TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Preliminary Studies of Philippine Eucheuma Species (Rhodophyta) Part 1, Taxonomy and Ecology of Eucheuma arnoldii Weber-van Bosse

ABSTRACT: The fleshy, noncalcified, red alga Eucheuma arnoldii Weber-van Bosse is unique in its often close resemblance to the habits of certain types of branched coelenterate corals. The present study of the alga in three Philippine areas attempts to clarify its taxonomic relationships and presents ecological data dealing with its depth distributions, substrata preferences, standing crops, and community associations. A new variety, E. arnoldii var. alcyonida, is described, and the previously described taxa E. cupressoideum Weber-van Bosse and E. cupressoidett1n var. verticillata Yamada are placed in synonomy with E. arnoldii var. arnoldii. Possible lines of more detailed, future research on this species are suggested

Gymnophycus, a new genus of Ceramiaceae (Rhodophyta) from eastern Australia

Gymnophycus gen. nov. (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta) is a genus of two species of minute algae from eastern Australia. Plants consist of erect, alternate-distichously branched uncorticated axes. Procarps are formed on the subterminal cells of major axes, the carpogonial branch arising on the first of three pericentral cells, which also bears a sterile lateral cell. In G. hypsispermis sp. nov., from southern Queensland, axial growth ceases with initiation of procarps and carposporophytes are terminal. In G. hapsiphorus sp. nov., from Lord Howe Island, N.S.W., and One Tree Island, Queensland, growth of the lateral axis on the sub-hypogenous cell continues after procarp formation, displacing the carposporophytes laterally. Fertilization in both species appears to result in transfer of the zygote nucleus to either the third pericentral cell or the supporting cell, followed by fusion of the supporting cell with the third pericentral cell via a small connecting cell. These cells form a distinctive perforate arch at the distal end of the fertile axial cell and give rise to two gonimoblast initials which together produce up to seven gonimolobes of carposporangia. The hypogenous cell is also incorporated into the fusion product. Neither involucral nor any type of adventitious filaments are associated with the mature carposporophyte. Sessile tetrahedral tetrasporangia are produced in adaxial rows on lateral branches, and male gametophytes bear dense spermatangial heads in a similar position. Because of fusion cell and carposporophyte anomalies, Gymnophycus is only provisionally placed in the tribe Compsothamnieae, with which it shares vegetative and procarp features

Studies of the Liagoraceae (rhodophyta) of Western Australia:Gloiotrichus fractalisgen. et sp. nov. andGanonema helminthaxissp. nov.

Two new taxa of Liagoraceae (Nemaliales) are described from Western Australia. Gloiotrichus fractalis gen. et sp. nov. has been collected from 3–20 m depths at the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Plants are calcified, extremely lubricous, and grow to 17 cm in length. Carpogonial branches are straight, 6 or 7 cells in length, arise from the basal or lower cells of cortical fascicles, and are occasionally compound. Branched sterile filaments of narrow elongate cells arise on the lower cells of the carpogonial branch prior to gonimoblast initiation, at first on the basal cells, then on progressively more distal cells. Following presumed fertilisation the carpogonium divides transversely, with both cells giving rise to gonimoblast filaments. The distal cells of the carpogonial branch then begin to fuse, with fusion progressing proximally until most of the cells of the carpogonial branch are included. As fusion extends, the filaments on the carpogonial branch are reduced to the basal 2 or 3 cells. The gonimoblast is compact and bears terminal carposporangia. Spermatangial clusters arise on subterminal cells of the cortex, eventually displacing the terminal cells. The sequence of pre- and post-fertilisation events occurring in the new genus separates it from all others included in the Liagoraceae, although it appears to have close affinities with the uncalcified genus Nemalion. Ganonema helminthaxis sp. nov. was collected from 12 m depths at Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Plants are uncalcified and mucilaginous, the axes consisting of a few (< 10) primary medullary filaments, each cell of which gives rise to a cortical fascicle at alternate forks of the pseudodichotomies borne on successive medullary cells. Subsidiary (adventitious) filaments and rhizoids comprise the bulk of the thallus. Carpogonial branches are straight, (3-)4(-6) cells in length, arise on the basal 1–4 cells of the cortical fascicles, and are frequently compound. Carposporophytes develop from the upper of two daughter cells formed by a transverse division of the fertilised carpogonium. Ascending and descending sterile filaments girdle the carpogonial branch cells and arise mostly on the supporting cell prior to fertilisation. Ganonema helminthaxis is the first completely non-calcified member of the genus, and its reproductive and vegetative morphology supports the recognition of Ganonema as a genus independent from Liagora. Liagora codii Womersley is a southern Australian species displaying features of Ganonema, to which it is transferred

