BIOTIC Species Information for Ceramium virgatum
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| Researched by | Dr Keith Hiscock and Paolo Pizzolla | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | Dr Fabio Rindi | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Ceramium virgatum | Common name | A red seaweed | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZM519 | Recent Synonyms | Ceramium nodulosum, Ceramium rubrum | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Rhodophycota | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Rhodophyceae | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Florideophyceae | Order | Ceramiales | ||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Ceramiaceae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Ceramium | Species | virgatum | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | Discrimination of separate species of Ceramium is often difficult. This species can be identified with certainty only by careful microscopic observation and in the field can be easily confused with other species of Ceramium with similar morphology namely Ceramium botryocarpum, Ceramium pallidum and Ceramium secundatum (F. Rindi, pers. comm.). The above taxonomy uses the recent nomenclature from Hardy & Guiry (2003). The confusion concerning Ceramium nodulosum and Ceramium rubrum was discussed by Maggs et al. (2002). | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Dickinson, 1963, Fish & Fish, 1996, Maggs & Hommersand, 1993, Hiscock, 1986b, Maggs et al., 2002, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Filiform |
Feeding method | Photoautotroph |
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| Mobility/Movement | Permanent attachment |
Environmental position | Epifloral Epilithic Epiphytic Epibenthic |
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| Typical food types | Not relevant | Habit | Attached | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not relevant | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Medium-large(21-50cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | |||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | None | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | Ceramium virgatum colonizes rock and algal habitats from the midshore in rockpools to the open shore near to low water level and in the shallow subtidal (see Maggs & Hommersand, 1993). It also grows attached to the leaves of Zostera marina (see, for instance, Whelan & Cullinane, 1985). It occurs on bedrock through to pebbles. Dickinson (1963) notes that the species is either perennial or pseudoperennial. Settlement onto new surfaces can be rapid. For instance, panels were colonized within a month of being placed in Langstone Harbour (Brown et al., 2001) | ||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Dickinson, 1963, Brown et al., 2001, Maggs & Hommersand, 1993, Edwards, 1973, Whelan & Cullinane, 1985, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Found on most suitable shores around Britain and Ireland. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Maggs & Hommersand (1993) note that the 'Ceramium rubrum complex' is widely distributed in the North Atlantic but the distribution of component species requires reassessment. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | |||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | Ceramium virgatum may be particularly abundant in the summer. It thrives in rockpools and occurs in still water situations where dilution with freshwater is likely to occur. | ||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Cobbles Pebbles Gravel / shingle Algae Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete) Rockpools |
Physiographic preferences | Open coast Strait / sound Sealoch Ria / Voe Estuary Enclosed coast / Embayment Strait / sound |
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| Biological zone | Mid Eulittoral Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral |
Wave exposure | Extremely Exposed Very Exposed Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible) |
Salinity | Variable (18-40 psu) Full (30-40 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Dickinson, 1963, Fish & Fish, 1996, Maggs & Hommersand, 1993, Whelan & Cullinane, 1985, NBN, 2002, Hardy & Guiry, 2003, Hardy & Guiry, 2003, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Alternation of generations |
Developmental mechanism | Spores (sexual / asexual) |
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| Reproductive Season | See additional information | Reproductive Location | As adult | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual protracted | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 3-5 years | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | See additional information | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Fertilization type | ||||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Edwards (1973) reports that Ceramium virgatum (as rubrum) has a triphasic life history consisting of a sequence of gametophytic, carposporophytic and tetrasporophytic phases in which the first and the third are morphologically similar. Maggs & Hommersand (1993) report that spermatangia are recorded in January, March-April, June and August-September; cystocarps in January-February and April-September; tetrasporangia in February-September. Although no information on dispersal has been found directly for Ceramium virgatum, Norton (1992) concluded that dispersal potential is highly variable in seaweeds. Spores of Ulva sp. (as Enteromorpha) have been reported to travel 35 km, Phycodrys rubens 5 km and Sargassum muticum up to 1 km. However, the point is made that reach of the furthest propagule and useful dispersal range are not the same thing and recruitment usually occurs on a much more local scale, typically within 10 m of the parent plant. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Maggs & Hommersand, 1993, Norton, 1992, Edwards, 1973, | ||||||||||||||
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