Browsing by Author "Bahia, Ricardo"

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    First report of Sporolithon ptychoides (Sporolithales, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) for the Atlantic Ocean
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011) Bahia, Ricardo; Riosmena-Rodrigue, Rafael; Maneveldt, Gavin; Amado-Filho, Gilberto M.
    Samples corresponding to Sporolithon ptychoides Heydrich were collected in the mesophotic zone (50 m depth) south of Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The collected material presented features characteristic of the species namely: tetrasporangia of 75-105 x 40-55 μm grouped into sori that are raised above the surrounding vegetative thallus surface; presence of a basal layer of elongate cells in areas where the tetrasporangia develop; presence of buried tetrasporangial compartments deep in the thallus; and 3-5 cells in the tetrasporangial paraphyses. These same features said to collectively characterise S. ptychoides, were all observed in a representative specimen and the type specimen of Sporolithon dimotum (Foslie & Howe) Yamaguishi-Tomita ex M.J Wynne. 2 This latter species is thus conspecific with S. ptychoides and is therefore considered a heterotypic synonym thereof as S. ptychoides has nomenclatural priority. This study expands the known geographical distribution of the species and may give insight into the origin of the species into other geographical regions.
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    Seaweed diversity associated with a Brazilian tropical rhodolith bed
    (Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 2010) Amado-Filho, Gilberto M.; Maneveldt, Gavin; Pereira-Filho, G.H.; Manso, R.C.C.; Bahia, Ricardo
    This study describes the predominantly tropical, subtidal seaweed populations growing on rhodoliths between 4 and 18 m depth in the southern part of Espírito Santo State (Brazil). Qualitative and quantitative sampling revealed species-rich algal communities, comprising 167 species. Three species of rhodophytes represent new records for the Brazilian marine flora (Lithothamnion muelleri, Scinaia aborealis, and Mesophyllum engelhartii). Marked seasonal differences in fleshy algal species composition and abundance were related to seasonal instabilities caused by winter-storm disturbance over the rhodolith beds. In relation to depth, rhodolith density appears to be an important factor for the variation in the abundance of fleshy algae. The rhodolith community is composed of at least seven nongeniculate crustose coralline algal species. Rhodolith beds in southern Espírito Santo State, in an area of 150 km2, provide an important habitat for epibenthic communities, supporting 25% of the known macroalgal species richness along the Brazilian coast.