Cladophora brasiliana Martens (1870: 297)

Gestinari, Lísia Mônica De Souza, Pereira, Sonia Maria Barreto & Yoneshigue-Valentin, Yocie, 2010, Distribution of Cladophora Species (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta) along the Brazilian Coast, Phytotaxa 14, pp. 22-42 : 24

1. Cladophora brasiliana Martens (1870: 297) . Map 1 ; Figs. 1A–B

Thalli delicate, dark green, specimens with (0.5 –) 1.9 (– 2.5) cm height, attached by branched basal rhizoids, having an irregular organization. Main axis without ramifications in the distal regions. Apical cells long, cylindrical with rounded or slightly tapered tips, measuring (28 –) 36 (– 41) µm wide and (158 –) 247 (– 352) µm long with L/W ratio (5 –) 8 (– 12); terminal branch cells measuring (34 –) 43 (– 55) µm wide and (192 –) 273 (– 363) µm long, with L/W ratio (5.0 –) 7 (– 9); main axis cells measuring (77 –) 93 (– 117) µm wide and (497 –) 638 (– 800) µm long with L/W ratio (5 –) 7 (– 10).

Representative specimens examined: BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Macaé, Lagoa do Açu, 20/X/2000, Taouil (PEUFR 42629); Rio de Janeiro, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, 19/IX/2001, Nassar (PEUFR 42630); 26/ VIII/2002, Nassar (PEUFR 42631).

Comments: the specimens were observed growing as epiphytes on Ulva spp. or Poaceae , and corresponded to the descriptions of Taylor (1960) and Hoek (1982). However, our specimens showed higher cellular diameters compared with those authors. C. brasiliana is a shallow water species and, according to Taylor (1960), perhaps from brackish waters. Although the type locality is the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon (Rio de Janeiro State — Oliveira-Filho 1977), C. brasiliana was also found typically in marine environments, such as Atol das Rocas (Oliveira-Filho & Ugadim 1976), but in this study it was restricted to Rio de Janeiro State.

Figures

MAP 1. Distribution map of the species of the genus Cladophora along the Brazilian coast.

FIGURE 1. Species of Cladophora from the coast of Brasil. A–B, C. brasiliana. A, detail of the basal region of the thallus; B, detail of the apical region of the thallus. C–E, C. catenata. C, a specimen showing branched rhizoid and apical cells with rounded tips (Pedra do Xaréu rocky shore—PE); D, detail showing the presence of the fungus Blodgettia bornetii on the cell wall; E, specimen showing an apical cell with hapteroid rhizoid (reef plateau from Itapuama Beach—PE). F–G, C. coelothrix. F, detail of the mid-region of a terminal branch of the tuft (reef plateau from Boa Viagem Beach—PE); G, part of a specimen collected from an intertidal pool on a sandstone reef (Serrambi Beach— PE).