Javier Cremades

Evidence for multiple introductions of the Pacific green alga Ulva australis Areschoug (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) to the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract Earlier morpho-anatomical work showed that a non-native Ulva species is widely distributed off the northwestern Iberian Peninsula (NWIP) since the early 1990s. However, insufficient sequence data provided at the time of the earlier study led to suggestions that more genetic evidence might be required to confirm this record. Here, we present this evidence in sequence data for the nuclear-encoded ITS1 and the plastid-encoded rbcL. We confirm the occurrence of an alien distromatic Ulva in several locations along the NWIP. Additionally, its presence in the Spanish Mediterranean (>1000 km away) is reported here for the first time. Species identification yielded notably coherent results between nuclear-encoded and plastid-encoded sequences, revealing that Spanish plants are conspecific with collections of Ulva pertusa and Ulva australis from a range of Pacific locations. The probable synonymy between U. australis and U. pertusa is consistent with their morphological similarity and suggests that U. australis is the correct name for the non-native green macroalga. ITS1 sequences reveal a common source for the various sites studied in the NWIP, possibly linked to shellfish transfers into the region. However, non-native populations in southern Spain must derive from an independent introduction event. This is the first time that molecular data have been used to demonstrate multiple introductions of U. australis to European waters.

Biology and taxonomic identity of Erythroglossum lusitanicum (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Iberian Peninsula

Erythroglossum lusitanicum was originally described from sterile and tetrasporophytic material. The apical organization and the sexual structures have considerable relevance for classification of Delesseriaceae, and these are described here for the first time in this species. The range of morphological variability in some species of the genus Erythroglossum in Atlantic Europe has been broadened, requiring a revision of the taxonomic identity of E. lusitanicum. Reproductive characters observed in E. lusitanicum include: 1) procarps scattered over the blade surface and composed of a supporting cell bearing two 4-celled carpogonial branches and a single group of sterile cells; 2) carposporangia formed in chains; and 3) spermatangial sori consisting of two layers of spermatangial mother cells bearing spermatangia. These features, together with the Phycodrys-type apical organization, are in accordance with those described for the genus Erythroglossum. The main taxonomic features of E. lusitanicum that distinguish it from congeners in Atlantic Europe are thallus growth that occurs in each blade by means of a single apical cell located in the tip, and its turf forming habit.

RAPD differentiation of Grateloupia lanceola and the invasive Grateloupia turuturu (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) in the Iberian Peninsula

R. Barreiro, M. Quintela, I. Bárbara, and J. Cremades. 2006. RAPD differentiation of Grateloupia lanceola and the invasive Grateloupia turuturu (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) in the Iberian Peninsula. Phycologia 45: 213–217. DOI: 10.2216/04-72.1 Grateloupia is a genus of red algae in which many species are notoriously difficult to define; this situation greatly complicates the assessment of their geographical ranges. A member of this genus, G. lanceola, is typical of warm-temperate seas but retains some highly localized populations at higher latitudes on the northwestern Iberian Peninsula (Galicia). Nevertheless, the presence of these northern populations has been largely overlooked; instead, they have been regarded as, or suspected to be, another case in the expansion of the adventive congeneric Grateloupia turuturu along European waters. In this study, we have examined the genetic similarity between specimens of G. lanceola and G. turuturu from Galicia using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The large genetic distance between species detected provides molecular-based support for the occurrence of G. lanceola in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula as a separate species from the invasive G. turuturu, corroborating earlier morphological and ecological observations. Also, G. lanceola specimens from Galicia were genetically similar to those from their type locality in the southern Iberian Peninsula, confirming their conspecific character. Our results imply that the first records of invasive G. turuturu in northwestern waters of Spain were those from the early 1990s; contrary to most references in the literature, previous older records from the early 1980s belonged to the congeneric G. lanceola.

Decadal changes in the distribution of common intertidal seaweeds in Galicia (NW Iberia)

Seaweed assemblages in Atlantic Europe are been distorted by global change, but the intricate coastal profile of the area suggests that susceptibility may differ between regions. In particular, NW Iberia is an important omission because no study has systematically assessed long-term changes in a large number of species. Using intertidal surveys for 33 common perennial seaweeds, we show that the average number of species per site declined significantly from 1998-99 to 2014 in NW Iberia. The largest drops in site occupancy were detected in kelps, fucoids, and carrageenan-producing Rhodophyta. Parallel analyses revealed significant upward trends in SST, air temperature, and strong waves; meanwhile, nutrients decreased slightly except in areas affected by local inputs. Similar changes reported for subtidal assemblages in other parts of Atlantic Europe suggest that the drivers may be ubiquitous. Nonetheless, a more proper assessment of both global and local impacts, will require further surveys, and the regular monitoring of intertidal perennial seaweeds appears as a cost-effective alternative to discriminate genuine long-term trends from transitory fluctuations.

Taxonomic reassessment of Polysiphonia foetidissima (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) and similar species, including P. schneideri, a newly introduced species in Europe

Morphological and molecular studies were carried out on two Polysiphonia with 6–9 pericentral cells from the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula. A detailed description is provided for P. foetidissima, a poorly known species originally described from the UK that is widespread and abundant in the Iberian Peninsula. Polysiphonia schneideri, originally described from Atlantic U.S.A. and Bermuda, is reported for the first time in Europe (Southern Spain). It was collected attached to man-made structures such as floating docks and artificial substrata for aquaculture and is believed to be a newly introduced species in Europe. In addition, the taxonomy of seven morphologically similar Polysiphonia was reassessed. A comparative study of type materials showed that the Mediterranean P. stuposa is morphologically different from its alleged synonym P. foetidissima. Instead, molecular and morphological evidence showed that P. foetidissima is a synonym of the widely reported (Atlantic and Pacific) P. tepida. Polysiphonia foetidissima was also shown to differ from P. brodiei, P. exilis, P. isogona and P. schneideri.

