Cladophora rupestris (Linnaeus) Kützing (1843a: 270)

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 : 35

8. Cladophora rupestris (Linnaeus) Kützing (1843a: 270) . Map 1 ; Figs. 3D–F

Conferva rupestris Linnaeus (1753: 1167) .

Tufts stiff, dark green to brown. Specimens measuring (6 –) 7 (– 8) cm high, attached to the substrate by branched rhizoids that sprouted from basal cells. Specimens sparsely branched, eventually forming pseudodichotomy, with different sized ramuli. Apical cells with rounded tips measuring (72 –) 89 (– 111) µm wide and (218 –) 322 (– 486.5) µm long, with L/W ratio of (3 –) 4.5 (– 7). Ultimate branch cells measuring (80 –) 95 (– 115) µm wide and (239 –) 321 (– 397) µm long, with L/W ratio of (2.5 –) 3.5 (– 4.5). Main axis cells measuring (104 –) 130.5 (– 157) µm wide and (407 –) 544 (– 695.5) µm long, with L/W ratio of (2.7 –) 4.1 (– 5.6).

Representative Specimens Examined: BRAZIL: Pernambuco: Recife, Praia de Boa Viagem , 30 Sept. 2000, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42749 ) ; 28 Oct. 2000, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42750 ) ; 26 May 2001, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42751 ) ; 23 Jun. 2001, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42752 ) ; 11 Mar. 2001, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42753 ) ; 4 Aug. 2001, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42754 ) ; 16 Oct. 2001, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42755 ) ; 9 Aug. 2002, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42756 ) ; Espírito Santo: Aracruz, Praia de Santa Cruz , 24 Apr.1990, Nassar ( LIFIC 6285 ) ; Ilha de Vitória, Praia de Camburi , 09 Sept. 1991, Nassar ( LIFIC 6991 ) ; Rio de Janeiro: Niterói, Ilha de Boa Viagem , 24 Jan. 2001, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42757 ) ; 16 Jun. 2003, Gestinari & Torres ( PEUFR 42758 ) ; São Paulo: Itanhaém, Praia de Peruíbe , 19 May 1966, Ugadim ( SPF 740 ) ; Paraná: Caiobá, Ilha do Farol , 14 Mar. 1986, Shirata et al. ( UPCB 14838 ) ; Santa Catarina: Laguna, Ponta do Iró , 10 Nov. 1966, Cordeiro-Marino & Marino ( SP 104471) .

Comments: Epilithic thalli were collected from large loose stones in moderately exposed sites (Boa Viagem Island, Niterói—RJ), from the plateau of a sandstone reef (Praia de Boa Viagem, Recife—PE), or as epiphytes on Gelidium pusillum . Cladophora rupestris grows with other algae such as Ulva flexuosa , Cladophora montagneana , C. vagabunda and Centroceras sp .. Its thallus bears Erythrotrichia carnea , Pneophyllum fragille , Hypnea musciformis , Polysiphonia sp. , diatoms and cyanobacteria as epiphytes.

Cladophora rupestris was recorded mainly on the coast of Brazilian southeastern and southern regions (ES, RJ, SP, SC), but also in some states in the northeastern region (CE, RN, PB). However, in the present study few samples were found on Boa Viagem beach (PE). According to our data, this species has a gap in its distribution between Pernambuco and Espírito Santo, probably due the lack of studies performed in this area. The specimens collected from Boa Viagem Island (Niterói—RJ) showed cell dimensions higher than those from Boa Viagem Beach (Recife—PE). Although the collected specimens from both states had cell dimensions higher than those from the American and European North Atlantic ( Hoek 1963, 1982; Burrows 1991), the littoral zone of Japan and eastern Russia ( Hoek & Chihara 2000) and the Brazilian coast ( Joly 1957; Yoneshigue-Braga 1970), the general aspect of the thallus and its color match literature descriptions. The dimensions of the specimens studied were similar to those recorded as C. rupestris f. nuda (Harvey) Holmes & Batters ex Batters (1902: 17) from São Paulo by Ugadim (1973). According to Hoek (1963, 1982), C. rupestris belongs to the temperate amphiatlantic group and has the broadest geographical distribution of all species of the genus, surviving in temperatures ranging from –8°C to 30°C. This is the first record of this species in Pernambuco and Espirito Santo States.

Figures

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

FIGURE 3. Species of Cladophora from the coast of Brasil. A–C. C. prolifera. A, detail of the apical portion of the thallus; B, basal region of the thallus, showing rhizoids with annular constrictions (reef plateau pool from Boa Viagem Beach—PE); C. detail of the terminal branch bearing fertile cells (collected from Enseada dos Corais Beach—PE). D–F, C. rupestris. D, detail of a filament of the tuft, showing its apical region (Boa Viagem Beach—PE); E, detail of the basal region of the thallus; F, detail of the mid-region of the thallus (Boa Viagem Island—Niterói, RJ).