Marine algal (seaweed) flora of São Jorge Island, Azores

Ana Isabel Neto; Afonso C. L. Prestes; Roberto Resendes; Raul M. A. Neto; Ignacio Moreu

doi:10.15468/93phf6

Marine algal (seaweed) flora of São Jorge Island, Azores

Citation

Neto A I, Prestes A C L, Resendes R, Neto R M A, Moreu I (2020). Marine algal (seaweed) flora of São Jorge Island, Azores. Universidade dos Açores. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/93phf6 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.

Description

This occurrence dataset lists the macroalgal taxonomic records compiled under occasional collections done at São Jorge Island (central group of the Azores archipelago) and provides information on each species’ ecology and occurrence on the island’s littoral. Collections were undertaken mainly by Island Aquatic Research Group of the Azorean Biodiversity Centre of the University of the Azores (https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/sub-team/island-aquatic-ecology) at the littoral and shallow sublittoral levels. A total of 84 specimens are registered (including taxa identified only at generic level) belonging to 49 taxa of macroalgae, comprising 34 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 6 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). From these, 21 are new records for the island, three are introduced, and five have an uncertain status. Most species were only sporadically observed on the island’s littoral, but four were commonly found, namely: the Rhodophyta Carradoriella denudata (Dillwyn) A. M. Savoie & G. W. Saunders, Ellisolandia elongata (J. Ellis & Solander) K. R. Hind & G. W. Saunders, and Gelidium spinosum (S. G. Gmelin) P. C. Silva; and the Chlorophyta Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus. Although representing an incomplete list of the seaweeds occurring in the island of São Jorge, this occurrence dataset is a contribution to the knowledge of the marine alga flora of that island. For each taxon presented, it provides general information on its occurrence on the island’s littoral, and thus contributes to address several biodiversity shortfalls (see Hortal et al. 2015), namely the need to catalogue the Azorean macroalgae (Linnean shortfall) and improve the current information on their local and regional geographic distribution (Wallacean shortfall), as well as on species abundances and dynamics in space (Prestonian shortfall). It aims to provide information for biological studies such as systematics, diversity and conservation, biological monitoring, climate change and ecology, and for academics, students, government, private organizations, and the general public.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Sampling was performed at the island’s intertidal.

Sampling

Sampling encompassed both physical collections and species presence recordings. For the former, in each sampling location, collections were made at low tide by walking along the shores and manually gathering one or two specimens of all different species found into previously labelled bags. The species recording data was gathered by registering all species present in the sampled locations visited. Complementary data e.g. shore level (high, mid, low), orientation and type of substrate (bedrock, boulders, cobbles, mixed), habitat (tide pool, open rock, gully, crevice, cave) was also recorded.

Quality Control

The methodology adopted in the identification of the collected macroalgae comprised morphological and anatomical observations of the whole specimen or slide preparations with the naked eye and using dissecting and compound microscopes, in order to characterize the diagnosing structures described in the literature and compare them with descriptions from other locations. In more difficult cases, specimens were sent to experts for identification.

Method steps

In the laboratory the specimens were accommodated, sorted and studied following standard procedures used in macroalgae identification. Species identification was based on morphological and anatomical characters and reproductive structures. Various floras and keys from elsewhere were used for the species identification, namely Schmidt (1931), Taylor (1967, 1978), Levring (1974), Dixon & Irvine (1977), Lawson & John (1982), Irvine (1983), Gayral & Cosson (1986), Fletcher (1987), Afonso-Carrillo & Sansón (1989), Burrows (1991), Boudouresque et al. (1992), Cabioc'h et al. (1992), Maggs & Hommersand (1993), Irvine & Chamberlain (1994), Brodie et al. (2007), Lloréns et al. (2012) and Rodríguez-Prieto et al. (2013). A reference collection was made for all specimens collected by giving them an herbarium code number and depositing them at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha, University of Azores. Depending on the species and on further planned research, different types of collections were made, namely (i) liquid collections using 5% buffered formaldehyde seawater and then replacing it by Kew (Bridsen & Forman 1999); (ii) dried collections, either by pressing the algae (most species) following the method described by Gayral and Cosson (1986) or by letting them air dry (calcareous species); and (iii) silica collections. Nomenclatural and taxonomic status used here follow Algaebase (Guiry & Guiry, 2020). The database was organized on FileMaker Pro.

