Diversity, Taxonomy and Conservation of Marine Algae

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 January 2021) | Viewed by 9405

Special Issue Editor

Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Interests: mediterranean marine algae: biodiversity, taxonomy, ecology, conservation and restoration; chemical defenses in marine algae; marine protected areas; biological invasions; citizen science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, diversity of marine algae and the ecosystem services it provides are facing the impact of human activities (e.g., climate change, habitat degradation, invasive species, over exploitation of natural resources, pollution) at both domestic and international levels. Marine algal diversity drives the functioning of ecosystems through countless reciprocal interactions with the physical and chemical components of the environment. Thus, the preservation and conservation of marine algal diversity are becoming crucial for the scientific community, managers, and policy makers. Taxonomy, providing basic understanding about biodiversity, is essential for conservation—we can only preserve what we know. For this Special Issue, we welcome contributions addressing diversity, taxonomy, and conservation of marine algae, e.g., current challenges and stressors; biological invasions; drivers of species declining or extinctions; methodological advances in taxonomy, discovery, monitoring, and conservation; habitat and species restoration; assessment of biodiversity conservation management and policies; and marine protected areas.

Dr. Anna Maria Mannino
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Marine algae
  • Diversity
  • Taxonomy
  • Stressors
  • Monitoring
  • Invasive species
  • Conservation
  • Restoration
  • Management and Policy
  • Marine Protected Areas

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2798 KiB  
Article
DNA Sequence Analyses Reveal Two New Species of Caloglossa (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Skin of West Indian Manatees
by D. Wilson Freshwater, Cathryn E. Miller, Thomas A. Frankovich and Michael J. Wynne
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(2), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9020163 - 06 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1900
Abstract
Epizoic macroalgae collected from the skin of West Indian manatees included specimens of the red algal family Delesseriaceae. Morphological and rbcL sequence analyses indicated that these specimens represented two novel species of Caloglossa. One species, described here as Caloglossa kamiyana Freshwater, [...] Read more.
Epizoic macroalgae collected from the skin of West Indian manatees included specimens of the red algal family Delesseriaceae. Morphological and rbcL sequence analyses indicated that these specimens represented two novel species of Caloglossa. One species, described here as Caloglossa kamiyana Freshwater, Cath.E. Miller & Frankovich sp. nov., had been previously studied and recognized as part of the C. ogasawaraensis species complex. The rbcL sequence divergence between C. kamiyana and other taxa within the complex ranged from 4.6–5.3%, and tetrasporangial mother cells are cut off from the lateral pericentral cells by oblique divisions instead of transverse divisions as in C. ogasawaraensis. The second species was resolved as a closely related sister species to C. fluviatilis, with a minimum interspecific sequence divergence of 2.0%. It was morphologically indistinguishable from C. fluviatilis except for one potential character—mostly one, instead of multiple rhizoids, developing from rhizoid-bearing pericentral and marginal wing cells. It is herein described as Caloglossa manaticola Freshwater, Cath.E. Miller & Frankovich sp. nov. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Taxonomy and Conservation of Marine Algae)
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5 pages, 1242 KiB  
Communication
Berkeleya Transfretana sp. Nov., a New Marine Diatom from Ceuta (North Africa)
by Adriana Olenici, Francisco Jiménez-Gómez and Saúl Blanco
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9020146 - 31 Jan 2021
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Abstract
The diatom Berkeleya transfretana is described as a new species from samples collected at Playa Punta Sauciño, an intertidal coastal area in Ceuta, North Africa. Its main features are the comparatively small size in relation to other Berkeleya species and the very fine [...] Read more.
The diatom Berkeleya transfretana is described as a new species from samples collected at Playa Punta Sauciño, an intertidal coastal area in Ceuta, North Africa. Its main features are the comparatively small size in relation to other Berkeleya species and the very fine and dense striae pattern (more than 40 striae per 10 µm). The new species is here described under light and scanning electron microscopy and compared to related taxa. The benthos of these rocky beaches are interesting spots of biodiversity still to be explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Taxonomy and Conservation of Marine Algae)
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11 pages, 2884 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Marine Litter in the Coralligenous Habitat of a Marine Protected Area along the Ionian Coast of Sicily (Central Mediterranean)
by Luca Giuseppe Costanzo, Giuliana Marletta and Giuseppina Alongi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(9), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8090656 - 26 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2152
Abstract
In the Mediterranean Sea, the coralligenous is an extremely important habitat for its biodiversity and role in carbon sequestration. However, coralligenous biocenosis is sensitive to many anthropogenic impacts, among which one of the major threats is the marine litter. The aim of the [...] Read more.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the coralligenous is an extremely important habitat for its biodiversity and role in carbon sequestration. However, coralligenous biocenosis is sensitive to many anthropogenic impacts, among which one of the major threats is the marine litter. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the marine litter present in the coralligenous habitat of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Isole Ciclopi (Sicily, Italy). Through the analysis of frames obtained by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) videos, data on the type of marine litter, grade of organisms’ coverage, litter-organism interactions, and seabed coverage of items were gained. Through ROV surveys, a low number of marine litter items was observed and most of them were fishing gears. On the found items there was a high degree of organisms’ coverage, which suggests that probably the marine litter was abandoned or lost since a long time. Overall, it was observed that in recent years the fishing activity in the MPA has not affected the coralligenous habitat. The present study represents a baseline for future monitoring programmes, which will be useful to develop protection measures and sustainable fishing, in order to preserve the coralligenous habitat of the MPA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Taxonomy and Conservation of Marine Algae)
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Review

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13 pages, 1534 KiB  
Review
Tracking Marine Alien Macroalgae in the Mediterranean Sea: The Contribution of Citizen Science and Remote Sensing
by Anna Maria Mannino, Flavio Borfecchia and Carla Micheli
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(3), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9030288 - 06 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2642
Abstract
The accelerating rate of the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and the magnitude of shipping traffic make the Mediterranean Sea a hotspot of biological invasions. For the effective management of NIS, early detection and intensive monitoring over time and space are essential. Here, [...] Read more.
The accelerating rate of the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and the magnitude of shipping traffic make the Mediterranean Sea a hotspot of biological invasions. For the effective management of NIS, early detection and intensive monitoring over time and space are essential. Here, we present an overview of possible applications of citizen science and remote sensing in monitoring alien seaweeds in the Mediterranean Sea. Citizen science activities, involving the public (e.g., tourists, fishermen, divers) in the collection of data, have great potential for monitoring NIS. The innovative methodologies, based on remote sensing techniques coupled with in situ/laboratory advanced sampling/analysis methods for tracking such species, may be useful and effective tools for easily assessing NIS distribution patterns and monitoring the space/time changes in habitats in order to support the sustainable management of the ecosystems. The reported case studies highlight how these cost-effective systems can be useful complementary tools for monitoring NIS, especially in marine protected areas, which, despite their fundamental role in the conservation of marine biodiversity, are not immune to the introduction of NIS. To ensure effective and long-lasting management strategies, collaborations between researchers, policy makers and citizens are essential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Taxonomy and Conservation of Marine Algae)
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