BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Cladophora rupestris

Researched by

Georgina Budd

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

Dr Fabio Rindi

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cladophora rupestris

Common name

A green seaweed

MCS Code

ZS212

Recent Synonyms

None

Phylum

Chlorophycota

Subphylum

Superclass

Class

Cladophorophyceae

Subclass

Order

Cladophorales

Suborder

Family

Cladophoraceae

Genus

Cladophora

Species

rupestris

Subspecies

Additional Information

The morphology of the species is fairly constant over a wide range of habitat conditions and over a wide geographical area. Its morphology is affected by physical damage due to grazing by animals and loss of the apical region on reproduction, both instances are followed by regeneration and proliferation of branches. Cladophora rupestris sometimes forms an almost complete cover of stunted growth at high tide level and occasionally in the splash zone where pools are brackish. Filaments are short and branching dense in the most wave exposed locations (Burrows, 1991).

Taxonomy References

Dickinson, 1963, Hayward et al., 1996, Hoek van den, 1963, Burrows, 1991,

General Biology

Growth form

Shrub

Feeding method

Photoautotroph

Mobility/Movement

Permanent attachment

Environmental position

Epilithic
Epiphytic

Typical food types

Photoautotroph

Habit

Attached

Bioturbator

Not relevant

Flexibility

High (>45 degrees)

Fragility

Fragile

Size

Medium(11-20 cm)

Height

Up to 20 cm.

Growth Rate

Insufficient information

Adult dispersal potential

Not relevant

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Solitary

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

Species of the genus Cladophora are colonized by a wide variety of epiphytes and motile animals because they can offer protection from predation, provide food (either in the form of epiphytes, or itself), or a substratum that is anchored against water flow turbulence (Dodds & Gudder, 1992).
Cladophora rupestris is only very rarely epiphytic (F. Rindi, pers. comm.).

Biology References

Dodds & Gudder, 1992,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

Found all round the coast of Britain and Ireland on suitable substrata.

Global distribution

See additional information.

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

Intertidal to a few metres sublittorally.

Migratory

Non-migratory / Resident

Distribution Additional Information

The species occurs throughout the year but attains maximum development in summer near low tide level (Burrows, 1991). It is mostly an intertidal species although it may also extend into the sublittoral but only by a few metres (F. Rindi, pers. comm.).

Global distribution
European Atlantic coast from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Baltic Sea, Murman Sea and White Sea. Atlantic coasts of North America from Canadian Arctic, south to Massachusetts, Greenland, Iceland and Faeroes. Also found in Morocco, Brazil, Japan, Lord Howe Island (Australia) and in the Antarctic (Guiry & Nic Dhonncha, 2002).

Substratum preferences

Bedrock
Small boulders
Cobbles
Algae

Physiographic preferences

Open coast
Strait / sound
Sealoch
Ria / Voe
Enclosed coast / Embayment

Biological zone

Supralittoral
Upper Littoral Fringe
Lower Littoral Fringe
Upper Eulittoral
Mid Eulittoral
Lower Eulittoral
Sublittoral Fringe
Upper Infralittoral
Lower Infralittoral

Wave exposure

Very Exposed
Exposed
Moderately Exposed
Sheltered

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Moderately Strong (1-3 kn)

Salinity

Full (30-40 psu)
Low (<18 psu)
Reduced (18-30 psu)
Variable (18-40 psu)

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

None entered

Distribution References

Norton, 1985, Dickinson, 1963, Hayward et al., 1996, Burrows, 1991, Hardy & Guiry, 2003, Guiry & Nic Dhonncha, 2002,

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Alternation of generations

Developmental mechanism

Spores (sexual / asexual)

Reproductive Season

Most of the year

Reproductive Location

Water column

Reproductive frequency

Annual protracted

Regeneration potential

Life span

Insufficient information

Age at reproductive maturity

Insufficient information

Generation time

<1 year

Fecundity

Not relevant

Egg/propagule size

Not relevant

Fertilization type

External

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	>10km	Larval settlement period	Not relevant
Duration of larval stage	Insufficient information

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Information on the ecology of reproduction and propagation of the genus Cladophora is limited. Reproduction is achieved by the release of quadriflagellate zoospores and biflagellate isogametes formed in the terminal cells of fronds. The life history consists of an isomorphic (indistinguishable except for the type of reproductive bodies produced) alternation of gametophyte and sporophyte generations, the plants are dioecious (Burrows, 1991). Both zoospores and gametes can be found at most times of the year. Archer (1963, cited in Burrows, 1991) was unable to find any correlation between the time of reproduction, the state of tide or environmental conditions. Most species of Cladophora attach to the substratum by multicellular, branching rhizoids (van den Hoek, 1982). These basal holdfasts may serve as resistant structures from which new growths can arise.

Reproduction References

Burrows, 1991, Dodds & Gudder, 1992, Archer, 1963, Hoek van den, 1982,