The genus Balliella Itono & Tanaka (Rhodophyta: Ceramiaceae) from eastern Australia

Three new species of the genus Balliella Itono & Tanaka are described from eastern Australia. Balliella amphiglanda from Lord Howe I. and Port Hacking, N.S.W., is distinctive in producing either abaxial or adaxial gland cells from the basal cells of lateral branches and in having tetrasporangia restricted to short branches. Balliella repens, from Tryon I., Heron I and Wistari Reef Qld., and Lord Howe I., N.S.W., is distinguished from the other species of the genus by its regularly developed prostrate systems and clustered tetrasporangia. Balliella grandis, from Wistari Reef, North West I. and One Tree I., Qld., is the largest recorded species of Balliella. It has correspondingly large gland cells and abaxial as well as adaxial tetrasporangia. Our work supports the placement of Balliella in the tribe Antithamnieae, a move which necessitates emending Wollaston's definition of the tribe to include species with procarps that form at successive levels along main axes rather than at only one or two points behind the apices

Phylogenetic Analyses Support Recognition of Ten New Genera, Ten New Species and 16 New Combinations in the Family Kallymeniaceae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

The current study presents the most detailed multigene phylogenetic assessment of the red algal family Kallymeniaceae to date emphasising the floras of Australia (220 specimens), Europe (19 specimens) and North America (54 specimens). Toward a natural classification and in light of our phylogenetic results, we propose numerous taxonomic changes including the recognition of ten new genera: Austrokallymenia Huisman & G.W.Saunders; Glaphyrymeniopsis Kraft & G.W.Saunders; Huonia G.W.Saunders; Leiomenia Huisman & G.W.Saunders; Metacallophyllis A.Verges & L.Le Gall; Nothokallymenia A.Verges & L.Le Gall; Rhipidomenia G.W.Saunders; Thalassiodianthus G.W.Saunders & Kraft; Tytthomenia G.W.Saunders; and Verlaquea L.Le Gall & A.Verges. The proposals of new genera are accompanied by 16 new combinations of which half are for species from the formerly species-rich genus Kallymenia. Approximately 50 undescribed genetic species were uncovered, of which only ten are now formally named, five of which are type species for new genera: Glaphyrymeniopsis mollis Kraft & G.W.Saunders, Huonia sandersonii G.W.Saunders, Leiomenia lacunata Huisman & G.W.Saunders, Thalassiodianthus incrassatus G.W.Saunders & Kraft and Tytthomenia barrettii G.W.Saunders. The remaining five are Austrokallymenia rebeccae G.W.Saunders & Kraft, A. roensis Huisman & G.W.Saunders, Leiomenia imbricata Huisman & G.W.Saunders, Meredithia compaginata G.W.Saunders, and Verlaquea fimbriata G.W.Saunders. Also described and illustrated for the first time are reproductive features of the northeastern-Pacific Euthora timburtonii Clarkston & G.W.Saunders, which has been known until now only from molecular studies of vegetative thalli. Despite advances made by our work, the need for considerably more taxonomic investigation in this diverse family is demonstrated, particularly within the presently constituted genus Callophyllis

Semnocarpagen. nov. (Rhodophyta: Rhodymeniales) from southern and western Australia

An examination of cystocarps from the rarely collected southern Australian alga currently known as Lomentaria corynephora (J. Agardh) Kylin has shown it to be a member of the Rhodymeniales but incorrectly placed in Lomentaria. As it is not referable to any of the genera presently ascribed to the order, the new genus Semnocarpa is proposed to accommodate its suite of unique features. Semnocarpa closely resembles Lomentaria in habit and in having basally septate branches, a peripheral network of widely separated medullary filaments around the cell-free (but mucilage-filled) centres of the main and lateral axes, gland cells directed inwardly on scattered medullary cells, and tetrasporangia produced laterally from surface cortical cells that line deep cavities in the branch surfaces. Features of the mature cystocarp, however, strongly differentiate Semnocarpa from Lomentaria. The carposporophyte has a fusion cell in which outlines of the component cells remain discernible, as opposed to having a fully consolidated fusion cell, and is laxly enclosed in a system of filaments derived from surrounding inner cortical cells. The cystocarp is entirely submerged within the bearing branch, there being no protuberant pericarp derived from the outer cortex of the sort previously thought to be a uniform feature of the family Lomentariaceae and virtually all Rhodymeniales. These features suggest that Semnocarpa is likely to be a highly derived member of the Lomentariaceae. A second species is newly described from material collected in Western Australia. Semnocarpa minuta sp. nov. differs from S. corynephora in its exclusively epiphytic habit, two-layered medulla, smaller stature and extensive crustose holdfast