lower surface. Padina pavonicoides is characterized by a thallus composed of three cell layers from the base to the marginal portion and two layers at the inrolled margin; alternating hair lines that are spaced at equal distances between the upper and lower surfaces; and indusiate oogonial and tetrasporangial sori forming patches located distal to the hair lines only on the lower surface. All molecular phylogenetic analyses indicated that the new species are closely related to P. pavonica, a common species in the Mediterranean Sea. However, the cox3 region could not be amplified for P. ditristromatica. Therefore, the RuBisCO spacer and partial rbcS were analysed for the Mediterranean specimens in order to confirm their identity as well as their closest relationships. The combined rbcL, RuBisCO spacer and partial rbcS data also support their genetic separation and show that P. pavonica is more closely related to P. pavonicoides than P. ditristromatica, as in other molecular analyses.

First record of Botryocladia madagascariensis G. Feldmann (Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyceae) from the Gulf of Antalya (Mediterranean coast of Turkey)

ABSTRACT This is the first record of Botryocladia madagascariensis from the Gulf of Antalya (Mediterranean Turkish coast). A description of the specimens collected as well as a key to the identification of Mediterranean species of the genus Botryocladia are also included. Some considerations on the distribution of B. madagascariensis, with reference to that of the related species B. botryoides, are also made.