Endophytic phaeophyceae from New Zealand

The aims of this study were to find endophytic brown algae in marine macroalgae from New Zealand, isolate them into culture and identify them using morphological as well as molecular markers, to study the prevalence of pigmented endophytes in a representative host-endophyte relationship, and to reveal the ultrastructure of the interface between the obligate parasite Herpodiscus durvillaeae (LINDAUER) SOUTH and its host Durvillaea antarctica (CHAMISSO) HARRIOT. Three species of pigmented endophytic Phaeophyceae were isolated from New Zealand macrophytes. They were distinguished based on morphological characters in culture, in combination with their distribution among different host species and symptoms associated with the infection of hosts. ITSl nrDNA sequences confirmed the identity of two of the species as Laminariocolax macrorystis (PETERS) PETERS in BURKHARDT & PETERS and Microspongium tenuissimum (HAUCK) PETERS. A new genus and species, Xiphophorocolax aotearoae gen. et sp. ined., is suggested for the third group of endophytic Phaeophyceae. Three genetic varieties of L. macrorystis as well as two varieties each of M. tenuissimum and X. aotearoae were present among the isolates. L. macrorystis and X. aotearoae constitute new records for the marine flora of the New Zealand archipelago, on genus and species level. The red algal endophyte Mzkroryphar pacchymeniae LINDAUER previously described from New Zealand is possibly synonymous with Microspongium tenuissimum. The prevalence of infection by Laminariocolax macrorystis was investigated in three populations of Macrorystis pyrifira along the Otago coast. Two of the populations situated inside and at the entrance of Otago Harbour showed high infection rates (average between 95 and 100%), while an offshore population was less infected (average of 35%). The phylogenetic affinities of the parasitic brown alga Herpodiscus durvillaeae, an obligate endophyte of Durvi!!aea antarctica (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) in New Zealand, were investigated. Analyses combined nuclear encoded ribosomal and plastid encoded RuBisCO genes. Results from parsimony, distance and likelihood methods suggest a placement of this species within the order Sphacelariales. Even though H. durvillaeae shows a reduced morphology, molecular data were supported by two morphological features characteristic for the Sphacelariales; the putative presence of apical cells and the transistory blackening of the cell wall with 'Eau de Javelle'. Ultrastructural sections showed evidence for a symplastic contact between the cells of the parasite H. durvillaeae and its host D. antarctica. Within the host cortex, parasite cells attack the fields of plasmodesmata connecting host cells. In these areas, parasite cells squeeze between the host cells and form secondary plasmodesmata connecting the primary plasmodesmata of the host cells with the cytoplasma of the parasite cell. Moreover, despite being described as lacking pigments, H. duroi!!aeae possesses a rbcL gene, and its plastids show red autofluorescence in UV light, suggesting the presence of a possibly reduced, but functional photosynthetic apparatus. Vestigial walls between developing spores in the 'secondary unilocular sporangia' of H. duroi!!aeae confirm the identity of these sporangia as plurilocular gametangia, derived from reduced gametophytes which were entirely transformed into gametangia

Two bloom-forming species of Ulva (chlorophyta) show different responses to seawater temperature and no antagonistic interaction.

The generalized use of molecular identification tools indicated that multispecific green tides are more common than previously thought. Temporal successions between bloom-forming species on a seasonal basis were also revealed in different cold temperate estuaries, suggesting a key role of photoperiod and temperature controlling bloom development and composition. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, water temperatures are predicted to increase around 4°C by 2100 in Ireland, especially during late spring coinciding with early green tide development. Considering current and predicted temperatures, and photoperiods during bloom development, different eco-physiological experiments were developed. These experiments indicated that the growth of Ulva lacinulata was controlled by temperature, while U. compressa was unresponsive to the photoperiod and temperatures assayed. Considering a scenario of global warming for Irish waters, an earlier development of bloom is expected in the case of U. lacinulata. This could have significant consequences for biomass balance in Irish estuaries and the maximum accumulated biomass during peak bloom. The observed seasonal patterns and experiments also indicated that U. compressa may facilitate U. lacinulata development. When both species were co-cultivated, the culture performance showed intermediate responses to experimental treatments in comparison with monospecific cultures of both species.This work has been co-financed under the 2014-2020 EPA Research Strategy (Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland), project no: 2015-W-MS-20 (the Sea-MAT Project) and project no: 2018-W-MS-32 (the MACRO-MAN Project), the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Programme and by the Department of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Regional Government of Andalusia (Project reference: FEDER-UCA18-106875), the INNOVALGA Project of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the University of Cadiz throughout the mobility program “Atracción talento: Jóvenes Investigadores” (Ref: UCA/R22REC/2017). // Funding for open access provided by University of Malaga / CBUA

Spatial and temporal variability of biomass and composition of green tides in Ireland

