Standing-stock and potential of phytoplankton production in the Bay of Santos, Brazil

Phytoplankton primary production and the maximum photo synthetic index (Pb m) from the region of Bay of Santos were measured every two months during 1976 by simulated incubations using 14C method and incandescent lamps (737 µE.m-2 .s-140 klux) . The results obtained for production rates (maximum of 204.6 mgC.m-3.hr-1 in winter and 488.3 mgC m-3.hr-1 in summer) are among the highest recorded for tropical marine environments. A high capability of light adaptation under high temperatures was also verified. The photo synthetic indexes obtained were also very high and seems to be due to the high nutrient level of the region. The eutrophic state is supported by the high nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations and by the phytoplankton cells number

Osmundea lata (M. Howe & W.R. Taylor) comb. nov. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from the Brazilian south-eastern continental shelf

Specimens of Laurencia lata were dredged from the south-eastern Brazilian continental shelf near Cabo Frio (off the state of Rio de Janeiro) from a depth of 60 m, growing as epiphytes on the rhizoids if Laminaria abyssalis. Detailed examination of the vegetative and reproductive morphology of these specimens revealed anatomical characteristics belonging to the recently resurrected genus Osmundea. Such features include two periaxial cells per vegetative axial segment, spermatangial branches arising directly from apical and epidermal cells in the apical pit of branchlets (filament type), and tetrasporangia cut off from random epidermal cells. On the basis of these features. Osmundea lata (M. Howe & W.R. Taylor) Yoneshigue-Valentin, M.T. Fujii & Gurgel is proposed as a new combination for Laurencia lata. We present detailed observations of the vegetative and reproductive morphology of O. lata, and compare it with related species; its geographical distribution is also discussed