Grateloupia lanceola (Cryptonemiales, Rhodophyta) en las costas de la Península Ibérica: Estudio morfológico y anatómico

Grateloupia lanceola (J. Agardh) J. Agardh emend Ardre & Gayral es citada por primera vez para las costas noratlanticas y mediterraneas espanolas. Su estudio morfologico, anatomico y ecologico aporta nuevos datos que permiten discutir la posicion sistematica y taxonomia de esta especie, asi como su distribucion geografica.

A new taxonomic interpretation of the type of Plocamium cartilagineum (Plocamiales, Florideophyceae) and its consequences

A detailed study of the type specimen of Plocamium cartilagineum and other original material of European species of Plocamium revealed that the nomenclatural reorganization proposed by Saunders & Lehmkuhl in 2005 must be revised. The main consequences of the new interpretation are: (1) the use of Plocamium lyngbyanum to name their molecular entity EUR1 (previously considered to be equivalent to P. cartilagineum s.s.); and (2) adopting P. cartilagineum for their molecular entity EUR2, which renders P. subtile Kützing a taxonomic synonym. Using a combination of morphological, anatomical and molecular information (barcoding), we conclude that the colour and consistency of the thallus, the number of ramuli per series, the morphology and arrangement of the tetrasporangial stichidia, the length of the tetrasporangia, and the type of habitat are the most reliable characters of classical taxonomy for discriminating between the species of Plocamium occurring in northern Europe.

Floristic study of a maërl and gravel subtidal bed in the 'Ría de Arousa' (Galicia, Spain)

Se presenta un catalogo de 68 especies de las algas marinas existentes en un banco de maerl y cascajo de la ria de Arousa (Galicia,Espana). Colacodictyon reticulatum y Gelidiella calcicola son novedad para la Peninsula Iberica. Otras especies de interes s

Pseudopolyides furcellarioides gen. et sp. nov. (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) an erect member of the Cruoriaceae based on morphological and molecular evidence

Bárbara I., Gallardo T., Cremades J., Barreiro R., Maneiro I. and Saunders G.W. 2013. Pseudopolyides furcellarioides gen. et sp. nov. (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) an erect member of the Cruoriaceae based on morphological and molecular evidence. Phycologia 52: 191–203. DOI: 10.2216/12-040.1 Pseudopolyides furcellarioides gen. et sp. nov. (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) was described from the Atlantic coasts of the northern Iberian Peninsula based on morphological and molecular evidence. This plant was found growing in the lower intertidal to the upper subtidal of moderately exposed rocky coasts, the bases anchored to rocks and often covered by sand. Thalli were perennial, terete, dichotomously branched and erect from a mammillate crustose holdfast. Fronds were multiaxial with a compact filamentous medulla, a densely pseudoparenchymatous inner cortex and an anticlinal outer cortex. Gametophytes were dioecious and isomorphic to tetrasporophytes. Spermatangia were superficial on swollen branch tips. Gonimocarps were spindle-shaped and directed to the thallus interior, while tetrasporangia were zonate. The habit and internal structure resembled those of both Polyides rotundus (characterized by crustose holdfasts, dichotomous or trichotomous branching and similar longitudinal section) and Furcellaria lumbricalis (distinguished by internal gonimocarps and zonate tetrasporangia). All three species occasionally occurred sympatrically in the Iberian Peninsula and were easily misclassified. Molecular phylogenetic analyses placed Pseudopolyides furcellarioides within the previously monogeneric Cruoriaceae, making it the first non-crustose representative of this family.

A physicochemical study of Al(+3) interactions with edible seaweed biomass in acidic waters.

UNLABELLED In this article, a study of the Al(+3) interactions in acidic waters with biomass of different edible seaweeds: brown (Fucus vesiculosus, Saccorhiza polyschides), red (Mastocarpus stellatus, Gelidium sesquipedale, Chondrus crispus), and green (Ulva rigida, Codium tomentosum), has been performed. The influence of both, the initial concentration of metal and the solution pH, on the Al-uptake capacity of the biomass has been analyzed. From preliminary tests, species Fucus vesiculosus and Gelidium sesquipedale have been selected for a more exhaustive analysis. Sorption kinetic studies demonstrated that 60 min are enough to reach equilibrium. The intraparticle diffusion model has been used to describe kinetic data. Equilibrium studies have been carried out at pH values of 1, 2.5, and 4. Langmuir isotherms showed that the best uptake values, obtained at pH 4, were 33 mg/g for F. vesiculosus and 9.2 mg/g for G. sesquipedale. These edible seaweeds have been found particularly effective in binding aluminum metal ions for most of the conditions tested. Physicochemical data reported at these low pH values could be of interest, not only in modeling aluminum-containing antacids-food pharmacokinetic processes produced in the stomach (pH values 1 to 3) but in remediation studies in acidic waters. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Aluminum is thought to be linked to neurological disruptions such as Alzheimers disease. In this article, the adsorption ability of different types of edible seaweeds toward aluminum has been studied. The choice of low pH values is due to the fact that stomach region is acidic with a pH value between 1 and 3 as a consequence of hydrochloric secretion; so physicochemical data reported in this study could be of interest in modeling drug-food interactions, in particular those referring to aluminum-containing antacids-food pharmacokinetic processes produced in the gastrointestinal tract.