Artículo científico sobre mareas de macroalgas en IrlandaThe identification of relevant scales of variation is a necessary prerequisite before explanatory models can be proposed and tested. In this study spatial and temporal patterns of biomass distribution were assessed for two Ulva morphologies in two Irish estuaries heavily affected by green tides (wet biomass>1 kg m−2 during the peak bloom). Moreover, using genetic markers, the species composition of these green tides was assessed. Results revealed that these blooms were multi-specific, with Ulva prolifera, U. compressa and U.rigida the most frequent species. The species U. prolifera and U. compressa usually showed a tubular morphology, while U. rigida was mainly laminar. A seasonal succession common to both estuaries was also identified, with the bloom dominated by tubular species during spring and early summer, and co-dominated by tubular and laminar morphologies during late summer and autumn. Moreover, tubular and laminar morphologies exhibited different distribution patterns, with tubular morphologies varying at bigger spatial scales and higher biomass than the laminar. As tubular and laminar morphologies exhibited different distribution patterns, varying tubular morphologies along bigger spatial scales with higher biomass levels than the laminar. Considering that tubular morphologies were usually anchored to the sediment, while laminar Ulva were usually observed free-floating, these differences could explain a differential influence by water motion. An important annual and decadal variability in biomass levels of Ulva was observed, in the case of the Tolka estuary a noticeable increase over the last two decades. These findings should be considered for the development of management and monitoring strategies since the different habitat of laminar and tubular morphologies (anchored vs. free-floating) may play an important role in the balance of nutrients and biomass in the estuary, or determine the response to pollutant exposure.2014-2020 EPA Research Strategy (Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland; project no: 2015- W-MS-20 “the Sea-MAT Project”)

Chemical characterization of 21 species of marine macroalgae common in Norwegian waters: benefits of and limitations to their potential use in food and feed

BACKGROUND: In the past few years, much effort has been invested into developing a new blue economy based on harvesting, cultivating and processing marine macroalgae in Norway. Macroalgae have high potential for a wide range of applications, e.g. as source of pharmaceuticals, production of biofuels or as food and feed. However, data on the chemical composition of macroalgae from Norwegian waters are scant. This study was designed to characterize the chemical composition of 21 algal species. Both macro- and micronutrients were analysed. Concentrations of heavy metals and the metalloid arsenic in the algae were also quantified. RESULTS: The results confirm that marine macroalgae contain nutrients which are relevant for both human and animal nutrition, the concentrations whereof are highly dependent on species. Although heavy metals and arsenic were detected in the algae studied, concentrations were mostly below maximum allowed levels set by food and feed legislation in the EU. CONCLUSION: This study provides chemical data on a wide range of algal species covering the three taxonomic groups (brown, red and green algae) and discusses both benefits of and potential limitations to their use for food and feed purposes.Chemical characterization of 21 species of marine macroalgae common in Norwegian waters: benefits of and limitations to their potential use in food and feedpublishedVersio

Exploring intraspecific variability – biochemical and morphological traits of the sugar kelp Saccharina latissima along latitudinal and salinity gradients in Europe

Broadly distributed seaweeds, such as the boreal-temperate kelp species Saccharina latissima, contain a multitude of metabolites supporting acclimation to environmental changes, such as temperature and salinity. In Europe, S. latissima occurs along the coasts from Spitsbergen to Portugal, including the Baltic Sea, exhibiting great morphological plasticity. We investigated the morphological and biochemical traits of field-collected sporophytes from 16 different locations across the species entire distributional range in relation to local abiotic conditions (sea surface temperature, salinity). By statistically linking morphological and biochemical data to geographic information that also took into account the respective sampling depth, we aimed to obtain first insights into the site-specific adaptive features of this species. Frond length and width, mannitol and phlorotannin contents, and molar C:N ratio showed strong intraspecific variability among S. latissima sporophytes dependent on individual local abiotic drivers. Despite the conspicuous impact of local abiotic factors on specimens’ morphology, we could not determine habitat-specific signatures in the biochemical phenotypes. Even though our findings are based on a relative small sample size per site, they cover a broad biogeographical range and support a high plasticity of S. latissima sporophytes. The study provides a first base for studying separation processes of populations across latitudes and conservation ecology

The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms

peer-reviewedThe red seaweed Agarophyton vermiculophyllum is an invasive species native to the north-west Pacific, which has proliferated in temperate estuaries of Europe, North America and Africa. Combining molecular identification tools, historical satellite imagery and one-year seasonal monitoring of biomass and environmental conditions, the presence of A. vermiculophyllum was confirmed, and the invasion was assessed and reconstructed. The analysis of satellite imagery identified the first bloom in 2014 and revealed that A. vermiculophyllum is capable of thriving in areas, where native bloom-forming species cannot, increasing the size of blooms (ca. 10%). The high biomass found during the peak bloom (>2 kg m−2) and the observation of anoxic events indicated deleterious effects. The monitoring of environmental conditions and biomass variability suggests an essential role of light, temperature and phosphorous in bloom development. The introduction of this species could be considered a threat for local biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a global change context.EPA Research Strateg

The CCAP knowledgebase:Linking protistan and cyanobacterial biological resources with taxonomic and molecular data

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Scanning electron microscopy observation of host entry by two brown algae endophytic in Laminaria saccharina (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae)

The germination of spores of the endophytic brown algae Laminariocolax aecidioides and Laminarionema elsbetiae (Ectocarpales sensu lato) on their host Laminaria saccharina was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Zoids were the infective units in both taxa. Despite a large difference in size between spores of the species studied, the initial steps of infection were similar. Zoids settled on the host surface, and during secretion of adhesive material from their anterior end, the spores became elongated to rod-shaped and stood erect on the host. A single germ tube developed at the proximal end and penetrated the intact surface of the host. Sharp edges around the entrance hole and the absence of inward deformation of the host surface around the settled zoids suggest an enzymatic rather than a mechanical penetration mechanism