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Novel morphology in Enteromorpha (Ulvophyceae) forming green tides
Jaanika Blomster1, Saara Bäck, David P Fewer
1School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queen's University, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK;
American Journal of Botany
|June 14, 2011
Summary
Green tides, large macroalgae blooms, were identified as Enteromorpha intestinalis using DNA sequencing. These blooms, originating locally, reproduce via fragmentation in eutrophicated waters.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Phycology
- Eutrophication studies
Background:
- Green tides are extensive macroalgal blooms impacting marine ecosystems and economies globally.
- Blooms are typically composed of Ulva and Enteromorpha species, with increasing prevalence in recent decades.
- Summer blooms on Finland's west coast presented as monostromatic sheets, atypical for Enteromorpha.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the species responsible for green tides on Finland's west coast.
- To investigate the reproductive strategies and origin of these algal blooms.
- To highlight the role of molecular identification in understanding algal morphology changes.
Main Methods:
- DNA sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2).
- Comparative sequence analysis with existing Enteromorpha intestinalis and other Baltic sequences.
- Culturing of algal samples to observe reproductive behaviors.
Main Results:
- Monostromatic sheets were molecularly identified as Enteromorpha intestinalis.
- Sequences were identical to local attached E. intestinalis populations, suggesting a local origin.
- Cultured sheets reproduced asexually via cell regeneration and fragmentation, not sporulation.
Conclusions:
- The study identified a novel morphology for Enteromorpha intestinalis, producing monostromatic sheets.
- The green tides likely originated from local, attached populations and reproduce clonally.
- Eutrophication may induce significant morphological plasticity in marine macroalgae, necessitating molecular identification.
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