| Dictyota implexa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Phylum: | Ochrophyta |
| Class: | Phaeophyceae |
| Order: | Dictyotales |
| Family: | Dictyotaceae |
| Genus: | Dictyota |
| Species: | D. implexa |
| Binomial name | |
| Dictyota implexa (Desfontaines) J.V.Lamouroux [1] | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Dictyota implexa is a species of brown alga found in the temperate eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The thallus of Dictyota implexa is quite variable in appearance and is a yellowish-brown colour. It forms membranous, flattened, dichotomously-branching fronds up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long. These are anchored to the seabed by rhizoids, filamentous outgrowths that can absorb nutrients from their surroundings. The thallus branches are thread-like, only about 1 mm (0.04 in) thick, of uniform cross-section along their entire length. [2] Other seaweeds with which it could be confused include Dictyota dichotoma , Dictyota cyanoloma , Dictyota fasciola , Dictyota mediterranea , and Dictyota spiralis ; D dichotoma is larger and more ribbon-like; D. cyanoloma is larger and iridescent, with a spiral growth form; D. fasciola is also spiral, but not iridescent; D. mediterranea has thread-like cylindrical branches but is more robust; and D. spiralis is more ribbon-like and is sparsely branched. [2]
Dictyota implexa is native to the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent temperate parts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It grows either on rocks, or epiphytically on the leaf blades of seagrasses such as Posidonia oceanica or on the thalli of larger seaweeds, at depths down to about 15 m (50 ft). [2]
This species needs to grow in a well-lit situation as it uses the chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in its tissues to convert light energy into chemical energy by photosynthesis. It is dioecious, reproduction taking place in the spring and summer. Each plant has a sporophyte phase followed by the production of either male or female gametophytes, in alternating generations. It can also reproduce asexually by fragmentation when pieces of the thallus break off and become established in new locations. [2]
Brown algae contain secondary metabolites which discourage herbivores from feeding on them, and many of these, including extracts from the widespread genus Dictyota have antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. [3] Dictyota dichotoma, and Dictyota dichotoma var. implexa, have been investigated in this respect, and have been shown to have antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium , Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus . [4]
Fucus is a genus of brown algae found in the intertidal zones of rocky seashores almost throughout the world.
Caulerpa is a genus of seaweeds in the family Caulerpaceae. They are unusual because they consist of only one cell with many nuclei, making them among the biggest single cells in the world. A species in the Mediterranean can have a stolon more than 3 metres (9.8 ft) long, with up to 200 fronds. This species can be invasive from time to time.
Fucus serratus is a seaweed of the north Atlantic Ocean, known as toothed wrack or serrated wrack.
Fucus spiralis is a species of seaweed, a brown alga, living on the littoral shore of the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. It has the common names of spiral wrack and flat wrack.
Wrack is part of the common names of several species of seaweed in the family Fucaceae. It may also refer more generally to any seaweeds or seagrasses that wash up on beaches and may accumulate in the wrack zone.
Bryopsis is a genus of marine green algae in the family Bryopsidaceae. It is frequently a pest in aquariums, where it is commonly referred to as hair algae.
Halimeda tuna is a species of calcareous green seaweed in the order Bryopsidales. It is found on reefs in the Atlantic Ocean, the Indo-Pacific region and the Mediterranean Sea. Halimeda tuna is the type species of the genus Halimeda and the type locality is the Mediterranean Sea. The specific name "tuna" comes from the Taíno language, meaning "cactus" and referring to the resemblance of the thallus to the growth form of an Opuntia cactus.
Desmarestia viridis is a species of brown algae found worldwide. Its common names include stringy acid kelp, green acid kelp, Desmarest's green weed, and sea sorrel, though the last name can refer to other species of Desmarestia. The light brown thallus is delicate with a disc-shaped holdfast. It releases sulfuric acid when damaged, destroying itself and nearby seaweeds in the process. They are found in shallow intertidal areas.
Stypopodium zonale is a species of thalloid brown alga in the family Dictyotaceae. It is found in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea and in various other tropical and sub-tropical seas around the world.
Acetabularia caliculus, the umbrella alga, is a species of green alga found in shallow temperate and tropical seas. It usually grows on pebbles, shells or pieces of rock, and is often found in seagrass meadows, on mudflats and coral reefs, in estuaries and growing on the submerged roots of mangroves. Each individual thallus consists of a single cell with a long stipe and a terminal cup-shaped or flattened disc.
Lobophora variegata is a species of small thalloid brown alga which grows intertidally or in shallow water in tropical and warm temperate seas. It has three basic forms, being sometimes ruffled, sometimes reclining and sometimes encrusting, and each form is typically found in a different habitat. This seaweed occurs worldwide. It is the type species of the genus Lobophora, the type locality being the Antilles in the West Indies.
Ralfsia verrucosa is a species of crustose brown seaweed in the family Ralfsiaceae. It grows intertidally in temperate waters around the world. In South Africa it is part of a mutualistic relationship with a limpet.
Dictyota binghamiae, commonly known as mermaid's glove, is a species of brown algae found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from British Columbia to Baja California. This species was named in honor of phycologist Caroline Bingham.
Dictyota is a genus of seaweed in the family Dictyotaceae. Species are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical seas, and are known to contain numerous chemicals (diterpenes) which have potential medicinal value. As at the end of 2017, some 237 different diterpenes had been identified from across the genus.
Dictyota bartayresiana, commonly known as a forded sea tumbleweed, is a species of brown alga found in the tropical western Indo-Pacific region and the Gulf of Mexico. It contains chemicals that are being researched for possible use as antimicrobials, as larvicides and as cytotoxins.
Zanardinia is a monotypic genus of seaweed in the brown algae. The only species, Zanardinia typus, commonly known as penny weed, is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Udotea flabellum is a species of photosynthetic macroalgae. It is commonly found in shallow waters around Florida and Belize in sandy areas, sea grass beds, and coral reefs. It is known for its antimicrobial properties and is also being used in cancer treatment studies.
Dictyota dichotoma is a species of Brown algae found in the temperate western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean.
Dictyota spiralis is a species of brown alga found in the temperate eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.