Additional info

Additional information on this study may also be requested to the first author.

Taxonomic Coverages

All macroalgae were identified to genus or species. In total, 84 taxa were identified belonging to 15 orders and 22 families, distributed by the phyla Rhodophyta (8 orders and 14 families), Chlorophyta (3 orders and 3 families), and Ochrophyta (4 orders and 5 families).

Rhodophyta
common name: Red algae rank: phylum
Chlorophyta
common name: Green algae rank: phylum
Ochrophyta
common name: Brown algae rank: phylum

Geographic Coverages

São Jorge Island, Azores, Macaronesia, Portugal (approximately 38°26′10″N 28°19′47″W).

Bibliographic Citations

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Boudouresque C-F, Meinesz A & Verlaque M, 1992. Médíterranée. In Boudouresque C-F et al. (Eds.), Guide des Algues des Mers d'Europe, pp: 138-231. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris. -
Bridsen D & Forman L (Eds), 1999. The Herbarium Handbook. Third Edition. Kew: The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. xii, 334p., ISBN 1-900347-43-1. -
Brodie J, Maggs C, John DM (Eds.), 2007. The green seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. British Phycological Society, XII+242 pp. Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. -
Burrows EM, 1991. Seaweeds of the British lsles. Vol. 2. Chlorophyta. Natural History Museum, London. XII + 238 pp. -
Cabioc'h J, Floc'h J-Y & Le Toquin A, 1992. Manche et Atlantique. ln C.-F. Boudouresque, et al. (Eds.), Cuide des Algues des Mers d'Europe, pp: 30-136. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris. -
Dixon SP & Irvine ML, 1977. Seaweeds of the British Isles. Vol. I Rhodophyta. Part 1 Introduction, Nemaliales, Gigartinales. XI+252p. British Museum (Natural History) London. -
Fletcher RL, 1987. Seaweeds of the British Isles. Vol. III. Fucophyceae (Phaeophyceae). Part 1. X+359p. British Museum (Natural History) London. -
Gayral P & Cosson J, 1986. Connaitre et reconnaitre les algues marines. 220p. Ouest France. -
Guiry MD & Guiry GM, 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 March. -
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Instituto Hidrográfico, 1981. Roteiro do Arquipélago dos Açores. PUB. (N) -lli-128-SN, Lisboa. -
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Irvine ML & Chamberlain YM, 1994. Seaweeds of the British Isles. Vol. 1. Rhodophyta. Part 2B. Corallinales, Hildenbrandiales. Natural History Museum, London. VII + 276 pp. -
Lawson Gw & John Dm, 1982. The marine algae and coastal environment of Tropical West Africa. 455p. Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia, J. CRAMER, Vaduz. -
Levring T, 1974. The marine algae of the archipelago of Madeira. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal, 28 (125): 5-111. -
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Contacts

Ana Isabel Neto
originator
position: Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: ana.im.neto@uac.pt
homepage: http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0708-5636

Afonso C. L. Prestes
originator
position: Researcher
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: afonso.cl.prestes@uac.pt
homepage: https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/afonsoprestes
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4329-251X

Roberto Resendes
originator
position: Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650000, ext. 1731
email: roberto.resendes@uac.pt

Raul M. A. Neto
originator
position: Bachelor in Biology
N/A
Rua Duque de Saldanha, 10-3Dt
Odivelas
2675-438
PT
email: raulmaneto@gmail.com

Ignacio Moreu
originator
position: Researcher
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: nacho.moreu.badia@gmail.com
homepage: https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/Ignacio_Moreu_Badia
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1225-4668

Ana Isabel Neto
metadata author
position: Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: ana.im.neto@uac.pt
homepage: http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0708-5636

Ignacio Moreu
metadata author
position: Researcher
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: nacho.moreu.badia@gmail.com
homepage: https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/Ignacio_Moreu_Badia
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1225-4668

Ana Isabel Neto
author
position: Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: ana.im.neto@uac.pt
homepage: http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0708-5636

Ignacio Moreu
author
position: Researcher
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: nacho.moreu.badia@gmail.com
homepage: https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/Ignacio_Moreu_Badia
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1225-4668

Ana Isabel Neto
administrative point of contact
position: Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c
Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A
Ponta Delgada
9500-321
São Miguel, Açores
PT
Telephone: +351296650567
email: ana.im.neto@uac.pt
homepage: http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0708-5636